HAYWARD, Calif. – What's that line about letting sleeping bears lie? Perhaps they should add Cougars to that list.
The NAIA's No. 18-ranked Azusa Pacific, which hasn't played in 2 weeks, awoke from its slumber to the lay the lumber on No. 23 Southern Oregon, thumping the Raiders, 10-4, in the Cougars' opening game of the NorCal Classic played at Oliver Park.
The Cougars hadn't been on the diamond since visiting Cal State Bakersfield back on Feb. 11. The layoff though didn't seem to affect Azusa Pacific, which rolled out to 8-0 lead midway through the fourth inning and cruised on in for the victory. Junior second baseman Tami Carter snapped out of a season-opening slump which had her batting below .200 through the first 6 games, by going 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs. Her 3-run home run in the third inning, her first round-tripper of the season, put the Cougars up an insurmountable 6-0. She added an RBI double in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth.
Junior pitcher Kris Franks was not only the benefactor of Carter's offensive explosion but of her own prowess as well. Franks connected on her first collegiate home run in the second inning to give Azusa Pacific a 3-0. In the circle, she danced around 8 Raider hits and stranded 7 runners on base to pick up her first victory of the season.
The victory solidifies the Cougars' placing among the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Poll, which was released Feb. 8.
In the nightcap, the Cougar bats continued to sizzle, pacing Azusa Pacific to a 9-1 mercy-ruled victory over Bethany. Freshman Megan Zimmerer, who has excelled at the plate early in her college career, continued to knock the ball around by going 3-for-3 with 2 doubles and 3 runs scored. Her leadoff double in the second inning, sparked the Cougars to a 3-run inning. Lori Shimasaki's 2-out double plated Carter and Rachel Yoshizu to cap the inning.
Azusa Pacific put the game away with a 5-run fifth inning, Carter's 2-run double followed by Shimasaki's 2-run triple highlighted the frame. Senior pitcher Michelle Coleman scattered 8 hits and only a third-inning lead-off home run in the third inning prevented a shutout. Shimasaki finished the game 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs and was 5-for-9 on the day with 5 RBIs. Carter was 4-for-6 with 7 RBIs.
With the sweep, the Cougars improve to 5-3 overall, while Southern Oregon fell to 2-2.
