HAYWARD, Calif. – At last year's NorCal Classic, rain wrecked havoc on the tournament schedule. Given how hot the Cougar bats are this year, perhaps foes would like the rain to return.
The NAIA's No. 18-ranked Azusa Pacific banged out 27 hits in 12 innings of play to take 2 more games at the NorCal Classic, crushing Patten, 8-0, in the first game before downing Dominican, 6-2, in the second game.
In the first contest, Azusa Pacific broke a scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Kris Franks' and Lori Shimasaki's RBI singles scored Megan Zimmerer and Tami Carter.
Azusa Pacific erupted 6 runs in the fifth inning, opening the frame with 5 straight hits including back-to-back-to-back doubles by Cassie Sweeney, Zimmerer, and Shawna Paxton. Justine Barnett's double, the fourth of the inning, plated Carter and Shimasaki to cap the fram.
Franks and Michelle Coleman combined on the 2-hit shutout, striking out 7 Patten batters, including 6 by Franks in 4 innings of work. Patten moved just 2 players into scoring position but both were stranded to preserve the Cougars' second shutout of the season.
In the second game, Azusa Pacific scored in each of the first 3 inning to scoot out to a 4-1 lead. Freshman pitcher Camille Hundley enjoyed her best game as a Cougar, shutting down the Penguins on 4 hits and surrendering 2 unearned runs to pick up her second collegiate victory. She was equally impressive at the plate, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs and the first home run of her career, a 2-run shot in the third inning. Shimasaki and Sweeney were both 3-for-4 in the game with each scoring a run and batting in another.
With the 2 wins, Azusa Pacific improved to 7-4 and pushed its winning streak to 4.
