Azusa Pacific raced out to a quick lead then fell behind, but a late inning rally propelled the Cougars to a 10-8 victory against Montana State Billings. The win completed a three-game sweep over two days against the Yellow Jackets. 

After winning the first two games by scores of 24-7 and 16-13, it is the first time since April 2012 that a Cougars squad has scored at least 10 runs in three straight games. In addition, the three-game non-conference sweep is the first for the Azusa Pacific program since the 2012 campaign.

Azusa Pacific moves to 8-2 on the season which is the best 10-game start from the program since 2009.

Nine different players recorded a hit as a host of players contributed to the win led by Adrian Tovalin's 4-for-4 afternoon. The freshman drove in three runs and scored another. Ryan Santana put together a 2-for-5 day at the plate as he tallied four RBIs and scored another. Austin Shives and Jordan Brower each had two hits.

The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings. In the first frame Azusa Pacific put a run on the scoreboard when Cam Bennett scored on an RBI ground-out by Daniel Martin. In the following inning Tovalin singled home Santana then Joe Huthsing scored during Bennett's next at-bat.

Montana State Billing started their rally with a single run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Conner Holbrook. The Yellow Jackets tied the game the following inning on a Luke Reinschmidt leadoff homerun then a Colter Sternhagen single that plated Kevin.

In the sixth inning Montana State Billings (1-6) doubled their lead on a two home runs. Bret Bitlow hit the first long ball with a solo shot then Brody Miller hit a two-run blast gave the Yellow Jackets a 6-3 advantage. They continued to increase their lead when Myles Berkram scored in the seventh inning.

Despite the three-run deficit, Azusa Pacific clawed back with a run in the bottom of the seventh frame when Martin scored on a Santana fielder's choice groundout. 

Azusa Pacific's rally peaked in the eighth inning. Tovalin's stellar game continued when he hit his first collegiate homerun to trim the Cougars hole to 7-6. Proceeding the homerun Mitch Degazarian doubled down the rightfield line then Martin reach base via a throwing error. Brower than singled home Degazarian to tie the score at 7-7. Still with only one-out Michael Staudinger walked to load the bases. Santana then strolled to the plate where he doubled a 3-1 pitch to center field that cleared the bases and gave his team a 10-7 edge.

Montana State Billings scored once in the ninth but couldn't piece together a significant rally as the Cougars completed their successful trip.

The Cougars take the next week off before hosting #8 UC San Diego on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.