LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Junior righthander Narissa Garcia got the 2015 season started with a seven-hit shutout, leading Azusa Pacific to a season-opening doubleheader split at UC San Diego Wednesday afternoon. The Cougars won the opener behind Garcia's shutout, 1-0, but dropped the nightcap, 2-1.

Garcia struck out seven in the complete-game effort, keeping the game scoreless for five full innings before sophomore rightfielder Abry Moreno broke up UC San Diego's shutout bid with a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth inning. In each of the final two innings, the Tritons got the potential tying run to third base with one out, but Garcia got out of the sixth with consecutive strikeouts and finished off the win in the seventh with a strikeout and a game-ending flyout.

Freshman designated player Illiana Jimenez got the sixth-inning rally started for the Cougars with a leadoff single, and first baseman Kayla Jimenez drew a walk to put runners at first and second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, and two batters later Moreno delivered the run-scoring single.

Moreno went two-for-four in the opener, and senior shortstop Desiree Chavez had two hits and scored the Cougars' only run in the second game. UC San Diego struck first in the opener, scoring once in the first inning, but sophomore lefthander Carly Xepoleas quickly responded by retiring 14 consecutive hitters to escape the first-inning jam with no further damage.

That allowed Chavez to turn a fifth-inning leadoff single into the game-tying run with the help of some aggressive baserunning. A passed ball and a groundout advanced Chavez to third, and she scored after sophomore third baseman Nicki Sprague drew a two-out walk when Sprague got caught in a rundown between first and second base.

UC San Diego went back in front in the bottom of the sixth inning, using McKenna Clewett's leadoff double to set up the go-ahead run later in the frame. Clewett was two-for-three in both games of the twinbill, and she scored both of the Tritons' runs.

Through five innings, Xepoleas had only given up two hits, both in the first inning, and she registered two strikeouts before Garcia got the final two outs of the sixth inning.

Azusa Pacific hosts Cal State San Bernardino at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the Cougars' home-opening doubleheader.