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Azusa Pacific University Athletics

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Baseball Stephen Hinkel

Splitsville Along the Monterey Bay

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cougars started their four-game set against Cal State Monterey Bay with a doubleheader on Thursday.

The first game was a nine-inning affair with the nightcap scheduled to be a seven-inning affair.

Game One – Cal State Monterey Bay 12, Azusa Pacific 3

The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and a half before Cal State Monterey Bay finished the game with 12 unanswered runs.

Azusa Pacific knocked around Sea Otters starting pitcher Cody Gappa for three runs and six hits in two innings. Joe Huthsing pushed home Mitch Dergazarian to start the scoring in the first inning. In the second inning, Sean Aspinall made it 2-0 then Daniel Martin scored two batters later on a Jordan Brower single. 

The game shifted in the bottom of the second inning when Cal State Monterey Bay scored their first run. The home team looked to the bullpen in the top of the third inning as they brought in Greg Steinbeck. The right hander allowed just three hits and struck out five as he pitched the final seven innings.

Beginning in the bottom of the fourth inning the Sea Otters scored in four of their final five chances to seal the win.

Dergazarian and Brower each went 2-for-4 at the dish. Sean Aspinall's second inning double was the only extra base hit for the Cougars.

On the mound Josh Staumont went 4.0 innings giving up two hits and one earned run while striking out seven. 

Game Two – Azusa Pacific 3, Cal State Monterey Bay 2

Azusa Pacific was three outs from getting swept before rallying for the victory.

With the win head coach Paul Svagdis won his 500th career game. Prior to coming to Azusa Pacific he won 122 games at Pomona-Pitzer. During his 13 seasons as the Cougars head coach he has 378 wins. 

Similar to the opening game the Cougars got on the board in the first inning when Adrian Tovalin singled home Daniel Martin.

The score remained 1-0 in Azusa Pacific's favor until the third inning when Brian Hamm knocked in Matt Urakami. Cal State Monterey Bay took the lead for good in bottom of the fifth inning when Myles Hager scored on wild pitch with one-out.

Azusa Pacific rallied in the final inning when Ryan Santana singled to start the seventh. Two batters later pinch hitter Paul Menedez worked a walk. Michael Staudinger recorded his first collegiate hit when he laced a double down the left field line which scored Santana to tie the game at 2-2. The game winning hit came when Martin had a two-out hit down towards third base that scored pinch runner Cam Bennett.

In the bottom half of the last inning closer Michael Shaw got the first two outs before issuing back-to-back walks. Shaw worked out of that when he induced a groundout to shortstop to end the game. 

Martin went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.

On the mound Joel Belk went 5.2 innings, struck out two and scattered six hits. Jonny Reid got the final out of the sixth inning to earn the win with Shaw earning the save. 

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Players Mentioned

Cam Bennett

#1 Cam Bennett

OF
5' 9"
Junior
Mitch Dergazarian

#6 Mitch Dergazarian

CF/LHP
5' 10"
Senior
Joel Belk

#9 Joel Belk

RHP
6' 3"
Senior
Joe Huthsing

#12 Joe Huthsing

1B/RHP
6' 2"
Senior
Michael Shaw

#22 Michael Shaw

RHP
6' 4"
Junior
Michael Staudinger

#26 Michael Staudinger

OF/1B
6' 3"
Sophomore
Jonny Reid

#29 Jonny Reid

LHP
5' 10"
Junior
Sean Aspinall

Sean Aspinall

OF
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Cam Bennett

#1 Cam Bennett

5' 9"
Junior
OF
Mitch Dergazarian

#6 Mitch Dergazarian

5' 10"
Senior
CF/LHP
Joel Belk

#9 Joel Belk

6' 3"
Senior
RHP
Joe Huthsing

#12 Joe Huthsing

6' 2"
Senior
1B/RHP
Michael Shaw

#22 Michael Shaw

6' 4"
Junior
RHP
Michael Staudinger

#26 Michael Staudinger

6' 3"
Sophomore
OF/1B
Jonny Reid

#29 Jonny Reid

5' 10"
Junior
LHP
Sean Aspinall

Sean Aspinall

6' 0"
Junior
OF