Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific rallied for a season-opening split against UC San Diego, bouncing back from a 6-1 defeat in the opener with a six-run fourth inning that led to an 8-5 win in the second game Monday evening.

A pair of triples sparked the six-run fourth-inning explosion, which rallied the Cougars from two runs down to take a 7-3 lead. Sophomore first baseman Kayla Jimenez tripled to left-center to score Madison Hernandez, who drew a leadoff walk to start the frame, and two-time PacWest Player of the Year Nicki Sprague cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run triple to the gap in right-center.

Although UC San Diego cut into the lead with two runs in the fifth, Ariana von Zboray and Megan Mejia kept the Tritons scoreless over the final two innings to preserve the win.

Hernandez provided the Cougars' lone run in the opener with a fourth-inning solo home run down the left field line, which broke a scoreless tie. Senior starting pitcher Narissa Garcia was perfect through the first four innings before UC San Diego put together three consecutive two-run frames to rally for the opening-game win.

Hernandez was four-for-six on the day with two hits in each game, and Sprague, Jimenez, and junior centerfielder Abry Moreno also hit safely in both games of the twinbill. Junior southpaw Carly Xepoleas picked up the win in the nightcap, scattering five runs (three earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Von Zboray fired one scoreless frame with one strikeout, and Mejia earned the save with 1.2 innings of shutout relief.

The Cougars play five different NCAA Division II opponents at this weekend's Desert Stinger Tournament, with two games scheduled Friday and three more Saturday at Majestic Park in Las Vegas.