POMONA, Calif. – Strikeouts were plentiful. Runs were not.

One swing from Nic Hernandez ended the game as Cal Poly Pomona posted a 1-0 win on Wednesday evening against Azusa Pacific.

Hernandez hit a ninth inning, one-out solo homerun on a full count in a match-up of regional and local rivals. The game featured just eight total hits while the teams combined for 18 strikeouts.

Cougar starting pitcher Jonny Reid allowed a hit to the leadoff hitter but held Cal Poly Pomona hitless until there was one out in the fifth inning. Before leaving the game after seven innings, the lefthander struck out seven in his fourth start of the season. Despite allowing a base knock in the fifth, Reid arguably had his best inning when he recorded each out with a strike out looking.

Through the first seven innings each team's respective hurlers were in control. The teams combined for just five hits while the pitchers were in control with 17 total strikeouts. During that time frame, Cal Poly Pomona used six pitchers.

In the sixth inning Azusa Pacific pieced together an offensive threat as they put runners on first and second with just one out. However, Bronco relief pitcher Peter Bayer got back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.

Cal Poly Pomona's seventh inning saw Hernandez start the stanza with a strikeout but he reached first base on a wild pitch. The Broncos next batter, Alex Gaskin, bunted him into scoring position. Hernandez advanced to third on a wild pitch with one-out during Jeremy Erb's at-bat. Cody Martin's attempted bunt with one out popped up to Reid who dove for the catch then threw to third base to complete to double play as Hernandez wasn't able to scramble back.

The Cougars put Chris Sandberg into scoring position with one-out in the eighth. But Bronco hurler Zach Williams induced an infield pop-up and flyout to end the scoring opportunity. The home team did the same in their portion of the inning as they had a runner at second base with one out after the game's fourth sacrifice bunt. The reliever duo of David May and Mitch Williams kept the runner from crossing the plate.

Azusa Pacific was able to get Mitch Dergazarian on base with an infield hit to start the ninth inning. Max Bethell recorded a fly out and strikeout before walking pitch hitter Steven Garrett. The scoring chance came to a close with a Tanner Negrette foul out to the catcher.

The Cougars are off until they start PacWest play on March 5 at Hawaii Hilo.