AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific had their chances but couldn't cash-in on their opportunities.
Western Oregon handed the Cougars a 3-1 defeat in the season opener for both teams as Azusa Pacific left 12 runners on base.
It was the first season opening loss for the Cougars since the 1996 season; a string of 19 consecutive wins.
In all but one of the innings Azusa Pacific put at least one runner on base but had only a first inning run to show for it.
The Cougars threatened early as they loaded the based with one out in the first inning. Azusa Pacific scored its first run of the season when
Michael Staudinger drew a walk which forced home
Michael Franco from third base. However, Wolves starting pitcher Brady Miller worked out of the jam with a strikeout and fly out to leftfield to close on the opening frame.
Western Oregon tied the score in the third inning with a Trevor Podritz single to leftfield which scored Brock Pradere from second base. A few pitches later Joey Crunkilton cleared the rightfield fence for a two-run homerun to give his team a 3-1 edge. In the bottom half of the stanza the Cougars loaded the bases with nobody out but, once again, Miller was able to wiggle out of the jam.
Azusa Pacific continued to put at least one runner on-base each all but one of the closing innings but couldn't drive the runners home. In the fifth inning
Mitch Dergazarian nearly hit a line drive over the right field wall but it knocked off the yellow line at the top and he had to settle for a double and was stranded on the base paths
A fairly high tension bottom of ninth inning saw Franco lead off with a single. While Wolves reliever was able to get the next three batters in order,
Pablo O'Connor and Adrian Tovalin each put a strong swing on the ball put it went right at a defender.
Degarazian reached base in all but one of his four at-bats. The senior had two doubles amongst his three hits.
Cougar starting pitcher
Jonny Reid went 4.2 innings with four strikeouts and three earned run during his 86-pitch evening.
Miller had to grind through five innings in 107 pitches and struck seven before leaving with the lead. Elias Bedolla earned the save with two innings of effort where he struck out two.
Offensively for the Wolves, Crunkilton big blow proved to be the difference as he had two RBI and a run scored. All nine players reached the base paths at least once for Western Oregon.
The teams are back at the ballpark tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
