AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific didn't have much time to enjoy the view from the top of the Pacific West Conference standings, as Hawai'i Hilo rebounded from Friday night's sweep by picking up a sweep over the Cougars Saturday afternoon with 4-2 and 3-2 wins.

The sweep dropped Azusa Pacific to 16-7 overall and 7-3 in PacWest play, while Hawai'i Hilo improves to 22-9 overall, 14-4 PacWest. The current PacWest leader by winning percentage is now Dixie State, which has won 12 straight since dropping three of four to Azusa Pacific to begin conference play.

Senior catcher Madison Hernandez hit her seventh home run of the season while junior centerfielder Abry Moreno contributed a three-hit performance in the opener, but the Cougars' offense was limited to two runs each game by complete-game pitching performances from UHH starters Billi Derleth and Danielle Wilson.

The Vulcans jumped out to early leads with first-inning outbursts in each game, starting the opener with three runs off Cougar starter Narissa Garcia, who only allowed one run on three hits the rest of the way. The Hernandez home run cut the UHH lead to 3-1 in the third inning, and Moreno's two-out double in the fourth brought in another run to trim the margin to 3-2.

However, Hawai'i Hilo cleanup hitter Bailey Gaspar answered in the fifth with a solo home run that gave the Vulcans an insurance run, and Derleth retired 10 of the final 12 batters she faced to hang on for the win.

In Game 2, Gaspar delivered a two-run double to give Hawai'i Hilo another early lead, although Xepoleas settled in to keep the Vulcans off the board for the next five innings. Meanwhile, Wilson retired 12 of the first 13 Cougars she faced, finishing off the run by striking out the side in the fourth inning.

However, the Cougars loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, leading to a two-run frame that tied the game at 2-2. Sophomore rightfielder Anneliese Davis delivered a deep fly ball to the warning track in left, scoring Kayla Jimenez from third base to get the Cougars on the board. Two batters later, sophomore second baseman Illiana Jimenez poke a single through the left side to bring Janelle Eccles around for the game-tying run.

Following a scoreless sixth, Hawai'i Hilo used back-to-back extra-base hits with one out to regain the lead. Brittany Huff tripled to right center, and Victoria Garcia drove the next pitch down the left-field line for an RBI double. Moreno kept the Cougars alive with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but Wilson induced a popup in foul territory for the final out to finish off the Vulcans' victory.

Azusa Pacific continues a busy stretch with a Monday doubleheader at home against Chaminade before making its annual trek to Turlock for the Tournament of Champions, where the Cougars will face five different opponents from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference next Friday and Saturday.