AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific didn't show any signs of rust after its two-week hiatus, whenMadison Hernandez hit a walk-off three-run home run to give Azusa Pacifc an 8-0 victory over defending Pacific West Conference champion Dixie State in six innings at the Cougar Softball Complex on Friday. In the second game of the doubleheader the Red Storm got a grand slam from Jessica Gonzalez, which was just enough to hold off a Cougar comeback for a 6-5 victory.

Dixie State had won 52 of its last 53 Pacific West Conference contests dating back to the 2014 season before the Cougars hit four home runs in the opener, including a pair by Hernandez, while senior Narissa Garcia threw a four-hit shutout to upset the No. 18-ranked team in the nation.

Azusa Pacific left eight of a maximum possible nine runners on base in the first three innings, but grabbed a 2-0 lead after the first three frames with a two-run home run by Hernandez.

Kayla Jimenez launched a solo shot to lead off the fifth inning that extended the Cougars' lead to 3-0. Annie Sisler then fired a two-run homer of her own to put Azusa Pacific firmly ahead at 5-0.

In the sixth inning, both Cayla Broussard and Nicki Sprague reached safely on infield singles, and then Hernandez hit her second home run straight away to center field to take an eight-run lead for the victory.

It is the Cougars' third win this season over one of the top 10 programs in the nation after sweeping Adelphi two weeks ago. It is also the first time that the Cougars defeated the Red Storm since doing so on the road over two years ago.

Garcia improved to 5-1 on the season, allowing just five runners to reach base in six shutout innings. Hernandez now has four home runs on the season. Sisler finished the first game 3 -for-5, while Sprague was 3-for-4 with two runs.

In the second game, Gonzalez hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to take a 6-1 lead for the Red Storm. The Cougars got one run back in the sixth inning on a double by Jimenez followed by a throwing error that allowed her to come around to score.

With two outs and nobody on, Illiana Jimenez faced an 0-2 hole, but singled down the first base line to keep the Cougars alive. The Cougars were down to their last strike again at 1-2 when Ally Wimer sent a sharp groundball at third base, when the throw forced the first baseman to jump, Wimer reached the bag just in time to stay alive once again.

Sprague then homered to centerfield on the first pitch she saw to cut the deficit to just one run with two outs. However, the Red Storm put an end to the two-out rally when Hernandez's sharp groundball up the middle was snagged by Josey Hartman for the final out.

The Cougars are now 10-5 on the season with a 1-1 record in the PacWest, while the Red Storm go to 13-5 and 1-1. Dixie State and Azusa Pacific will play another doubleheader on Saturday at noon at the Cougar Softball Complex.