AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific took three games in a four-game series with defending Pacific West Conference Champion Dixie State thanks to a doubleheader sweep on Satruday, winning 4-3 in 10 innings before overcoming a 6-1 deficit for a 9-6 triumph at the Cougar Softball Complex.

GAME 1: Azusa Pacific 4, Dixie State 3 (10 inn.)

After Dixie State intentionally walked Nicki Sprague and Madison Hernandez to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning, sophomore Kayla Jimenez laid a perfect squeeze bunt down the third-base line to drive home Illiana Jimenez for the walk off victory.

Dixie State started the 10th inning with a runner at second base, but Narissa Garcia retired the side in order to preserve the tie after reentering the game in the previous ninth inning. Garcia threw a total of 7.2 innings with seven strikeouts to earn the win, while Ariana von Zboray threw 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Sprague got the Cougars on the board in the first inning with an RBI-single up the middle to drive home Illiana Jimenez. Azusa Pacific added two more in the third inning when Madison Hernandez hit her third home run of the series after Sprague walked.

However, the Red Storm eliminated the Cougar lead with a double by Janessa Bassett that was played into a three-run inside-the-park home run to tie the game at 3-3. Dixie State tallied 11 hits in the game, but neither team scored for four innings before Kayla Jimenez laid down the game-winning bunt.

GAME 2: Azusa Pacific 9, Dixie State 6

Azusa Pacific scored eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to overcome a 6-1 deficit and complete the doubleheader sweep against the No. 2 team in the nation.

The Cougars had six errors that allowed the Red Storm to score five unearned runs and take a 6-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. After Azusa Pacific failed to make a dent in the lead in the next two frames, the bats came alive in the sixth inning.

Kayla Jimenez started the rally with a single to left field before Christine Piñela hit a single up the middle to put runners on first and second with no outs. After Annie Sisler was hit by a pitch Anneliese Davis got the first RBI with a fielder's choice on a groundball up the middle.

Ally Wimer entered the game as a pinch hitter and drove in another run with an RBI single to put runners at the corners with just one out, trailing 6-3. The Cougars cut the lead to two runs when Illiana Jimenez reached on an error.

Azusa Pacific continued to scrap for runs Cayla Broussard hit an RBI-groundout to second base to make the score 6-5. After Sprague and Hernandez walked, the bases were loaded again for Kayla Jimenez. A wild pitch tied the game and then the sophomore delivered the go-ahead blow with a double off the fence in left center field to drive home Sprague and Hernandez for an 8-6 lead.

Piñela was hit by a pitch in her second at-bat of the eight-run inning and then Sisler added an insurance run with a single through the left side.

Garcia came into the game in the seventh inning to earn the save, retiring the last three batters to secure the come-from-behind victory.

QUICK FACTS

Azusa Pacific improves to 12-5 overall and 3-1 in the PacWest, while Dixie State drops to 13-7 overall and 1-3 in conference.

Azusa Pacific has won five of its last six games, which all came against teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation.

Dixie State had won 52 of its last 53 PacWest games entering the four-game series.

No team had won three games against Dixie State in one season since California Baptist did so in 2012.

Madison Hernandez hit three home runs in a four-game series for the second time in her career after achieving the feat against BYU-Hawaii last season.

Kayla Jimenez became the first Cougar this year to drive in the game-winning run of both games in a doubleheader sweep.

Narissa Garcia threw a total of 8.1 innings and Madison Hernandez caught all 17 innings for the Cougars.

The Red Storm outhit the Cougars 11-4 in the opener, which was the first time this season the Cougars have won, while being outhit. The last time it happened was in the Cougars 2-1 victory in the 2015 season finale

COACH'S QUOTES

"The sweep today give us three out of four. I honestly think we couldn't have asked for a better way to start conference play. This is a great springboard to go into next week and the rest of the conference season."

"I'm very proud of the way the girls played in the second game with a great comeback in the sixth inning. It was crazy, so I'm very excited about what this means for the rest of the season."

"It's hard pitching against the same team on consecutive days, because you don't know if you'll be as effective since they have seen you before, but Narissa executed the game plan we made for her and Madison called four great games. Narissa fought and fought and showed great stamina, perseverance, and courage with the way she pitched this series."

"The first game was a long game, but I think it was good. It shows our fight and our ability to stay in ball games and handle adversity. It's hard to play three and a half hours and then come back and play again, but they were both great wins. I'm extremely proud and happy."

"This is a great start. We've been telling them that they are a great team, but they have to prove it and I think they're starting to prove it."

--Azusa Pacific head coach Carrie Webber