AZUSA, Calif. -- Junior lefthander Carly Xepoleas threw a five-inning no-hitter as No. 23-ranked Azusa Pacific scored a season-high 16 runs in the second game of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader, completing the sweep after the Cougars rallied for seven runs in the final inning of the opening-game win.

With the sweep, Azusa Pacific remains on top of the Pacific West Conference standings by a difference in winning percentage over California Baptist. The Cougars, who visit Dominican on Monday, improved to 34-10 overall and 21-5 in the PacWest, and a makeup date for Friday's rained-out doubleheader against Holy Names remains to be determined.

"Today's games really showed the resilience and even-keeled approach of this team," Azusa Pacific head coach Carrie Webber said. "They have the confidence and the maturity to understand that as long as they have an out left, they still have a chance. They're a mature, confident team, and that's something they've really developed as a group over the past couple of years."

Xepoleas struck out six and issued one walk, which came in the third inning, and freshman third baseman Christine Pinela made a diving stop and fired across the diamond from her knees to steal a potential hit from Geena Garabedian to end the first inning.

"There are days you can tell when a pitcher has a handle on the game, and that was really the case for Carly's no-hitter today," Webber said. "She has a strong desire to pitch with excellence, and it was nice to see her pitch with a confidence that showed on a day like today."

While Xepoleas worked on her gem, the Cougar offense put together three runs in the first inning, four in the third, and put the game out of reach with an eight-run fourth inning. All nine offensive starters registered at least two hits in the victory, piling up season-highs of 16 runs on 21 hits to lift Azusa Pacific's team batting average to a PacWest-leading .347.

"Our offense is capable of really helping the pitchers to give them some breathing room to let loose on some pitches without worrying that one swing might determine the outcome of the game," Webber said. "The defense has also been playing well, which also helps the pitchers relax. Our offense, defense, pitching, and catching are all complementing each other, and this team works really hard together to get the win no matter what it takes."

Junior second baseman Nicki Sprague, senior catcher Madison Hernandez, and sophomore first baseman Kayla Jimenez led the way with three hits each.

In the opening game, the Cougars were held hitless until the fifth inning when senior catcherAlly Wimer hit a one-out single up the middle. By that point, Holy Names had already built up a 3-0 lead, and Vanessa Pulido put up another scoreless frame despite surrendering another one-out single in the sixth.

Senior designated player Jessica Melcher got the seventh-inning rally started with a one-out infield single to shortstop. The Cougars strung together five more hits along with one walk, one error, and a wild pitch to take a 7-3 lead. Pinela broke the 3-3 tie in the seventh with a two-run, one-out single up the middle, providing the final winning cushion before Wimer added a sacrifice fly and Melcher added an RBI single to left for her second hit of the inning.

"We hadn't played the best game up to that point, and the way we were playing was not indicative of a team about to win a ballgame," Webber said. "We got the merry-go-round going in the seventh, and we made some things happen to get the momentum going our way. We maintained our composure and capitalized on some errors, hits, and good baserunning, and all of a sudden the team I'm used to watching was out there."

Holy Names drew back-to-back one-out walks and loaded the bases with two outs when Courtney Tarbat was hit by pitch. A bases-loaded walk cut the lead to 7-4, but relief pitcherAriana von Zboray followed the walk with a three-pitch strikeout of Megan Porche to pick up the save.

Senior righthander Narissa Garcia earned the win, striking out eight while surrendering five hits.