AZUSA, Calif. – The offense nearly picked-up a rough defensive day.

Looking to win their PacWest series opener on Saturday afternoon, the Cougars settled for a split of the four-game set with a 6-5 setback against Fresno Pacific on Saturday afternoon.

Azusa Pacific was something of their own worst enemy as they committed four errors which led to four unearned runs. The Cougars continued to use their power as they clocked three more homeruns to bring their conference team leading total to 35 but it wasn't quite enough on Saturday.

Adrian Tovalin mashed the entire series as he hit two more long balls today to bring his series total to six. He went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

After each team scored a pair of runs in the first inning, the Sunbirds took the lead in the third stanza. Baron Bower crossed the plate after throwing error advanced him into scoring position. In the fifth inning the visitors scored a pair of unearned runs. Both Tristen Alvarez and Eddie Sievers scored after a pair of throwing errors.

In the eighth inning Fresno Pacific scored an all-important insurance run. Hunter Villanueva put himself into scoring position after another throwing error then scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a McKay France base knock.

After not mounting a rallying effort in the previous innings, the Cougars nearly came all the way back in the last frame. Trailing 6-2, Tovalin hit the first pitch over the leftfield wall. With one-out Quincy Quintero hit a two-run long ball to bring the Azusa Pacific deficit down to a single run. Matt Bergandi was able to get the final two outs to earn his fourth save of the season.

The Cougar hit the road next week when they travel to the Bay Area for a conference series at Holy Names.