OAKLAND, Calif. – Saturday's doubleheader sweep required a deep dive into the school record book.
Azusa Pacific didn't allow a run in taking both games against Holy Names. With their strong pitching and defense this weekend, the Cougars put themselves in a rare spot in program history.
By posting a shutout in three of the four games, they became the first Cougar team since 1979 to post three shutouts in a four-game stretch. It is only the third time such an occurrence has happened at Azusa Pacific with the 1978 team also turning the trick.
The consecutive shutouts on Saturday marked the eighth time the Cougars won back-to-back games via a shutout. It is the first time since 1998 it has happened.
After the doubleheader sweep the No. 18 Cougars have won four straight overall to improve their overall record to 19-3 with a 6-2 mark in PacWest game.
Game One – Azusa Pacific 10, Holy Names 0
Billy Oxford nearly went the distance to improve his record to 5-0. The righthander threw 113 pitches in eight innings where he allowed just five hits and struck out seven. Mitch Williams closed out the game with two strikeouts in the ninth inning.
It was a close game until the sixth frame when the Cougars busted open the contest. Azusa Pacific led 2-0 after a third inning homerun from Adrian Tovalin and a Mychael Goudreau RBI single in the fifth stanza. A three-run sixth inning saw Cam Bennett hit a two-run single then a Goudreau RBI base knock.
Oxford continued to mow down the Hawks hitters as the offense gave him the five-run cushion. Holy Names had just two base runners in innings sixth through eight before Azusa Pacific sent 11 batters to plate in the ninth as they scored five more times to round out the scoring.
Game Two – Azusa Pacific 6, Holy Names 0
Dillon Miyashiro went all seven innings, surrendering just three hits while striking out three. He was efficient during his 77-pitch outing as he faced just three over the minimum.
Azusa Pacific scored early to secure the win. In the initial frame, a Justin Gomez RBI single and Adrian Tovalin sacrifice fly gave the Cougars a quick 2-0 edge. Cam Bennett made the score 3-0 after he crossed the plate on an error. Gomez and Tovalin scored in the third frame for the five-run lead which was more than enough for Miyashiro.
The righthander allowed his first hit in the third inning. He never let a runner reach second base until the fourth stanza and never allowed a Hawk hitter to reach third base until the final frame.
The Cougars rounded out their scoring in the sixth inning on a Quincy Quintero RBI base knock.
