RIVERSIDE, Calif. – It started well on Saturday but, in the end, a split was what the Cougars had to settle for.
Azusa Pacific won the opener but fell in the nightcap to California Baptist to conclude the four-game PacWest series against their rivals.
With three conference series left on the slate, Azusa Pacific's record stands at 31-7 overall and 18-6 in league games. Next week the Cougars head to San Diego for back-to-back doubleheaders against Point Loma beginning on Friday.
Game One – Azusa Pacific 9, California Baptist 3
An early deficit was of little consequence as the Cougars used a big sixth inning to post the victory.
Azusa Pacific took a third inning lead when Pablo O'Connor hit his second sacrifice fly in the series to bring home Nick Estrella. The home team was able to respond in their half of the stanza with a pair of runs via a Luke Navigato RBI single and when Nick Plaia touched home on a ground ball double-play off of Ryan Williams bat.
Both starting pitchers settled into a rhythm as the squads combined for just one hit during the fourth and fifth innings. Azusa Pacific's offense was on-point in the sixth frame. The first four batters each had a base knock then the fifth batter – Michael Staudinger – got to first base via a Lancer error. A Sean Aspinall singled to leftfield as the hit parade continued. Before California Baptist could record an out, the Cougars held a 6-2 lead. They added to that cushion before the close of the stanza as Cam Bennett ripped an RBI triple to complete the six-run, six-hit frame.
Any hopes of a home team comeback were thwarted by a two-run triple in the seventh inning by Aspinall. Staudinger and Justin Gomez scored the Cougars last runs of the contest on the play. The Lancers final run came on an RBI single in the eighth frame.
Azusa Pacific starting pitcher Kale Morton threw a season high eight innings where he struck out two in upping his record to 4-0.
Game Two – California Baptist 6, Azusa Pacific 1
One big swing made the difference.
After Azusa Pacific took the lead in the first inning when Pablo O'Connor drove home Cam Bennett with an RBI single before the game's first out had been recorded.
The score remained 1-0 in the Cougars favor until the fourth inning. With two-out and the base loaded, pinch hitter DJ Porter hit a 1-1 pitch over the wall for the Lancers second grand slam of the series. The home team added to their lead with a Brian Ruhm homerun in the fifth inning. They scored their final run when Ryan Williams scored from third on a sacrifice bunt.
Azusa Pacific attempts at a comeback were held at bay by relief pitcher Matt Amrhein. He earned his second win of the season by throwing the final 4.2 innings and allowed three base runners during his appearance.
