AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougars persistence paid off late.

Michael Staudinger's RBI single in the eighth inning proved to be the game winner as No. 9 Azusa Pacific won the first of four PacWest games against Hawaii Pacific on Thursday afternoon 3-2.

With the win the Cougars have started each of their five PacWest series with a victory. They are now 27-4 overall and 14-3 in PacWest play.

The Sharks got the early lead as they scored twice in the initial inning. They pieced together their two runs as the top two batters in the line-up – Tanner Tokunaga and Ryan Torres-Torioka – each recorded a base knock. Tokunaga eventually scored on a groundout while Torres-Torioka hit home plate on a wild pitch.

Despite being held off the scoreboard as Shark starting pitcher Tyler Van Stone threw well, Azusa Pacific tied the game in the fifth stanza. After getting a base hit in three of the first four innings, the Cougars broke through when Mychael Goudreau hit a two-run double with one out which allowed Quincy Quintero and Cam Bennett to touch home plate.

It was only a matter of time before the home team took the lead. In the final four innings, the Cougar pitchers limited the Sharks (14-21, 4-19) to just two hits without a runner getting into scoring position.

The Azusa Pacific eighth inning unfolded perfectly. After Pablo O'Connor started the inning with a single, Justin Gomez walked. With one out, Staudinger laced a single down the rightfield line on a full count for his second hit of the game.

Mitch Williams came out of the bullpen to seal the win with a perfect inning in earning his first save of the season.

Tomorrow the squad's continued their conference set with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.