AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougars just keep rolling along.
For the eighth time in 2017 Azusa Pacific swept a doubleheader as the upped their overall record to 29-4 and 16-3 in PacWest games.
The ninth ranked Cougars continue to get solid all around production. In the first game they put together their 15th game of at least 10 hits to get the win. During the second contest, it was strong pitching that paced the squad.
Game One – Azusa Pacific 9, Hawaii Pacific 5
A pair of rallies for the Cougars led to the win.
Similar to the series opener on Thursday evening, Hawaii Pacific scored the first two runs. In the first inning Jordan Mopas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the initial run then in the third frame, Ryan Torres-Torioka touched home plate on a Codi Santana double.
Azusa Pacific tied the contest with a pair of runs in the fourth stanza. Sean Aspinall hit a RBI single for the first run then a Quincy Quintero sacrifice fly evened the score as Adrian Tovalin crossed the plate.
With a strong fifth inning the Cougars looked to be a fine position to get the win. Cam Bennett hit an RBI single for the go-ahead run then Pablo O'Connor scored on a wild pitch followed by a Michael Staudinger sacrifice fly to put the home team in front 5-2.
Hawaii Pacific put together a rally of their own in the seventh inning. The Sharks pieced together three run on four hits, highlighted by Keola Himan two-run single to knot the score at 5-5. The Cougars put to rest any ideas of a Hawaii Pacific win in their portion of the stanza. Azusa Pacific scored the eventual game winning run when the Sharks shortstop mishandled a three out on a groundball which allowed O'Connor to score. Quintero really made the miscue hurt when his double to rightfield plated three runs.
Royal Bradley earned the victory out of the bullpen. He worked 1.1 innings after spelling starting pitcher Billy Oxford.
At the plate Quintero drove-in four while O'Connor went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to help pace the winning offensive effort.
Game Two – Azusa Pacific 5, Hawaii Pacific 0
One big blow was plenty for the strong arm of Dillon Miyahsiro.
For the first time in the series the Cougars put up the first run when Pablo O'Connor's RBI base knock scored Mychael Goudreau.
The big knock came in the third frame when Adrian Tovalin tattooed a 3-1 pitch over the left centerfield wall for a grand slam. Due to a pair of Shark errors, the damaged was increased and Azusa Pacific was more than happy to take advantage of the gift. It was Tovalin's 14th homerun of the season; tying O'Connor for the PacWest lead.
The five-run edge was more than enough for the starting pitching Miyashiro. The righthander threw his second shutout of the season, and team best third complete game, while surrendering just three hits while striking out three. He faced just three over the minimum during his 77-pitch effort.
Aside from Tovalin's big fly, Goudreau's 2-for-4 effort at the dish with a pair of runs scored aided in the offensive effort.
