Tucson, Ariz. -- After being rained out and the original schedule pushed back due to fields deemed unplayable. The Cougars took to the field at the Cactus Classic for the first time since joining the NCAA. Welcomed back with a Cactus Classic sweep, beating Southern Nazarene 4-1 and Franklin Pierce 12-0 in four and a half innings.
 
GAME 1: Azusa Pacific 4, Southern Nazarene 1
 
Kat Ung saw her fourth start of the season improving 2-2. Ung retired six in her seven innings pitched giving up one run, a solo home run in the first inning.  Then held the Thunder Cats scoreless from there on out.
 
After several scoreless innings by both teams, the Cougars offense came alive. With two outs in the top of the fifth Amanda Woods watched four balls got passed her and claimed first. Then senior Illiana Jimenez beat out a bunt put down the third base line for a single advancing Woods to second. Deep in the count, Cayla Broussard took a ball deep left to advance both Woods and Illiana Jimenez. The Cougars Kayla Jimenez pulled a ball down the right-field line for a two-run RBI to spark the Cougars win over the Thunder Cats.
 
Riding the fourth inning offensive success Racqual Espinoza pinch hit for Woods and brought in Emily Moran and Jenna Gorman with a double down the line to tally up the final score 4-1.
 
GAME 2: Azusa Pacific 12, Franklin Pierce 0
 
The Cougars proved that there was plenty of scoring to be had in game two. All but one Cougar crossed the plate, with multiple Cougars scoring on different occasions.
 
Junior transfer Espinoza recorded her first win as a Cougar serving up an impressive seven strikeouts in five innings pitched.
 
Unlike game one the Cougars pounced early, getting on the board in the first inning from freshman Becca Jewetts double to right field that scored Kayla Jimenez.
 
The Cougars success was short from over as they raked in another four runs in the third and seven runs in the fourth.
 
Erinn Jaramillo led the third off for the Cougars taking the count deep before she roped a single down the left field line and scored by Jewett's homer. With bases cleared and no outs, Megan Tucker hit a double up the middle, followed by a Cougar pop up and another double up the middle by Anneliese Davis to score. Woods then hit a sac to the pitcher that advanced Davis to third, followed by a wild pitch the Davis capitalized on scoring the Cougars fifth run of the game.
 
All it took was a single and two walks to put the Cougars in motion to put on a seven-run inning. With all the pressure on the defense, Tucker hit one to the third basemen in whom threw the ball away in attempt to throw Kayla Jimenez out at home, keeping the bases loaded with no outs. Hannah McClure in as a pinch hitter for Jaramillo scored on a groundout to second. Leaving runners on second and third for Davis to score with her double down the left side. The Cougars strung together a handful of singles to load the bases on last time, allowing Kayla Jimenez to hit a three-run double up the middle to put an exclamation mark on game two with a final score of 12-0.

What's Next: The Cougars will host California Baptist in their home opener Saturday, February 24 at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.