AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific swept visiting Adelphi, defeating the Panthers by a 3-2 margin in game one, and a 5-1 victory in the second game of the evening.
 
Game One: Azusa Pacific 3, Adelphi 2
 
The Cougars won the first game of the day in walk-off fashion, as freshman Dani Burghardt laid down a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the seventh that allowed senior Melanie Abzun to slide across home plate, beating the tag attempt by Adelphi's catcher to give the Cougars a 3-2 win.
 
Azusa Pacific jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, as the Cougars score a run in each of the first two innings. In the bottom of the first inning, senior Cayla Broussard kicked things off for the Cougars, reaching on an infield single. Junior Brielle Fraijo's sacrifice bunt moved Broussard to second, and then sophomore Amanda Woods moved her to third on a groundout to the pitcher. Broussard would score on a wild pitch to Racqual Espinoza, that gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
 
In the bottom of the second inning, junior Emily Moran led off for Azusa Pacific, and she smacked a triple into right center to get things going. Abzun came to the plate for the Cougars, and she drove in Moran off of a grounder hit to the shortstop.
 
Junior pitcher Kat Ung fooled the Panther hitters through the first three innings, as she allowed just one baserunner over 10 batters faced to begin the game. Adelphi finally broke through in the top of the fourth, as the Panthers were able to score two runs off of Ung. However, Ung was able to limit the damage, as threw back-to-back strikeouts to end the fourth, stranding three runners on base for the Panthers, and keeping the score tied at 2-2.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Panthers threatened once again, as they had the bases loaded with two outs. Senior Megan Mejia came in to pitch for Azusa Pacific, as she shut Adelphi down by forcing the Panther hitter to line out to Broussard at shortstop to end the inning and keep the score tied at 2-2. Neither offense was able to generate scoring until Azusa Pacific's turn at the plate in the seventh inning.
 
Following two quick outs in the bottom of the fourth, it looked as if the game was headed for extra innings. However, Abzun once again came through for the Cougars, as she drove a ball into right center for the Cougars' second triple of the day. Burghardt then stepped to the plate for the Cougars, bunting in Abzun for the game-winning run.
 
Broussard reached base each time she went to bat in the game, as she finished a perfect 3-for-3 in and also drew a walk. Espinoza and Moran each had two hits in the game. Ung threw 4.2 innings, surrendering just two runs, five hits, and striking out five. Mejia earned her first win of the season, as she pitched 2.1 innings and gave up just one hit.
 
Azusa Pacific 5, Adelphi 1
 
For the second straight game of the day, Azusa Pacific held a 2-0 at the end of the second inning. Azusa Pacific scored both runs in the second inning, despite having the bases empty and two outs. The inning was kept alive by Burghardt, who ripped a double to right center on a 1-0 count. Junior Megan Tucker followed up Burghardt with a double of her own, as she went the other way to left center, scoring Burghardt in the process and giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead.
 
Following a response from the Panthers in the top of the third, Azusa Pacific's lead was cut to a 2-1 advantage midway through the third inning. In the Cougars' half of the third inning, Woods opened things with a triple to centerfield. Sophomore Rebecca Jewett was the next batter to come to the plate for the Cougars, and she scored Woods on a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
Azusa Pacific would add to its lead in the bottom of the fourth, as freshman Ashley Kincaid drove in a run with a one out triple to right center. Kincaid would then cross the plate during the ensuing Cougar at-bat, as the Adelphi pitcher threw a wild pitch that allowed her to score from third. Neither offense would score again in the game.
 
Espinoza started game two in the circle for Azusa Pacific, as she went 4.2 innings, giving up just one run and four hits, while striking out five. She would claim her second win of the season, improving her overall record to 2-2. In the top of the fifth inning, with the Cougars holding a 5-1 lead with two outs, freshman Jahzell Estrada came in to pitch for the Cougars in just her second collegiate appearance. Estrada would throw 2.1 innings of shutout ball, recording the final seven outs for Azusa Pacific and securing the Cougars' second win of the day.
 
Offensively, Azusa Pacific had eight hits in game two. Seven different Cougars recorded a hit, led by Broussard's 2-for-4 performance, including an RBI in the game.
 
Up Next: The Cougars, who improved to 3-5 on the season, are right back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 23. Azusa Pacific will open PacWest play with #9 Concordia. The Cougars and Eagles will play a doubleheader starting at noon, at the Cougar Softball Complex.