CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In day one of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, Azusa Pacific was defeated by #5 Saint Leo 7-1, but bounced back and won the second game of the day by a final of 5-0 over Harding.
#22 Saint Leo 7, Azusa Pacific 1
Saint Leo was able to take a quick lead in the game, scoring a run before an out was recorded in the top of the 1st inning. The Lions would add to their lead throughout the game, scoring in five different innings. In total, the Lions scored seven runs on nine hits, while drawing six walks.
For Azusa Pacific, the Cougars were held scoreless through three innings. Azusa Pacific was able to breakthrough in the fourth inning when senior Melanie Abzun started things off with a single into left field. The following batter, sophomore Becca Jewett, reached on a fielder's choice while Abzun advanced to second on a throwing error. With runners on first and second, sophomore Amanda Woods came to the plate and laid down a sacrifice bunt to put Abzun and freshman Olivia Smith, who pinch ran for Jewett, both into scoring position at second and third base. With junior Jenna Gorman up for the Cougars, she was able to draw ball four, which was a wild pitch that allowed Abzun to score. At the time, the Cougars cut the lead to 3-1.
However, Saint Leo increased their lead by scoring three runs in the next half inning, stifling any thoughts of a Cougar comeback.
Junior Kat Ung took the loss in the game, as she threw six innings for the Cougars. Senior Megan Mejia came in to pitch a scoreless frame in the seventh inning. Offensively, the Cougars had five hits, four of which came from senior Cayla Broussard and junior Emily Moran, who each had two hits in the ballgame.
Azusa Pacific 5, Harding 0
In the second game of the day, the Cougars jumped out to an early 2-0, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one runner on base, senior Racqual Espinoza hit an RBI double to kick off the scoring in the game. Espinoza scored in the following at-bat, as Abzun singled her in.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cougars added two more runs. With two on and one out, Jewett came through with an RBI single to put Azusa Pacific up 3-0. Later in the inning, Woods crossed home plate as an unearned run, scoring on an error. The Cougars extended their lead by one more run in the fifth inning, when Woods had an RBI single with two on and two outs in the inning.
Azusa Pacific received a dominant pitching performance from Espinoza, who went six innings without allowing a run, while giving up just three hits and striking out three. Ung came in to seal the deal on the first win of 2019, throwing a scoreless seventh inning.
Woods was the catalyst for the Azusa Pacific offense, as she went 3-for-4 on the game. Jewett posted a 2-for-4 performance. In total, seven Cougars had at least one hit in the game, with four different players tallying an RBI.
Up Next: Azusa Pacific, 1-3 overall, returns to action tomorrow, for two more games in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Cougars will play #22 Valdosta State at 4:30 p.m. (EST), followed by #3 North Georgia at 6:30 p.m. (EST).
