Azusa Pacific dropped both games of a Saturday doubleheader with visiting Hawai'i Hilo, as the Cougars lost 14-7 in game one, and 11-2 in the second game of the day. Overall, the Vulcans took the series 3-1, as the two teams split a doubleheader on Friday.
 
Game One: Hawai'i Hilo 14, Azusa Pacific 7
 
Azusa Pacific jumped out to an early lead to start the day, as the Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Amanda Woods provided the highlight of the inning, as she hit a three-run homerun to left center. It was Woods second homerun of the season.
 
Down 4-0, Hawai'i Hilo scored five runs in the top of the third inning to take a 5-4 lead. However, the Cougars would take the lead right back in the bottom half of the inning, as Azusa Pacific hit three doubles and scored two runs, including an RBI double from freshman Dani Burghardt, and an RBI double from junior Megan Tucker. Heading to the fourth inning, Azusa Pacific held a 6-5 lead.
 
Hawai'i Hilo would tie the game at 6-6 with a run in the top of the fourth, but the Cougars would score a run in the bottom half off of an RBI single from senior Racqual Espinoza, which gave the Cougars the lead back at 7-6.
 
Following a scoreless fifth inning, the Vulcans grabbed control of the game late, as Hilo scored eight runs over the final two innings, while Azusa Pacific did not score after the fourth inning.
 
Senior Melanie Abzun went 3-for-3 in the game, as she also scored a run. Espinoza finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Burghardt was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Junior Kat Ung was the starting pitcher for the Cougars, as she went 6 innings.
 
Game Two: Hawai'i Hilo 11, Azusa Pacific 2
 
Before Azusa Pacific even had a chance to put runs on the board, the Cougars trailed 6-0, as Hawai'i Hilo scored six runs in the top of the first inning. The game remained 6-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Azusa Pacific scored two runs to cut the Hilo lead down to 6-2.
The Vulcans offense would reawaken in the seventh, as Hilo scored five runs on five hits, and push its lead up to nine runs. The Cougars would go down in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game.
 
Espinoza pitched 6.2 innings in the game for the Cougars, giving up five earned runs and striking out four batters. Burghardt went 2-for-3 in the game, with an RBI.
 
Up Next: Azusa Pacific is now 12-12 overall, and 9-7 in the PacWest. Following a 12-game homestand, the Cougars hit the road for the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Calif. Azusa Pacific will play five games in Turlock, beginning with three games on Friday, March 29. The Cougars will play Western Washington at 11:30 a.m., Stanislaus State at 4:30 p.m., and Northwest Nazarene at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, Azusa Pacific will play Humboldt State at 9:00 a.m., and Central Washington at 11:30 a.m. For full tournament details, please visit the following link:
 
https://warriorathletics.com/sports/2007/12/21/SBALL_1221072329.aspx