TURLOCK, Calif. -- Behind a stellar pitching performance from junior Kat Ung, Azusa Pacific defeated PacWest opponent Academy of Art on Thursday, by a final of 7-2. Ung threw a complete game for the Cougars, as she allowed just two hits, no earned runs, and struck out seven Urban Knight batters.
 
Offensively, Azusa Pacific used a five-run third inning to grab a 5-0 lead. To start the inning, junior Jenna Gorman had an infield single. Senior Cayla Broussard was up next for the Cougars, and she singled down the left field line to put runners at first and second with no outs. Junior Brielle Fraijo came to the plate third in the inning, as she hit into a fielder's choice that was able to move Gorman to third. The next three Cougar hitters walked, which brought home Gorman and Fraijo, giving an early 2-0 lead to Azusa Pacific. Academy of Art would change pitchers, however, senior Melanie Abzun would promptly meet the new pitcher with a two-RBI single to grow the lead to 4-0. The final run in the inning scored off of an Emily Moran fielder's choice.
 
Academy of Art threatened in the bottom of the third, as the Urban Knights scored a run in the inning and had the bases loaded with one out in the inning. Ung was able to limit the damage, as she recorded a strikeout for the second out of the inning, and then forced a groundout to end the inning.
 
The Urban Knights would pull a little closer in the bottom of the fifth, as Academy of Art scored a run to cut the lead down to 5-2, Cougars.
 
Following a scoreless sixth inning, Azusa Pacific added insurance in the top of the seventh, as Abzun had an RBI triple, and Moran followed with an RBI single to push the lead up to 7-2. Ung closed out the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, as she got the first two hitters to ground out and fly out. The third Urban Knight hitter walked, however, Ung would strikeout the next hitter to finish off the game.
 
Abzun led the Cougars offensively, as she went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Gorman also had a strong offensive performance, as she went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Moran finished with two RBIs, while freshman Dani Burghardt and sophomore Amanda Woods each had an RBI.
 
Up Next: Azusa Pacific is now 13-12 overall, and 10-7 in the PacWest. Up next, Azusa Pacific will participate in the Tournament of Champions this weekend in Turlock, Calif. The Cougars 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