Despite a weekend in which the Cougars entire four-game series against Academy of Art was rained out, Azusa Pacific showed no signs of rust. The Cougars went 2-0 on Monday, defeating host Dominican by finals of 4-3 and 6-0.
 
Game One: Azusa Pacific 4, Dominican 3
 
The Cougars opened the scoring in the top of the 2^nd inning, combining timely hitting and defensive miscues by the Penguins to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. With one out and runners on second and third, freshman Dani Burghardt laid down a bunt that scored sophomore Amanda Woods from third base. Burghardt reached on a fielder's choice, which put runners at the corners for junior Daniella Toschi. Toschi capitalized on the opportunity, as she singled 1-2 pitch through the left side, scoring senior Melanie Abzun from third base. Azusa Pacific would add the third run in the inning when Toschi was able to score off of a passed ball.
 
Dominican would respond in the bottom of the second, as the Penguins scored a run without recording a hit in the inning.
 
With the score still 3-1 three and a half innings, Dominican was able to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Dominican shortstop Karitza Reyes hit a game tying two-run homerun, with one out in the inning.
 
Azusa Pacific would take the lead right back in the top of the fifth. Abzun doubled to left center with one out in the inning, putting herself in scoring position for Burghardt. Burghardt would answer the call, driving a ball to center field for a double that would score Abzun and give the Cougars a 4-3 lead. Senior pitcher Racqual Espinoza would hold the Penguins scoreless for the final three innings, giving the Cougars their first PacWest win of the season.
 
Espinoza threw her second consecutive complete game, as she went seven innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. With the win, Espinoza improved to 3-3 on the season, with a 3.08 ERA.
 
Six different Cougars combined for Azusa Pacific's seven hits, led by a 2-for-4 performance from junior Emily Moran. Burghardt finished the game with two RBIs, while Abzun finished with two runs scored. Senior Cayla Broussard and Woods each went 1-for-3, while also earning a base-on-balls in the game. Toschi finished 1-for-4, with an RBI and run scored.
 
Game Two: Azusa Pacific 6, Dominican 0
 
In the second game of the day, junior pitcher Kat Ung shut down the Dominican offense, while the Azusa Pacific offense knocked in six runs on 11 hits.
 
The Cougars got off to a fast start, as they were able to score two runs in the top of the first inning off of three hits and a walk. Moran came to the plate in the top of the first with Broussard on second, and one out. Moran brought Broussard in with a double to centerfield, and then Moran came in to score two batters later, when Woods laid down an RBI bunt single.
 
In the top of the third, Azusa Pacific added two more runs, when Abzun hit a two-run homerun with two outs in the inning. In the inning, the first two Cougar batters grounded out, when Woods kept the inning alive with a single.
 
Azusa Pacific added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh inning, scoring one run in each inning. The run in the seventh inning came by way of a solo homerun with two outs from junior Megan Tucker.
 
Ung was dominate throughout the game, as she threw a complete game shutout, holding the Penguins to just two hits. She also helped lead the Cougars offensively, as she went 2-for-4 from the plate with a run scored.
 
In addition to Ung, two other Cougars had a multi-hit game, as sophomore Becca Jewett finished 2-for-4, and Woods also was 2-for-4, with an RBI and a run scored. For both Abzun and Moran, their homeruns are their first of the season.
 
Up Next: The Cougars improved to 5-7 overall, and 2-2 in PacWest play. Azusa Pacific will close the series with Dominican tomorrow, March 5, with a doubleheader starting at noon. The Cougars will then return home for a four-game series against Hawai'i Pacific, with doubleheaders on Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9.