Azusa Pacific opened a four-game series with Hawai'i Pacific, taking a 2-0 series lead with a 5-1 and a 9-7 victory on Friday.
 
Game One: Azusa Pacific 5, Hawai'i Pacific 1
 
Azusa Pacific scored all five of its runs in the first three innings of the game, as the Cougars scored a run in the second inning, and then added four more runs in the bottom of the third. In the second, senior Melanie Abzun led off the inning with a double to left center. Abzun advanced to third on a flyout from sophomore Amanda Woods, and then was brought in to score off of a single by freshman Dani Burghardt.
 
In the third inning, the Cougars used two hits and three errors by the Hawai'i Pacific defense to get four runs across and build the lead. Junior Emily Moran had an RBI in the inning, and Burghardt then knocked in her second RBI of the day, as she singled to left center. The inning was jumpstarted by senior Cayla Broussard, who had a one out single to reach base and put the pressure on the Hawai'i Pacific defense. Broussard came around to score when Moran laid down a sacrifice bunt.
 
Junior pitcher Kat Ung was dominate throughout, as she threw five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out four. Senior Megan Mejia came on in relief for the Cougars, as she pitched the final two innings, giving up an earned run on three hits.
 
Offensively, Burghardt led the way for Azusa Pacific, as she went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Abzun also reached base twice, as she was 1-for-2 with a run scored, as well as a base on balls.
 
Game Two: Azusa Pacific 9, Hawai'i Pacific 7
 
The Cougars jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first inning, however, the Sharks made it interesting in the top of the seventh.
 
In the bottom of the first inning, Azusa Pacific scored five runs off of five hits, including two extra-base hits. Down 1-0 after the top half of the inning, the Azusa Pacific responded, as four straight Cougars registered a hit. Junior Brielle Fraijo started things off, as she single with one out in her first at-bat of game two. Moran stepped into the box next for the Cougars, and she promptly brought Moran in to score, as she hit a one out, RBI double to left field. Sophomore Becca Jewett moved Moran over to third, as she singled up the middle. Woods then came to the plate for Azusa Pacific, and she drove home both Jewett and Moran to give Azusa Pacific a 3-0 lead. A few batters later, freshman Ashley Kincaid singled up the middle to add two more runs.
 
Following a run for Hawai'i Pacific in the third inning, the Cougars would add insurance runs with a run in the third inning, and two more runs in the fourth. Azusa Pacific added one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Abzun hit an RBI single.
 
While Azusa Pacific entered the final inning with a 9-2 lead, Hawai'i Pacific was able to make things interesting. The Sharks would score five runs in the final inning, and had the tying run at the plate, trailing 9-7 with a runner on second base. Ung was called upon to close out the game for the Cougars, as she took over for freshman Jahzell Estrada, striking out the final batter to seal game two of the day.
 
While Ung got the save, senior Racqual Espinoza took home the win, as she went four innings, allowing just one hit, one run, and five strikeouts. With the win, Espinoza's record improved to 4-3 overall.
 
Seven different Cougars combined for 11 hits, including three Cougars with multiple hits. Jewett had a great game offensively, as she finished 3-for-4, scored three runs, and had an RBI. Abzun finished 2-for-2, with two runs and two RBIs, as well as two base-on-balls drawn. Fraijo was 2-for-4, and crossed the plate twice for two run in the game. In addition to Abzun, two other Cougars also had multiple RBIs, as Woods and Kincaid each had two.
 
Up Next: With the win, the Cougars have now won four straight, improving to 7-7 overall and 4-2 in the PacWest. Azusa Pacific will go for a sweep tomorrow, Saturday, March 9, as the two teams are right back at the Cougar Softball Complex for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.