Azusa Pacific dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader, as Hawai'i Pacific defeated the Cougars 8-7 in game one, and then won 8-0 in five innings in game number two of the day.
 
Hawai'i Pacific 8, Azusa Pacific 7
 
Despite grabbing a 3-0 lead by the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars were unable to maintain their lead. Azusa Pacific scored a run in the top of the first, and then two more in the bottom of the third inning. In the top of the fourth inning, Hawai'i Pacific not only erased the deficit, but grabbed a one run lead, as the Sharks scored four runs to take a 4-3 lead.
 
The Cougars would respond in the bottom of the fifth, as senior Racqual Espinoza, who was the Cougars starting pitcher in the game, singled in a run to knot things up at 4-4. However, Hawai'i Pacific would take the lead right back, scoring a run in the top of sixth inning, and three runs in the top of the seventh, giving the Cougars an 8-4 deficit to overcome in the bottom of the eighth.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Azusa Pacific made things interesting, scoring three runs to cut the Hawai'i Pacific lead down to 8-7. The Cougars had three hits in the inning, and brought the go-ahead run to the plate, with a runner on first base. However, the Cougars were unable to push across anymore runs in the inning.
 
Espinoza went 6.1 innings for the Cougars, allowing seven runs on 13 hits, while striking out three batters. Senior Megan Mejia came on in relief for Azusa Pacific in the top of the seventh with one out, as she faced three batters, giving up a hit and a walk.
 
Espinoza and freshman Dani Burghardt led the way offensively for the Cougars, as Espinoza was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Burghardt was 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and three runs scored. Three other Cougars had multiple hits in the game, as senior Cayla Broussard, junior Brielle Fraijo and senior Melanie Abzun each had two hits in the game.
 
Hawai'i Pacific 8, Azusa Pacific 0 (5 inn.)
 
Through the first three innings, the two teams were locked in a 0-0 tie. Hawai'i broke through, and in a big way, in the top of the fourth. The Sharks scored seven runs on nine hits in the fourth, to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Azusa Pacific was unable to chip away in the bottom half of the fourth, and the Sharks added one more run in the top of the fifth. Following a scoreless bottom half for Azusa Pacific, the eight run difference brought into effect a mercy rule that ended the game after five innings.
 
Prior to the fourth inning, junior Kat Ung held Hawai'i Pacific to just one hit, however, she was taken out of the ballgame with one out in the fourth, as she surrendered all seven runs in the inning. Freshman Jahzell Estrada came on in relief for Ung, as she got the final two outs in the fourth, and finished the game off in the fifth. Estrada faced eight batters in the game, giving up an earned run and striking out one batter.
 
Azusa Pacific was held to just two hits offensively, as sophomore Amanda Woods and Abzun each had a hit in the game.
 
Up Next: Following the four-game series split with Hawai'i Pacific, the Cougars are 7-9 overall, and 4-4 in PacWest play. Azusa Pacific will host Chaminade for a four-game series, starting with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 19 at 4:00 p.m., with another doubleheader on Wednesday, March 20, beginning at 4:00 p.m.