IRVINE, Calif. – Azusa Pacific opened the 2020 season at the Concordia Kick-Off Classic on Friday. The Cougars dropped both games of their opening day slate.
 
Game One: Cal State Dominguez Hills 12, Azusa Pacific 0 (5 innings)
 
The Toros had a consistent attack at the plate and a dominant outing from starting pitcher Alyssa Olague, handed the Cougars a loss to start the season.
 
Cal State Dominguez scored at least one run in every inning, and had two five-run innings in the bottom of the second and the bottom of the fourth. The Toros had 13 hits in the game, including three extra-base hits.
 
The Cougars had three hits in the contest. Emily Moran and Jenna Gorman each had a single, while Becca Jewett had a double. Freshman pitcher Elizabeth Phillips made her collegiate debut, as she threw three and a third inning, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits. Jahzell Estrada came on in relief of Phillips, throwing two-thirds of an inning allowing two runs on three hits.
 
Game Two: Chico State 3, Azusa Pacific 2
 
Through the first three innings, pitching held the upper hand for both teams. Kat Ung made her season debut, holding the Wildcats scoreless in the first, second and third inning. Chico State would put the first run of the game on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Kristin Worley drove home Maddy Johnson to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The Cougar offense would strike back in the top of the fifth inning. Azusa Pacific scored its first runs of the season in the fifth when Moran drove in Madison Salgado and Carley Gay on a two-RBI single to give the Cougars a 2-1 advantage. The lead would be short-lived for the Cougars.
 
Chico State tied the game in the bottom half of the fifth, by way of an RBI double from Relani Peleti with two-outs in the inning.
 
Neither offense scored in the sixth inning, sending the two teams into the seventh inning locked at 2-2. In the top of the seventh, the Cougars threatened to take the lead. Ung drew a walk to begin the inning, and Olivia Smith followed with a bunt single to put runners on first and second with no outs. The Wildcats' pitching staff prevented the go-ahead run from crossing the plate, sitting the Cougars down 1-2-3 to head to the bottom of the seventh.
 
Chico State began the bottom half of the inning with a single to put a runner on with no outs. Following a sacrifice bunt, the Wildcats' game-winning run moved up to second base with one out. Brooke Larsen delivered the victory for Chico State, as she hit an RBI triple that brought the runner on second home and ended the ball game.
 
Offensively, Azusa Pacific had five hits. Amanda Woods was the lone Cougar to have a multi-hit game, hitting a triple and a single in the contest. In the circle, Ung took the loss after going six and third innings, while striking out three batters, walking seven, and surrendering three earned runs.
 
Up Next:
The Cougars are right back on the field tomorrow, as they have two games on Saturday. Azusa Pacific will take on Cal State San Marcos at 10:00 am, followed by Cal State East Bay at 3:00 pm.