AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific baseball lost 13-3 in the final game of the three-game series against Chico State Saturday. The Cougars were outhit 11 to seven and left seven runners on base. Azusa Pacific won the opening series however after winning both games on Friday.

How it Happened: 

True freshman Isaac Mendez started on the hill for the Cougars, and was impressive in his collegiate debut. Mendez threw four straight scoreless innings allowing just one hit and striking out one.

The two teams were locked in a deadlock until the fifth inning when the Wildcats struck first. They used small ball to their advantage as a sacrifice bunt moved a runner into scoring position before an RBI single from Tyler Grissom gave them the 1-0 lead. Then with two outs and two runners on, Willie Lajoie hit a home run off of redshirt freshman Hayden Merda to increase the Wildcats lead to 4-0.

The Cougars cut the lead in half in the seventh inning with back-to-back home runs from Tido Robles and Nick Estrella. Robles was a bright spot in the lineup going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run. Estrella received the start at designated hitter and hit his first home run since the 2018 season.

The Wildcats poured the runs on from there. A four-run eighth inning broke it open for the Wildcats courtesy of a two-RBI double from Eddie Zavala. Grissom followed it up with a two-RBI single to cap off the inning giving Chico State an 8-2 lead.

The Cougars threatened in the bottom half of the eighth inning but only scored one run. Estrella drove in the run with a bases loaded walk for his second RBI of the game. The Cougars stranded three to end the inning.

Chico State scored five more in the ninth, getting two earned against Casey Dykstra before scoring three unearned runs to cap off the win. 

After the opening series of the 2020 campaign, the Cougars are 2-1. They will now turn their attention to the Concordia Eagles who come to town Tuesday, February 4th. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Cougar Baseball Complex.