The Azusa Pacific softball team clawed their way into the win column for the first time in 2020 on day two of the Concordia Kickoff Classic in Irvine, defeating Cal State San Marcos 4-3 before defeating Cal State East Bay 6-1 later in the afternoon.

Game 1: Azusa Pacific 4, Cal State San Marcos 3

Azusa Pacific took advantage of two timely extra-base hits to provide all their scoring in the opener.  With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the second, the Cougars loaded the bases behind a pair of singles and a walk by the bottom third of the order.  Leadoff hitter Emily Moran proceeded to clear the bases with a triple to right center, giving Azusa Pacific a 3-0 lead.

Cal State San Marcos would fight back with a single run in the third inning and two unearned runs in the fifth to level the score at 3-3, but in the bottom half, Azusa Pacific would strike back with the game-winning run.  With two out and a runner on second, junior designated player Becca Jewett hit a triple of her own, again to right center, to plate Brielle Fraijo, giving the Cougars a lead they would not relinquish over the final two frames.  Jewett went 2-3 at the plate, the only player in the game with multiple hits for Azusa Pacific.

Senior lefthander Kat Ung went the distance to collect her first win of the season, retiring the final six batters she faced to finish the job. For the game, Ung allowed just four hits and two walks.  While she only recorded one strikeout, it proved crucial, occurring at the end of the sixth inning with the tying run on third base. 

Game 2: Azusa Pacific 6, Cal State East Bay 1

The Cougars' bats sprung to life even further in their second game of the day, collecting 12 hits en route to a comfortable win over the Pioneers.  The star of the game offensively was shortstop Amanda Woods.  The junior reached base all four times she came up, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, scoring three runs and driving in two on an inside-the-park home run in the seventh.  Woods opened the scoring by taking home in the top of the second while Julia Olivares was caught in a rundown.

After the Pioneers tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, the Cougars broke through in the fourth, with Woods scoring again on a one-out single by Megan Tucker.  The Cougars would add to their lead again in the fifth on a two-out RBI double by Jewett before erupting for three in the final inning.  After Woods' two-run homer, Daniella Toschi singled and came around on a pinch-hit double by Makeila Laulu to complete the scoring.

On the mound, Elizabeth Phillips scattered six hits over six innings to collect her first collegiate win.  The freshman struck out two batters before Grace Brown pitched a scoreless seventh frame to get the Cougars back to .500 on the season.

The Cougars (2-2) wrap up their weekend with one more game on Sunday against Stanislaus State.  First pitch at Orange County Great Park in Irvine will be at 12:30 p.m.