AZUSA, Calif. – No. 6 UC San Diego visited Azusa Pacific for a doubleheader on Monday afternoon, and the Tritons swept the two games 2-0, 3-2.
 
Game One: UC San Diego 2, Azusa Pacific 0 (10 innings)
 
Both teams' starting pitchers came to play in game one, combining for 18 scoreless innings and just eight hits. For the Cougars, Kat Ung went eight innings, striking out two hitters and surrendering four hits. With one out in the top of the fourth and a runner on third base, Ung retired the next 12 batters she faced.

In the top of the ninth inning, Grace Brown came on in relief of Ung. With one out, UC San Diego was able to get a runner in scoring position when Mikaila Reyes doubled to right center. Brown was able to work out of trouble in the inning, as she walked the next hitter she faced to put runners on first and second, and then she forced Clarissa Reynoso into an inning ending double play. Reynoso grounded out to Cougar third baseman Dani Burghardt, who stepped on third for the force out and then threw it over to Emily Moran to record the third out of the inning.
 
UC San Diego broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 10^th, when Keila Bosinger tripled home the eventual game-winning run with one out in the inning. The Tritons would add an insurance run in the following at-bat, as Sherriah Harrington singled home Bosinger to make the score 2-0, Tritons. In the bottom of the 10^th, the Cougars went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
 
Game Two: UC San Diego 3, Azusa Pacific 2
 
Following a scoreless game for the Cougar offense, they were able to get runs on the board right away in game two. In the bottom of the first, Azusa Pacific was able to get a rally going with two outs in the inning. Brielle Fraijo was on first base when Becca Jewett was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Michaela Fonoti loaded the bases for the Cougars when she drew an eight pitch walk. Jenna Gorman came to the plate and delivered with a single to left field that brought home Fraijo and Jewett.
 
The Tritons answered right back in the top of the second, with Sophia Real tying the game at 2-2 with a two-out double. Cougar pitcher Elizabeth Phillips was able to limit the damage in the inning, stranding Reyes on third base.
 
Both offenses were once again kept in check by the opposing pitcher, as Azusa Pacific did not score again in the contest, while Phillips kept UC San Diego from crossing the plate for the next three innings.
 
The Tritons would score the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. Harrington doubled to start the inning, and she was promptly moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Isabel Lavrov in the ensuing at-bat. Phillips nearly escaped the inning unscathed, as she picked up the second out of the inning by forcing Reyes to groundout to Cougar shortstop Amanda Woods. Brittney Ross-Smith came through for the Tritons with two outs, singling to right field and bringing home Harrison to take a 3-2 lead.
 
Azusa Pacific looked to respond in the bottom of the sixth, with Jewett opening the inning with a double down the left field line. However, the next three Cougars went down in order. Phillips held the lead at 3-2 in the top of the seventh, but Triton pitcher Kaia Simpson retired the Cougars in just eight pitches in the bottom of the seventh to seal the sweep and earn the save.
 
Up Next: Azusa Pacific is now 4-5 overall. The Cougars will host No. 10 Concordia on Saturday, February 22 for a doubleheader beginning at noon.