LA MIRADA, Calif. - Azusa Pacific won the first game of its doubleheader with Biola on Saturday afternoon behind a spectacular three-hit shutout pitching performance from Elizabeth Phillips, and the Cougars added five runs on offense to defeat the Eagles 5-0. The Cougars were then shutout in the second game by a score of 1-0. 

Game 1: Azusa Pacific 5, Biola 0

The Cougars started off slow offensively, yet came to life and put up five runs over the last four innings. The Cougars put their first runs on the board in the third inning on a sacrifice bunt from Brielle Fraijo in which Erica Hanson scored and Amanda Woods came around to score as well on an error. In the fourth inning, the Cougars continued playing station-to-station with a sacrifice fly from Dani Burghardt to make the score 3-0. The Cougars were backed by an impressive pitching performance from Phillips, who pitched a complete game shutout against the Eagles while allowing just three hits. Phillips finished her seven innings at just 74 pitches. Azusa Pacific added two runs in the final two innings on a Becca Jewett sacrifice fly in the sixth and an Azaria Wilson single in the seventh. Phillips ended the game for the Cougars with a 1-2-3 inning which included her lone strikeout of the game. 

Game 2: Azusa Pacific 0, Biola 1 

Game two was a pitching duel from start to finish. After putting up five runs in the first game, the Cougars were held scoreless by Raylene Roybal who threw seven scoreless innings while allowing four hits. Aly Montesino of Azusa Pacific also had a great day in the circle, as she pitched six innings while striking out five. The Eagles lone run of the game came unearned in the first inning when Jennifer Morinishi scored on a throwing error by the Cougars. The Eagles scored just the one run in the first inning after having the bases loaded with one out. The Cougars were unable to answer the Eagles the rest of the game following the first inning score.

By the Numbers: 

Fantastic pitching was the name of the game for the both teams in this doubleheader. Each team had a pitcher throw a complete game shutout on a day in which there were five runs scored across both games. In game one, all three hits on Phillips were singles by Jennifer Morinishi of the Eagles. In game one, true freshman Kinsey Erickson hit a double which marks the first extra base hit of her career, and brings her to 4-for-14 at the plate in the early part of this 2021 season. In game two, freshman Aly Montesino's outing marked her second straight scoreless six inning performance. She has now allowed only three runs across 18 innings pitched.