IRVINE, Calif. -- While No. 14 Concordia cruised to a 9-1 win in five innings to open the day, the Cougars battled back in game two, ultimately winning 3-0 off of an extra inning three-run home run by Aly Montesino to deliver a split for the Cougars.

GAME ONE

The Cougars opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. Erika Hanson started the inning off with a single, however, back-to-back pop ups quickly put two outs on the board. Montesino kept the inning alive by drawing a walk, which also allowed Hanson to advance to second and into scoring position. Dani Burghardt then stepped to the plate, capitalizing on the opportunity by singling to right center to bring Hanson in to score and make it 1-0.

The lead would be short-lived for the Cougars, as Concordia answered back in the bottom of the third with six runs off of five hits to make it 6-1. After a scoreless fourth and top half of the fifth inning, the Eagles closed the game out in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to make it 9-1 and enact the mercy rule. 

Callie Nunes picked up the victory for the Eagles in the circle, as the Cougars' two hits in the third would be their only of the game. 

GAME TWO

Game two was a pitching dual between Montesino and Concordia's Kelsea Sweeney, as each pitcher retired their opponents 1-2-3 in four of the first seven innings of the ball game. 

Through the first seven innings, the only real threat for either offense was by Azusa Pacific, as the Cougars had a runner on third in the top of the fourth and in the top of the seventh. In the fourth, Brielle Fraijo started the inning off with a single, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Montesino. With Burghardt at the plate, Fraijo was able to steal third, but was then out at home when Burghardt hit into a fielder's choice. In the seventh, Burghardt was walked to begin the frame, and Maddi Hamilton came on as a pinch runner. Hamilton advanced to second when Becca Jewett grounded out, and then moved up to third on a ground out by Kinsey Erickson. Sweeney was able to force a lineout to end the inning and leave Hamilton at third to keep the score 0-0. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Montesino sat the Eagles down in order to force extra innings.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Keelie Koepp was called upon to pinch hit for Hanson, and Koepp was able to reach base by way of an error. Hanson was then brought back into the game to run, but she was out at second when Amanda Woods hit into a fielder's choice on the ensuing at-bate. With two away, Fraijo kept the inning alive with an infield single that put two on base for Montesino. 

Montesino, who had shut Concordia down all game in the circle, fittingly dealt the final blow with the bat in her hand, launching the go-ahead three-run home run well over the fence in left center field. She would then shut the door on the Eagles by retiring them in order in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Montesino went the full eight innings for the Cougars, allowing just two hits and one walk, earning her eighth win of the season (8-6). 

By the Numbers: Montesino's complete game is her eighth of the season, and she holds an ERA of 1.98 over 95.2 innings pitched. Burghardt was the only Cougar to have a hit in both games, while Brielle Fraijo was the only player on either team to have multiple hits in either game. For the first time this season, Azusa Pacific did not commit an error in either game of a doubleheader, and the Cougars have now gone three straight contests without an error.