SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Azusa Pacific won its PacWest road opener against Point Loma 6-3 Friday to secure the PacWest Regular Season title outright. It is the Cougars' fourth consecutive season in which they have finished atop the PacWest standings.

Osvaldo Tovalin's two-run home run in the eighth inning was the biggest hit of the day, as it gave the Cougars a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning. Last week's NCBWA Region Player of the Week continued his incredible season that sees him just one batting average point behind teammate Joseph Kim (.408) for the PacWest Triple Crown this season (.407, 11 HRs, and 38 RBI).

Griffen Herrera and Tido Robles added insurance as they each hit solo shots to extend the lead to 6-3 before Casey Dykstra shut the door in the ninth to record his fourth save of the season, securing the PacWest Championship for the Cougars once again.

In game two, the Cougars led 3-0 after Tovalin hit his second home run of the day to right field. But, the Sea Lions responded with four unanswered runs which included a walk-off solo home run from Easton Waterman to win the game 4-3.

With the split Azusa Pacific improves to 22-8 on the season and 15-6 in PacWest action.

How it Happened (Game 1): The Cougars opened the scoring in game one in the first with four consecutive singles with two outs. Evan Banks started the two-out rally before Joseph Kim, Herrera, and Omar Lopez all followed suit. Herrera and Lopez each drove in one to put Azusa Pacific up 2-0.

The Sea Lions would tie it up in the bottom of the frame though against A.J. Woodall. Woodall allowed three straight hits to start the inning before he stranded a pair of runners in scoring position with a pair of punchouts to end the inning. 

In the third, Woodall gave up a solo home run that was one of the three total hits he gave up after the first inning. In his final four innings of work, Woodall retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced to complete his day with seven strikeouts in seven frames.

Down 3-2 in the eighth, Tovalin sent the go-ahead two-run homer to right center to snatch back the lead. Tovalin's 10th home run of the year leads the team and the PacWest Conference. Herrera followed later in the inning with a home run of his own to right center field to increase the Cougar lead to 5-3.

After David Wylie tossed a scoreless eighth, Robles' second home run at Point Loma doubled the Cougars lead to 6-3 in the top of the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Dykstra retired the first two Sea Lions before allowing two batters via walks. With the tying-run at the plate and two outs, Dykstra closed the door with a flyout to end the game. With the 6-3 win, the Cougars clinched the PacWest Southern California Pod Championship.

How it Happened (Game 2): The Cougars started game two with a pair of runs in the second inning. Lopez and Brett Soria each drove in runs with sacrifice flies to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Tovalin's 11th home run of the season, and second of the day was a no-doubter to right field to increase the Cougars lead to three.

Starting pitcher Cory Dawson allowed a pair of RBI singles in the third to get Point Loma within a run before the Sea Lions would tie the game with another RBI single in the fifth.

The Cougars offense struggled to get anything going from the fourth inning on, recording just two baserunners and one hit. Point Loma starter Nathan Garkow tossed seven innings, recording six punchouts and three earned runs.

Point Loma would win the game on a walk-off solo home run by Easton Waterman in the seventh off Dawson to split the series in San Diego, 4-3.

Up Next: A two-game set on April 24 against Point Loma will take place at home at the Cougar Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. while the nightcap will begin around 3:00 p.m. Watch the game here, and follow along with live stats here.