AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougar softball team received a rough greeting in its return to conference play Tuesday at the Cougar Softball Complex, dropping the opening game of their doubleheader to No. 8 Concordia, 5-0, before falling in the nightcap by a score of 5-2.

Game 1: Concordia 5, Azusa Pacific 0

The Cougars were only able to muster three hits, all of them singles, in the opening game.  Concordia jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first five batters, as the Eagles notched two singles and two doubles in the opening frame off starter Aly Montesino.  Montesino and Dani Burghardt had back-to-back singles with two out in the bottom half of the inning, but that would be the high-water mark for the Cougars offense.  Concordia would add a run in the second without the benefit of a hit before the Cougars went to the bullpen.  Katie Korstrom had a strong outing in relief for the Cougars, holding Concordia to just one run while striking out six batters over the final 5 2/3 innings.  The Cougars did not get a runner as far as second base after the first inning.

Game 2: Concordia 5, Azusa Pacific 2

In the second game, the Cougars were able to keep things scoreless until the third inning, when the Eagles struck for a pair of runs with one out via a triple and a throwing error, one of five errors the Cougars would commit in the game.  Concordia would double their advantage with a two-run homer in the third, only the second home run the Cougars have allowed all season.  Concordia would add another run in the sixth before the Cougar bats finally sprung to life in the bottom half of the inning.  With two out, Amanda Woods reached on an error, the first baserunner the Cougars had had since the second inning.  Brielle Fraijo followed up with a bunt single, and Montesino laced a double to the wall in left center to plate both runners.  The Cougars would bring the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but were unable to draw any closer.

Up Next: Azusa Pacific (12-10, 5-9 PacWest Southern California Pod) heads right back out to the diamond Wednesday afternoon when they host Chapman University in a non-conference doubleheader.  First pitch from the Cougar Softball Complex is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., and the game can be viewed on Cougars All-Access.