AZUSA, Calif. – The 2021 Azusa Pacific softball season came to a close on Saturday at the Cougar Softball Complex, as the home team dropped a pair of hard-fought games to the Southern California pod champion Concordia Eagles, 1-0 in the opener and 8-5 in the finale. Following the two games, three seniors were honored in a post-game ceremony: Azaria Wilson, Becca Jewett, and Brielle Fraijo.

Game 1: Concordia 1, Azusa Pacific 0

The story of this game would revolve around missed opportunities for the Cougars, as they left 11 runners on base.  Azusa Pacific would have five hits, five walks, and two hit batters over the course of the game, but only got a runner to third base twice, including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth.  Both times, the Eagles were able to force a ground ball to retire the side.  Meanwhile, Liz Phillips was throwing the game of her life, retiring the first 17 batters she faced. But with two out in the sixth, Concordia was able to string together three straight singles to not only break up the perfect game, but also score the game's only run.  They were the only three baserunners Phillips allowed, as she struck out three in a complete game effort.

Game 2: Concordia 8, Azusa Pacific 5

The Cougars had much better luck at bringing runners home in the nightcap, as the home team would jump out to a 4-0 lead within the first two innings.  With one out in the first, Dani Burghardt doubled in Brielle Fraijo to give the Cougars their first lead of the weekend against Concordia.  In the following frame, the Cougars struck again, scoring on a throwing error, and then tacking on two more via an Amanda Woods double.  But the Eagles would respond, narrowing the gap with three runs in the third and then taking the lead with three more in the fifth inning.  Azusa Pacific would get back within one when Burghardt doubled in another run in the sixth, but Concordia would score a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to seal the deal.

By the Numbers:  Aly Montesino had eight plate appearances in the doubleheader and ended up 2-2 with five walks and a sacrifice bunt.  Playing at home for the final time in her career, Becca Jewett had a double in each game and three hits overall on the day.  Between the two games, the Cougars stranded runners on base in 13 out of 14 innings, and 21 in all.  With the results of today's games, the Cougars finish the season 18-18, 7-17 in the PacWest Southern California pod.

2021 Azusa Pacific Softball Seniors

Azaria Wilson: Azaria has been with the Cougar softball program for two seasons, appearing in eight games.  She got her first hit in a Cougar uniform in February 2020 in a win over Cal State East Bay.  She appeared in four games this season, also collecting a hit in a win at Biola on March 6.  Azaria was a 2020 PacWest All-Academic honoree, and plans to travel the world while pursuing a career in Information Technology, with the dream of working for big time sports teams and production companies.

Becca Jewett: Becca has played four seasons with the Cougars, appearing in 131 games, starting 123.  She started 37 games as a freshman and tied for the team lead in home runs with five while driving in 25 runs.  On the penultimate day of that season, she went 2-4 with a pair of doubles and a career-high four runs batted in in a 7-2 win at Biola.  As a sophomore in 2019 she hit .325 and was named to both the All-PacWest first team and West Region second team.  Jewett has amassed 122 hits during her Azusa Pacific tenure for a .320 career batting average, including 11 home runs, has driven in 79 runs while scoring 48, and has career highs this season with a .366 average and 27 RBI.  Becca is a three-time PacWest All-Academic honoree.  After graduation, she will be moving home to the Seattle area where she will be getting married and starting a career in senior care management.

Brielle Fraijo: Brielle has patrolled center field for the Cougars each of the last three seasons, appearing in 93 games and starting 91 of them.  She has recorded 76 hits and scored 52 runs in her Cougar career, and this season has hit a career-best .327 while leading the team with 15 stolen bases.  During her first season with the program in 2019, she ended a pair of wins over Biola by throwing out the would-be tying run at the plate.  Brielle is a two-time PacWest All-Academic honoree, and will pursue a career in law enforcement with the hopes of joining the Los Angeles Police Department.