AZUSA, Calif. — Azusa Pacific hit five long balls en route to an 11-7 win over Hawai'i Hilo in game three of the PacWest AQ Pod Series Friday afternoon. True freshman shortstop Omar Lopez shined with a home run and a web gem to help the Cougars get one win away from earning the AQ to the NCAA Division II West Regional. 

Besides Lopez, four others went deep including Spencer Rasmussen, Casey Dykstra, Osvaldo Tovalin, and Aaron Roose. It was the third time this season the Cougars have hit five or more home runs in a game. 

Tovalin drove in the first three runs for the Cougars with a solo home run and a two-RBI single with the bases loaded in the fourth. That was all starting pitcher Cory Dawson needed as he recorded his sixth win of the season after tossing six innings, allowing two runs and punching out eight. Dawson escaped a bases loaded jam in the sixth to end his outing when Lopez showed off his range and arm deep in the hole at short, throwing across his body and diamond to end the threat. 

The Cougars added insurance later and went onto win 11-7 improving their overall record to 31-7.

How it Happened: After Tovalin's 14th home run of the season opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, the Vulcans tied it up at one-apiece in the bottom half of the frame.

Tovalin's two-run single in the fourth followed immediately by an Evan Banks' RBI single gave the Cougars a 4-1 lead.

Dawson stranded six Vulcans through the first four innings, punching out five, and striking out the side in the third. 

The Cougars added a run on an error in the fifth before scratching three more across in the sixth, all with two outs. Lopez' solo homer to left field started the two-out rally before a Rasmussen walk led to Dykstra's two-run bomb that gave Azusa Pacific an 8-1 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Dawson allowed three straight singles that gave Hilo its second run of the game. But with the bases loaded and one out, Dawson struck out one before inducing the ground ball to Lopez who's web gem retired the side stranding three Vulcans. It put a bow on Dawson's outing that lasted six innings and tied his second-best strikeout performance of the season with eight.

With the 8-2 lead, Roose led off the seventh with a solo home run to left. His 12th of the season and his fifth bomb in the last six games. 

After a two-run home run by Hilo in the seventh made it 9-4, the Cougars responded with a long ball of their own in the eighth. Rasmussen's third home run of the PacWest AQ Pod Series was a two-run shot to right field that put the Cougars up 11-4.

Hawai'i Hilo scored three times in the ninth before the Cougars closed out the victory winning by a score of 11-7. 

Up Next: The Cougars will take on Academy of Art to start the doubleheader tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. The nightcap will follow around 4:00 p.m. in which the Cougars will face Hawai'i Hilo.