SEASIDE, Calif. — A split of day two's doubleheader has Azusa Pacific baseball in position to win its first series of the season. The Cougars and Otters each won a game, Azusa Pacific took the first by a score of 6-4 before Cal State Monterey Bay stole the nightcap by a score of 10-4.
Tido Robles, Brett Soria and Casey O'Laughlin each have impressed this series recording a hit in almost every game, while David Hays and Issac Mendez pitched well in game one of the doubleheader.
How it Happened (Game 1): The Cougars fell behind in the first as starting pitcher David Hays walked a pair before a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs. The Otters singled in a pair with the next batter before Hays went to work dealing out of the jam with three consecutive strikeouts.
A one-out Brett Soria double jump-started the offense in the second, with second and third with two outs, Cade Marshman's clutch two-RBI single to right field tied the game at 2-apiece. In the third, Azusa Pacific took its first lead with an RBI groundout from Tyus Santa Anna which scored Casey O'Laughlin from third.
Hays continued to mow down the Otters in the second, third, fourth, and fifth frames in dominating fashion. In the third, he allowed a walk but induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
In the top of the fifth, Tido Robles smashed his team-leading fourth home run of the season to center field to up the Cougars' advantage to 4-2. Robles continues to lead the team in RBI in the early going of the season.
Including the double play, Hays retired eight in a row going into the sixth before a solo home run got Cal State Monterey Bay back within a run. He would be relieved by Isaac Mendez in the sixth after tossing 5.2 innings allowing three earned runs, six walks, but striking out five en route to his second win of the season. Mendez recorded the final out of the frame via a strikeout.
How it Happened (Game 2): It was Azusa Pacific that would take the lead first this time Casey Dykstra's solo home run to right field broke the deadlock. It was Dykstra's first road home run of the season.
The Otters would respond immediately with a three-run bottom half to take the lead for the first time in the game against starting pitcher Steven Silvas. After allowing three two-out walks to load the bases, Silvas gave up a bases clearing double to make it 3-1.
After rallying in the opening game of the day, the Cougars bounced right back again. This time O'Laughlin's second home run of the season, and first on the road tied the game up at 3-apiece in the fourth.
Still tied at 3-3 in the fifth, Silvas gave up a leadoff single before freshman Grayson Gifford came in relief. The Otters loaded the bases before Nico Hartojo took the wind out of the Cougars sails with one-swing, sending the ball over the fence producing all four runs to make it 7-3 on the grand slam.
From that point on the Cougars didn't tally another hit in the final two frames eventually losing 10-4 in a game that was just seven innings.
Up Next: The Cougars (4-7) will close out this four-game weekend series with the Otters tomorrow morning. First pitch for game four at the Otter Sports Complex is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Livestats will be available HERE.
