Alameda, Calif. --  Azusa Pacific opened the series against Academy of Art with 8-1 and 5-1 victories in Northern California this afternoon. The Cougars saw two strong outings from their starters, A.J. Woodall and David Hays. Omar Lopez and Aaron Roose led the Cougar offense. Lopez collected four hits, with two doubles, six RBI and two runs scored, while Roose tallied four RBI in game one including a three-run homer. George Christison also collected four hits with one double, one RBI, and three runs scored. 

How it happened (Game 1) - Neither team threatened to score until the seventh inning, when the Cougars tacked on a run. With one out in the frame, Christison singled to the shortstop to put a runner on first. With two outs, Roose drove an 0-2 pitch down the left field line for a double that scored Christison from first. 

In the top of the eighth, Tido Robles walked to give the Cougars a base runner with one out before Omar Lopez homered down the left field line to give Azusa Pacific a 3-0 lead. With two outs, the Cougars saw more life as Spencer Rasmussen doubled to right field. Quinn Cotter was put in as a pinch runner for Rasmussen before Christison collected his second hit of the day, singling to left field to score Cotter. Casey Dykstra drew a walk to give Roose two runners on, as he capitalized, driving an 0-2 pitch over the left field fence for his third home run of the season, giving Azusa Pacific a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Woodall worked another scoreless frame, sending the Cougars back to the plate for the final time. Casey O'Laughlin led off the inning with a double, and two batters later Lopez singled through the left side to bring O'Laughlin home. Chantz Powers came in on relief of Woodall to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth. The Urban Knights hit a solo home run to erase the potential shutout, but Powers retired the last two batters to complete the 8-1 win for the Cougars. 

How it Happened (Game 2) - In the top of the third, Christison led off the inning with a single to left field. Casey Dykstra reached on an error by the pitcher before Roose singled to left center to load the bases for the Cougars. Lopez capitalized on the opportunity with a bases clearing double to put the Cougars up 3-0. O'Laughlin then singled down the right field line to bring Lopez home making it a 4-0 game. In the bottom of the third, Academy of Art homered to cut the deficit to 4-1, but David Hays induced an infield fly and strikeout to end the frame. 

Declan Kearney came in on relief of Hays in the seventh, who threw six innings, while only giving up three hits and striking out nine, a season-best for him. 

There was not much action from either side of the diamond again until the top of the ninth for the Cougars. Robles singled to get on and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A ground out to second advanced Robles to third, and Tyus Santa Anna singled to left field to bring Robles home and give Azusa Pacific a 5-1 lead. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Kearney struck out the first batter before two singles from the Urban Knights put runners at first and second with one out. Two fly outs from Academy of Art ended the threat and the Cougars captured their second win of the day via a final score of 5-1. 

By the Numbers - In game one Woodall saw a season-high innings pitched (8) and strikeouts (9). Offensively, seven Cougars had hits in the first game, totaling five extra base hits, while Roose collected a season-high four RBI. In game two, Lopez, O'Laughlin, Santa Anna and Christison each had a multi hit game, collecting two hits a-piece. The Cougar pitching staff only allowed two runs through 18 innings of work and sat down 23 batters via the strikeout. Kearney now leads the Cougar pitching staff with a 2.00 ERA, and through nine innings pitched he has collected 17 strikeouts and three saves. The Cougars are now 22-2 overall against Academy of Art. 

Up Next - The Cougars (8-10) will continue their four game series against the Urban Knights with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for game one is set for 1:00 pm at Laney College in Oakland, Calif. Livestats will be available HERE.