OAKLAND, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific picked up two more wins on Saturday afternoon to sweep the four game series against Academy of Art. The Cougars advance to 10-10 overall and 5-3 in Conference play.

In game one, Steven Silvas was rewarded with the win where the Cougars offense put together a 20-1 win over the Urban Knights. In the fifth inning, Spencer Ramussen hit his third home run of the season followed by a grand slam from Jeffrey Castillo at the top of the eighth inning. The Cougars put together six runs in the sixth inning alone and Silvas delivered eight strikeouts in seven innings. 

In game two, the Cougars finished out the series with a 2-0 win over the Urban Knights where Isaac Mendez picked up the win with six strikeouts and Hayden Merda earned the save with three strikeouts.

How it Happened (Game 1): The Urban Knights started the day by walking Aaron Roose, George Christison, and Robles at the top of the first. Casey O'Laughlin earned an RBI on a sac fly to right field which allowed Roose to score and Christison to advance to third. Omar Lopez picked up a single helping Christison to score before David Hays doubled to left center scoring both Lopez and Robles to close out the four-run frame. 

In the top of the fourth, Casey Dykstra was walked followed by Roose who was hit by the pitch. Christison singled to center field allowing Dykstra to score putting the Cougars up 5-0.

Ramussen hit a solo home run followed by a triple from Brett Soria who then scored off a sac fly from Dykstra putting Azusa Pacific up 7-0 at the top of the seventh. 

In the sixth, Christison singled and advanced to second and third both on wild pitches to put him in scoring position. O' Laughlin capitalized on this by doubling to left center, bringing Christison home for his second run of the game. After a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases, Ramussen singled to center field bringing in Lopez and O'Laughlin to make it 10-0. Still in the inning, Carson Collett entered as pinch hitter for Roose with bases loaded and delivered with a single up the middle bringing in all three Cougars to put them up 13-0. 

In the top of the seventh, Bradley Taylor singled down the left field line before Castillo brought him home with a double and Tyus Santa Anna returned the favor by singling to the left field to score Castillo putting the Cougars up 15-0. 

Azusa Pacific picked up four more runs the next inning as Castillo delivered his first collegiate home run, a grand slam to left field to add to the onslaught to make it 19-0.

In the ninth, Cade Marshman was walked and made it home as Collett doubled to left center to end the Cougars scoring for the game. Collett was 3-for-3 off the bench with four RBI.

Academy of Art scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth but the Cougars would win 20-2.

How it Happened (Game 2): In the top of the third inning, with Dykstra on first and Ramussen on third, Christison got his third hit of the day to bring in Ramussen and to pick up his 12th RBI of the season. 

In the sixth, Robles hit a double followed by a single to left field by Lopez. Lopez was able to advance to third on a fielding error by the Urban Knights allowing Robles to score.

Trying to keep the game alive, Academy of Art was able to pick up two hits in the bottom of the seventh. With bases loaded, Hayden Merda entered the game and delivered three straight strikeouts to put away the Urban Knights and secure the 2-0 win and four-game sweep. 

By the Numbers:  The 20 runs scored by Azusa Pacific in game one is a season-high. It's the best margin of victory (18) since March 22, 2019 when Azusa Pacific defeated Hawaii Hilo, 22-0. The Cougars advance to a 24-2 lifetime record over the Urban Knights. 

Up Next: Azusa Pacific will remain in the Bay area where they will take on Holy Names in another four-game series in Oakland. The Cougars kickoff the series with a doubleheader on Friday, March 25th, at the College of Alameda. The first game will take place at 2pm followed by the second game at 5pm.