LA MIRADA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific pulled out the late game in their Cornerstone Cup showdown at Biola Saturday afternoon, pulling off a 4-2 win in eight innings after dropping the opener by a count of 11-1.

Game 1: Biola 11, Azusa Pacific 1 (6 innings)

The Cougars actually struck first in this game, with Olivia Smith scoring on a wild pitch in the top of the third inning to open the scoring.  But Biola would remind everyone just why they made it all the way to the national championship game last spring, striking for five in the bottom half of the inning, and then adding three more in both the fourth and sixth to end the game early.  Biola took advantage of four Cougar errors, but also worked the count effectively, drawing five walks in the contest.  As a result of the errors, only one of the eight runs the Eagles scored off Cougar starter Sydnie Sahhar was earned.  Biola starter Paige Austin allowed four hits while striking out seven to get the win.  Four different Cougars each had a single hit in the game.

Game 2: Azusa Pacific 4, Biola 2 (8 innings)

The Cougars manufactured a run in the top of the first.  Smith led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and came in to score the game's first run via a Dani Burghardt sac fly.  Burghardt would come through again with a two-out single in the third to plate Ally Chin, doubling the Azusa Pacific lead.  Meanwhile, game two starter Katie Korstrom had needed just 23 pitches to get through the first three innings unscathed.  But Biola would tie up the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Despite multiple chances for both teams, neither side could break the deadlock in regulation.  

In the top of the eighth, the Cougars finally pounced, as the first three batters reached base.  Caitlin DeCanio's double down the left field line drove in two to provide the winning margin.  Korstrom retired the side in order in the bottom half of the inning to wrap up her sixth complete game of the season.  Korstrom struck out four in the circle, while Burghardt went 3-3 at the plate with a run scored and two RBI to lead the way offensively.

By the Numbers:  The Cougars split the doubleheader, the fifth time they have done so this season.  Azusa Pacific went 5-7 against Biola last season.  There are still two more games coming up against the Eagles at home in April, so no points were clinched for either side towards the Cornerstone Cup today.  Korstrom lowered her ERA to a team-best 2.35 with 52 strikeouts on the season.  DeCanio's game-winning double tied her for the team lead in both doubles with seven and RBI with 17.  Smith currently leads the PacWest in stolen bases with 14, while Chin is third in that statistic, having swiped 10 without being caught.  As a team, Azusa Pacific has stolen 43 bases in 49 attempts, both the most in the conference.