AZUSA, Calif. – It was a doubleheader full of unusual events, but Azusa Pacific prevailed, walking off with a 3-2 win in game one against Hawai'i Pacific before pulling away for an 11-1 win in the nightcap.

Game 1:  Azusa Pacific 3, Hawai'i Pacific 2

It was clear that this was not going to be your normal softball game two batters in.  With the leadoff runner on first, the Sharks laid down a sacrifice bunt.  On the play, the runner on first kept going and slid into third just ahead of the throw.  When the Cougars did not immediately throw the ball back to the pitching circle, the runner got up and stole home to make the score 1-0.  Fast forward to the bottom half of the inning.  Olivia Smith led off by lifting a fly ball that just got over the left fielder's glove and rolled all the way to the fence, allowing Smith to record an inside-the-park home run, the first of her career, tying the score at 1-1.

The Sharks were able to bring in a run via a sacrifice fly in the fourth to reclaim the advantage, and held it all the way to the bottom of the seventh.  With the Cougars down to their last out, Smith again hit a soft pop that landed safely in shallow center.  Azusa Pacific then sent Katie Korstrom in to pinch hit.  Smith rather boldly stole second on a 2-2 pitch.  Then with the count full, Korstrom launched a fly ball to deep right that bounced right in front of the fence.  The Sharks' right fielder was unable to stop herself in time and crashed into the fence, and by the time the center fielder was able to get over to pick up the ball, Smith had already scored and Korstrom was rounding third to provide the winning run.  Smith was the only Cougar with multiple hits in the game, while Liz Phillips threw three innings of shutout relief to earn the win.

KORSTROM'S WALK-OFF:

Game 2:  Azusa Pacific 11, Hawai'i Pacific 1 (5 innings)

The Cougars scored in every inning but the third to complete the sweep of the day.  Dani Burghardt got the offense going in the first by singling in Ally Chin.  Then in the bottom of the second, the Cougars combined patience at the plate with some sloppy defense by the visiting Sharks, batting around without the benefit of a hit.  In all it was three walks, three errors, three strikeouts, and three runs, making the score 4-0 after two innings.

Korstrom continued her hot streak in the circle, holding the Sharks to just a pair of hits in the contest.  The Cougars busted the game open for good in the fourth inning, sending 12 batters to the plate.  Burghardt had a pair of run-producing hits in the inning, and in all, five different Cougars would pick up an RBI and seven would score a run before the rally ended.  The Sharks produced a run in the top of the fifth, but the 10-run lead ended the game after just 4 ½ innings.  Burghardt had three hits and three RBI to lead the offense in game two.

By the Numbers:  The Cougars stole six bases over the course of the doubleheader, with Smith and Chin each recording a steal in both games.  Smith went 4-6 on the day with a double, a home run, and two walks.  Smith and Korstrom become the sixth and seventh different Cougar players to hit a home run this season.  Azusa Pacific has five hitters in their regular lineup with a batting average of at least .340.  Combined with baseball's offensive outburst against Biola, Azusa Pacific's two diamond-based teams combined to score 56 runs on Friday in just 27 innings at bat.  Korstrom has lowered her season ERA under two runs to 1.95 and has 70 strikeouts in 75.1 innings pitched this season.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (18-13, 12-6 PacWest)  continues their Hawai'i homestand when they play another doubleheader against Hawai'i Pacific on Saturday.  First pitch at the Cougar Softball Complex is scheduled for 12:00 noon and can be viewed for free HERE.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW - KATIE KORSTROM & OLIVIA SMITH