AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific did not make it easy on themselves but still pulled off a second-straight doubleheader sweep over Hawai'i Pacific Saturday at the Cougar Baseball Complex, winning the opening game 15-12 before hanging on for a 4-3 win in the nightcap. Azusa Pacific got some help elsewhere, as a Point Loma split drew the Cougars even with the Sea Lions atop the PacWest standings as both teams are now 18-6 in conference play with eight games remaining.
 

Game 1:  Azusa Pacific 15, Hawai'i Pacific 12

The Sharks jumped on the scoreboard early with a run in the top half of the first.  Azusa Pacific would respond with a pair of runs on a two-out triple off the center field fence by Casey O'Laughlin to take a 2-1 lead.  But the fireworks were just beginning as the bottom of Hawai'i Pacific's order struck for back-to-back home runs in the second, driving in three.  The Sharks would tack on a pair of runs in the third to make the lead 6-2 before the Cougars would answer again.

In the bottom of the third, Spencer Rasmussen doubled home George Christison to pull one run back.  Then with two out and the bases loaded, Jeffrey Castillo lifted a routine fly ball to left field that was misplayed by the Sharks' defense, finding the ground and allowing all three runners to score, tying the game at 6-6.  Christison would single in a run the following inning to give the Cougars back the lead.  Casey Dykstra then led off the fifth with a solo home run down the right field line, and when Brett Soria singled in Castillo, the Cougars had a three-run advantage and appeared to be well on their way to victory.

But the game had another few plot twists to go, as Hawai'i Pacific pounced on the Cougar bullpen for five runs in the top of the seventh to regain the lead 11-9.  In the bottom half of the inning, The Cougars had two on with two out when Tido Robles stepped up and drilled a long ball over the fence in right center, his 15th home run of the season, producing a sixth lead change in the game.  The Sharks tied it up again in the top half of the inning, the Cougars would answer one more time.  O'Laughlin bunted and reached second on an error to start the inning, and would score on an infield single by Dykstra.  Castillo then lifted a fly ball over the fence just inside the left field pole for a two-run homer.  Dykstra proceeded to pitch the ninth to earn the save.  David Wylie had a very effective outing, coming in from the bullpen in the third and going four innings without allowing a run, while Korey Shepard went 1.2 to get the win.

Game 2:  Azusa Pacific 4, Hawai'i Pacific 3

With most of their pitching options unavailable, the Cougars turned things over to the back of the bullpen for the seven-inning game, as Michael Gill got the start and allowed just one hit and a single run over 2.2 innings before turning things over to Taylor Ouellette, who kept the Sharks off the scoreboard through the fourth and fifth.  While Hawai'i Pacific again struck for the first run of the game in the third, the Cougars again answered back with a pair of their own in the bottom half of the inning.  Rasmussen came through with the two-run double, plating Christison and Aaron Roose.

In the fourth inning, Dykstra again blasted a home run, this one clearing the netting above the wall in right center.  It was Dykstra's third home run in as many games and his 10th of the season.  Castillo followed with a double and would score three batters later via an errant throw by the Sharks' third baseman.  Hawai'i Pacific would threaten in the sixth, plating a pair of runs, but Will Stroud would throw out the would-be tying run at the plate to end the inning, and Andrew White would work around a two-out walk in the seventh for his first collegiate save.

By the Numbers:  Roose had a hit and two walks in game one and a walk in game two, meaning the catcher has now reached base in 21 straight games.  Dykstra is the third Cougar to reach double figures in home runs this season, joining Robles (15) and Rasmussen (11). The Cougars have now won seven in a row against Hawai'i Pacific and 21 of their last 22 going back to the 2016 season.

Up Next:  The Cougars are now 29-13 overall, 18-6 in PacWest action, and will continue their homestand with a four-game series against Hawai'i Hilo.  The first doubleheader against the Vulcans will start on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and can be livestreamed HERE.

Casey Dykstra Celebrates Another Series Sweep With A Flip

POSTGAME INTERVIEW: Tido Robles & Casey Dykstra