GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - No. 14 Azusa Pacific dropped both games of a Friday doubleheader at No. 14 Colorado Mesa, which moved the Cougars' record to 3-5.

Game One: Colorado Mesa 20, Azusa Pacific 15

There were plenty of runs to go around for both teams in the first game, but the Mavericks were able to pile on runs late to secure the win. The game looked like it was going to be a lopsided one early on, with Colorado Mesa scoring six runs in the bottom of the first to surge ahead 6-0. The Cougars would respond in the top of the second, scoring five runs to get right back in the game. Spencer Rasmussen got the first run of the board for the visitors, picking up an RBI on a groundout. Carson Collett made it 6-2 Cougars, as he hit an RBI double, and a few batters later, Jeffrey Castillo came through with a two-RBI double to cut the deficit down to 6-4. Castillo would be driven in on an RBI groundout by Cade Marshman.

After Colorado Mesa added three more runs in the bottom of the second, Omar Lopez led off the top of the third inning with his first home run of the day, hitting a solo shot to left field. Five batters later, Marshman picked up his second RBI of the game on an RBI double that made it 9-7 Mavericks.

Heading into the top of the seventh, the Cougars trailed 11-7. With one out, George Christision stepped to the plate with runners on second and third, and he was able to drive in both players with a two-RBI single to get the Cougars back within two runs. Three hitters later, Marshman dug into the box with teammates on first and second with two outs, and he came through with a clutch two-RBI double to knot the score up at 11-11. Marshman would tally a total of four RBI in game one.

The momentum would be short-lived for the Cougars, as the Mavericks brough six runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh, and added three more in the eighth to regain control at 20-11. Azusa Pacific was able to pick up for more runs in the top of the ninth, but it was too little, too late.

Colorado Mesa scored 20 runs on 23 hits, while the Cougars' had 15 runs on 11 hits. 

Game Two: Colorado Mesa 13, Azusa Pacific 3 (7 inn.)

The Mavericks scored two runs in the bottom of the first to once again take an early lead, but the Cougars would tie the game up in the top of the second by way of a two-run home run for Lopez, who has now hit a home run in four consecutive games.

Colorado Mesa would retake the lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the second, but once again, the Cougars were able to draw even in the third, as Will Stroud picked up an RBI on a ground out to make it 3-3. 

The Mavericks hung another six spot in the bottom of the third, and added a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to secure the comfortable game two victory and a 3-0 series lead.

Up Next: The Cougars will look to avoid the series sweep tomorrow, when they take the field in the series finale at 11:00 am MT (10:00 am PT). The game can be watched on the RMAC Network.