LA MIRADA, Calif - Azusa Pacific baseball split it's doubleheader with Biola on Saturday afternoon with an extra inning victory in the first game and a falling to the Eagles in a shortened second game. Due to a lighting issue, the second game was not able to go the full seven innings even though the Cougars were making a quick comeback. George Christison and Cameron Lee led the way offensively on the day, each going 3-for-7 at the plate.

GAME 1: AZUSA PACIFIC 5 , BIOLA 4

The Cougars jumped on the board first as two Biola errors allowed leadoff hitter Brett Soria to get to second. Back-to-back groundouts from Will Stroud and Tido Robles brought Soria across for Azusa Pacific to take a 1-0 lead. Biola responded by getting one across in their half of the first to tie the game at one-a-piece.  

Spencer Rasmussen capitalized in the second inning, sending one over the fence for his first home run of the season, giving the Cougars a 2-1 advantage early. Biola then responded in the third with a three-run homerun of their own, taking a 4-2 lead. 

There was not much action on the diamond until the top of the 9th inning when Omar Lopez came up to the plate with a runner on and drove one to straight away center to even the game at 4-4 and send the game into extra innings. 

The top of the 14th inning proved key for Azusa Pacific as Lee walked, then stole second and advanced to third on the throw which set up Soria who doubled to center field to score Lee and give Azusa Pacific a 5-4 advantage heading into the bottom half of the inning. Brendon Cannings came in on relief and got two quick outs to end the game, giving Azusa Pacific a 5-4 victory.

The Cougar relievers came up huge as Joey Frey, Jake Vargas, Abraham Carrillo, Taylor Ouellette and Cannings threw a combined eight scoreless innings, only giving up four hits and striking out 11. Oulette earned the win which improves his record to 2-0 on the season so far. 

GAME TWO: BIOLA 10, AZUSA PACIFIC 5

The scoring got started for the Cougars in the second inning when Casey O'Laughlin got on via a bunt single and then Jeffrey Castillo sent one over the left-center field fence for his first home run of the season, giving Azusa Pacific a 2-0 advantage. The Eagles responded in their half of the second, putting up a four spot to take a 4-2 lead. 

The Cougars would claw back, tying the game at 4-4 due to a double from Christison in the third and a bases loaded hit-by-pitch in the fourth. Biola once again responded in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run homerun, but a controversial call where the Biola baserunner seemed to run past the runner ahead of him did not get overturned, leaving the three-run homerun in tact. 

In the fifth, O'Laughlin went yard to cut the deficit to 7-5, yet the Eagles offense responded with another homerun of their own to take a 10-5 lead. 

The top of the sixth inning was an exciting one to say the least for the Cougars, as Daniel Genna blasted his first career home run over the left field fence to get the scoring going for Azusa Pacific. Soria drew a walk and then a double down the right field line from Rasmussen brought Soria home for another run. Lopez then lined one into right field to score Rasmussen and O'Laughlin followed with another RBI of his own to put Azusa Pacific within one heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. With sunlight fading and a few lengthy mound visits, including a pitching change by the Eagles, the umpires called the game in the middle of the sixth inning, which allowed Biola to take the victory despite the momentum shift for Azusa Pacific with one inning remaining. 

By the Numbers: The Cougars have taken the last 8 out of 11 matchups against the Eagles and have a scoring margin of 118-81. Azusa Pacific blasted five home runs today which brings the team total on the season so far to 22 and O'Laughlin continues to lead all of Division II in RBI with 24. The Cougars also lead the PacWest in RBI with 91. 

Up Next: Azusa Pacific will start PacWest play this Friday, February 24th in a four game series against Holy Names. First pitch on Friday will be at 12:00 p.m. at the Cougar Baseball Complex.