AZUSA, Calif. – Playing against Holy Names for likely the final time, the Cougars bounced back strong from Friday's struggles, shutting out the Hawks 4-0 in game three of the series before taking the finale 9-3 to salvage a four-game split.

Game One:  Azusa Pacific 4, Holy Names 0

The opening game was a pitchers' duel, as Brendan Dixon and Hawks' starter Ryu Umeda took turns throwing zeros up on the scoreboard.  Through the first four innings, both pitchers faced just a single batter over the minimum. Dixon worked around a two-on, one-out jam in the top of the fifth; and Umeda did him one better, striking out two batters with the bases loaded in the bottom half before departing the game after the inning.  The teams reached the bottom of the seventh with the score still 0-0.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Will Stroud was hit in the foot by a pitch, then took second on a wild pitch.  Tyus Santa Anna came through with a single up the middle that got past a diving pair of Hawks infielders, plating Stroud to break the deadlock.  Jeffrey Castillo then drew a walk, and two batters later, Spencer Rasmussen came through with an RBI single of his own to double the lead and move Castillo to third, forcing a pitching change.  Castillo would score on a balk to make it 3-0 before the inning ended.  That was more than enough for Dixon, who held the Hawks to four hits over 7.1 innings while striking out seven before giving way to Jake Vargas, who got the final five outs for his third save of the season, and the Cougars' second shutout of the year.  Castillo would drive in a run on a fielder's choice in the eighth to complete the scoring.

Game Two:  Azusa Pacific 9, Holy Names 3

Holy Names got the scoring started with a run in the top of the first, and would chase the Cougars' starting pitcher in the second, though the Cougars still got out of a bases-loaded jam still down only 1-0.  In the bottom of the third, Azusa Pacific responded.  George Christison led off the inning with a double to the gap in left center.  Santa Anna again came up clutch, tucking an RBI single inside the right field line to tie the game.  Three batters later, there were two out and two on for Casey O'Laughlin, who singled through the shift into right to drive in a pair and put the Cougars ahead for good, 3-1.  Then with two out in the fourth, Christison singled, stole second, and came around to score on a single from Castillo to tack on a fourth run.

The Cougars would break the game open in the fifth when, with one out and two on, Stroud doubled in a run to left, knocking out the Hawks' starting pitcher.  Diego Frey drove in a run with a ground out, then Carson Collett drove in Stroud.  A fourth run in the inning would score on a wild pitch, putting the Cougars ahead 8-1.  Rasmussen would wrap up the home team's scoring with a solo shot in the sixth inning, while Holy Names would score two in the seventh to narrow the gap but not change the outcome.  Rasmussen went 2-3 at the plate with three runs scored in the game, while Taylor Ouelette got four crucial outs in the second and third innings to earn the win in relief.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (16-10, 9-3 PacWest) will continue their home stand with a four game series against Fresno Pacific on Homecoming Weekend.  First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. For more information on the Homecoming festivities, and to register, click HERE.