Azusa Pacific opened Homecoming weekend with a doubleheader split against Fresno Pacific, dropping the first game 3-2 before taking the 3-2 victory in game two. Head coach Kirk Nieuwenhuis gave the nod to junior pitcher Korey Shepard for game two, who had an incredible outing on the mound, going 5.2 innings pitched, allowing no runs, no walks and striking out 10. At the plate, Tido Robles went 4-for-6 and Omar Lopez went 3-for-6, driving in two runs and collecting a home run and a double in the second game.

GAME 1: Azusa Pacific 2, Fresno Pacific 3

The Sunbirds got ahead early, hitting solo home runs in the first and second innings to jump out to a 2-0 lead. 

Azusa Pacific responded in their half of the second when Lopez led off the inning with a single followed by another single from Robles to put runners on first and second. Carson Collett delivered with another single up the middle to score Lopez and put the Cougars on the board. 

Fresno Pacific got one back in the third when a leadoff double, followed by a SAC fly and passed ball allowed them to take a 3-1 lead over Azusa Pacific. 

A pitchers duel continued between the Cougars start Isaac Mendez and the Sunbirds starter through the next four innings. After another single from Robles, a walk drawn by Collett and an executed SAC bunt from Bradley Taylor, Cade Marshman singled up the middle to score Robles and cut Azusa Pacific's deficit to one at 3-2. 

That was all Azusa Pacific could bring across as Fresno Pacific held the Cougar offense to just one hit over the last two innings and Azusa Pacific dropped the first game by a final score of 3-2. 

GAME TWO: AZUSA PACIFIC 3, Fresno Pacific 2

It was Azusa Pacific who jumped on the board first in game two. Marshman led the game off with a double and two ground outs from Rasmussen and Lopez brought him across for the Cougars to take a 1-0 lead.

Lopez gave Azusa Pacific insurance in the third with a solo home run to left field to allow the Cougars to take a 2-0 lead. The Cougars threatened once again in the fifth inning when Rasmussen walked with two outs and Lopez once again delivered with a double to put runners on first and second. Fresno Pacific was able to get out of it, inducing a fly out to keep the score at 2-0. 

Azusa Pacific got another run across in the sixth when George Christison drew a bases loaded hit by pitch to make the score 3-0. 

Fresno Pacific made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh as they were able to produce two runs to make the score 3-2. But a double play and groundout to shortstop ended the threat and the Cougars were able to pick up the 3-2 victory. 

Up Next: Azusa Pacific will be back in action tomorrow at the Cougar Baseball Complex when they close out the series against Fresno Pacific. Game one of the doubleheader is set to begin at 12:00 p.m.