AZUSA, Calif. - The Cougars responded on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep after splitting the first two games against the Sunbirds in Friday's action. The Cougars would take Game one with a score of 6-3 and took followed with a 7-3 game two victory to win the PacWest series. 

GAME ONE: AZUSA PACIFIC 6, Fresno Pacific 3

The Cougars scored quickly in the first inning when Casey O'Laughlin hit an RBI SAC fly that led to Spencer Rasmussen coming in to score after reaching base on a single. In the third inning after a leadoff single by Cade Marshman, Omar Lopez would clobber a two-run home run that would give the Cougars a 3-0 lead after three innings of play. The Sunbirds would tack on a run of their own by hitting a home run in the top of the fourth to cut the lead 3-1. 

In the fifth inning with two outs, Rasumussen hit a triple to right center that would give the Cougars another opportunity to score again. A few pitches later, Rasmussen would be brought home on a wild pitch to extend the lead 4-1. In the sixth inning, Tido Robles hammered the Cougars second two-run home run of the game to right center which would score O'Laughlin giving the Cougars a comfortable 6-1 lead. 

The Sunbirds tacked on another a run in the top of the 7th and in the top of the 8th inning to cut the lead in half 6-3. However, the Cougars would close the game with great pitching performances from starter Brendan Dixon and relief pitcher Andrew White. Dixon was phenomenal again on the hill posting 6.2 innings while striking out three. White relieved Dixon in the 7th inning and struck out the final batter of the inning with the bases loaded to end the rally for the Sunbirds. White also struck out three over 2.1 innings pitched to secure the save for the Cougars victory. 

GAME TWO: AZUSA PACIFIC 7, Fresno Pacific 3

Just like Game one, the Cougars would jump out to an early lead scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. The Cougars would take advantage from miscues from the Sunbirds as Marshman would reach base from a throwing error and a Cameron Lee walk. Lopez singled in both Marshman and Lee on a two-RBI hit giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead. In the second inning, Marshman would hit a SAC fly that would drive in another run extending the lead 3-0. 

Alfredo Frey would get the ball to start for the Cougars pitching an efficient three innings, giving up one run, and striking out three. In the bottom half of the third inning, Jeffrey Castillo would tack on two runs by hitting a two-RBI double that would score in Rasmussen and Lopez to extend the lead 5-0. Diego Frey would later hit a groundball which would score Will Stroud on the play creating a 6-0 lead. A few moments later, Castillo would come around to score on a wild pitch from the Sunbirds to give the Cougars a commanding 7-0 lead. 

The Sunbirds would be able to score a run in the top half of the fourth on a solo home run and two runs in the fifth to cut the lead 7-3. The Cougars relief pitching would hold the Sunbirds and secure the victory for the sweep of the doubleheader by pitching collectively the last 4 innings, giving up two runs, and striking out four. 

Up Next: Azusa Pacific (19-11, 12-4 PacWest) will host Point Loma with a four game series starting Friday, Mar. 31 with the first two games being at the Cougar Baseball Complex. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.