AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific got a dramatic start to its crucial series against preseason conference favorite Point Loma, taking the opener on a 10th-inning walk off home run, 7-5, before falling by a 7-1 final in game two Friday afternoon at the Cougars Baseball Complex.
Game One: Azusa Pacific 7, Point Loma 5 (10 innings)
The Cougars struck first in the bottom of the second. With two out and the bases loaded,
George Christison barely won the race to first on an infield grounder to score
Tido Robles, with
Jeffrey Castillo coming around from second when the throw bounced away from the Sea Lions first baseman. The following inning,
Spencer Rasmussen led off the third with a solo homer to right.
The teams traded runs in the fourth, with This Santa Anna slugging his second home run of the season to make the score 4-1. But Point Loma would rally, striking for another run in the fifth, then tying the game with a two-run homer of their own in the 7th. Azusa Pacific would score on a bases-loaded walk in the 8th, only for Point Loma to equalize in the top of the 9th. Â
The game would remain deadlocked until the bottom of the 10th.Â
Diego Frey drew a one-out walk, and one fly ball later, Castillo sent the dugout into euphoria, tucking a 1-2 delivery just inside the left field pole for a walk off winner.Â
Jake Vargas threw the final two innings to get the win, while starter
Isaac Mendez struck out five over 6.2 innings.
CASTILLO WALK-OFF
Game Two: Point Loma 7, Azusa Pacific 1
The Sea Lions controlled the late game from the outset, scoring in each of the first four innings. The Cougars had multiple runners on base in two of the first three innings, but were unable to capitalize.Â
Tido Robles produced the lone run of the game for the home side with a home run to left center in the fourth.Â
Omar Lopez had two hits in the game for Azusa Pacific, while
Cameron Kessel tossed a scoreless inning in relief.
Up Next: The Cougars (20-12, 13-5 PacWest) will wrap up their series against Point Loma with another doubleheader Saturday in San Diego. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12:00 noon, and the game can be livestreamed HERE.
