TURLOCK, Calif. – The Cougars made it two splits in a row on their third and final day at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Calif. Azusa Pacific dropped the opening game to Cal Poly Humboldt by a 10-2 score before edging out Cal State San Bernardino 2-1 to take three out of five games at the tournament.

GAME ONE:  Cal Poly Humboldt 10, Azusa Pacific 2 (6 innings)

The Lumberjacks dominated from the outset, scoring in each of the first three innings.  They put up two runs on two hits and an error in the first inning, then busted the game open with a six-run third which made the score 9-0. 

The Cougars would claw back a pair of runs in the fifth to prolong the game.  Ally Chin drove in Bella Fraser with the Cougars' third hit of the inning, then Izzy Rivera hit a sac fly to plate Carley Gay.  However, Cal Poly Humboldt was able to scratch one more run across in the bottom of the sixth to end the game.  It was the only run the Lumberjacks scored off reliever Samantha Pagan in her three innings of work, while Fraser had two of the Cougars' six hits in the contest.

GAME TWO:  Azusa Pacific 2, Cal State San Bernardino 1

Facing the Coyotes for the third time this season, the Cougars had a good idea of what to expect from the opposing pitching staff.  And they would collect 11 hits in all.  But converting those hits into runs proved difficult for much of the game, as the Cougars also left 11 runners on base.  Cal State San Bernardino struck first for a run in the top of the second. 

That lead would hold until the bottom of the fourth, when the Cougars had loaded the bases with two outs.  Kinsey Erickson was able to beat out a ground ball to third base for an infield single, driving in Chin and tying the game. 

The following inning, Mia Alvarez tucked a line drive inside the right field line with two out, then scored on Caitlin DeCanio's third single of the game.  That would be sufficient for Katie Korstrom, who went the distance in the circle, scattering six hits while striking out a pair.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (20-16, 9-9 PacWest) head back into conference play with a critical road trip to Irvine to face conference leader Concordia on Wednesday.  The doubleheader will start at 3:00 p.m. and can be live streamed HERE.