AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougars never led until the final pitch of the game Thursday evening, but that last pitch was a walk-off winner as Azusa Pacific rallied for a 4-3 victory over Academy of Art.
How It Happened: The Urban Knights worked the count early, their first two batters singling on 0-2 pitches from starter Abraham Carillo. A sac fly with the bases loaded would produce their first run of the game. The Cougars would tie it up in the second on a solo home run from
Spencer Rasmussen, his sixth of the season. However, Academy of Art would answer right back in the third to regain the lead.
Tyler Herges came in from the bullpen in the fourth and kept the Cougars in it, only allowing one run over the next 3.2 innings. But the Cougars were being kept at bay by an efficient performance from Urban Knights' starter Cannon Secrist, who struck out seven over 8.1 innings. Rasmussen hit another solo shot to right to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but the Cougars still trailed 3-2.Â
Alfredo Frey tossed 2.1 scoreless innings to keep it a one-run game heading to the bottom of the ninth.
With one out, Rasmussen came up again and the Urban Knights elected to walk him.Â
Cameron Lee came in to pinch run, which proved crucial as he beat out the throw on a
Will Medina grounder to short, putting two on for
Will Stroud. The runners advanced on a wild pitch to second and third, and Stroud's next swing was a base hit into left field to bring both runners home, completing the comeback.
By the Numbers: Frey kept the Urban Knights without a hit, allowing a single base runner among the eight batters he faced. Academy of Art left nine runners on base in the contest. This is the third time in the last four games that Azusa Pacific has scored the winning run in their final at-bat.
Up Next: The Cougars (28-17, 19-10 PacWest) continue their season-ending series against Academy of Art with a doubleheader on Friday. First pitch at the Cougars Baseball Complex is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., and the game can be livestreamed HERE.
