AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougars made it seven wins in a row to end the regular season, recording a 10-7 victory over Academy of Art in the last scheduled game of the year at the Cougar Baseball Complex.

How It Happened:  Cameron Kessel was handed the ball to start and threw 3.2 scoreless innings to give the Cougar bats time to spring to life, which they did in the bottom of the third.  Jeffrey Castillo led off the inning with a bunt single.  Daniel Genna then drew a walk, and two batters later Will Medina singled in Castillo to put the first dent on the scoreboard.  After a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, Genna would score on a groundout from Spencer Rasmussen to make it 2-0.  The game remained that way until the bottom of the fifth.  This time it was Cameron Lee who led off with a bunt single.  Medina then hit a double to left center.  Two batters later, Will Stroud singled in Lee.  Medina would score on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.

Academy of Art would break through for three runs in the top of the sixth.  But remembering old coach Paul Svagdis' mantra of "win the inning," the Cougars again turned to small ball to fight back.  Brett Soria was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom half, then Castillo and Genna turned in consecutive bunt singles to load the bases.  Soria scored on a wild pitch, Lee drew a walk, and two runs scored on an errant throw on Medina's ground ball to first.  Lee scored on a wild pitch, and with the only ball that left the infield in the inning, Medina scored on a Rasmussen sac fly.  The end result?  Five runs on two infield hits that made the score 9-3.  The Cougars needed those runs as the Urban Knights would tack on four of their own in the seventh, but Brendan Cannings would come in and close the door, getting the final nine outs without allowing a hit while Rasmussen doubled in Lee in the eighth to get a final insurance run.

By the Numbers:  Alfredo Frey was credited with the win in relief, his fifth of the season, tying him with Brendan Dixon for the staff lead.  Seven of the nine Cougar starters had a hit in the contest, and the team raised their batting average for the season to .278.  Azusa Pacific has won 19 consecutive games against Academy of Art, a streak that dates back to the 2017 season.  The Cougars went 20-7 at home this season.

Senior Day: Saturday's game marked the final home game for 11 Azusa Pacific seniors, who were honored in a postgame ceremony. The Cougars that played their final home game were Brett Soria, Daniel Genna, Tido Robles, Casey O'Laughlin, Brendan Dixon, Will Stroud, Michael Gill, Korey Shepard, Taylor Ouellette, Tyus Santa Anna, and Stephen Silvas. 

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (31-17, 22-10 PacWest) now have 17 days off to rest and recover before the first-ever PacWest Tournament, which will take place May 10-12 at Fresno Pacific.  Details about the tournament will be posted here on APUCougars.com as they become available.