IRVINE, Calif. - A competitive day on the diamond at Concordia ended in a doubleheader split for the Cougars on Wednesday. Azusa Pacific took game one by a final score of 1-0 against the #9 team in the country before falling in game two, 6-1. In game one, Katie Korstrom threw her sixth shutout of the season, holding the Golden Eagles offense to just five hits while striking out two. Carley Gay collected two hits, providing the only RBI and also swiping a bag in the victory. 

GAME ONE: AZUSA PACIFIC 1, Concordia 0

It was a pitching duel in game one as both teams held one another scoreless through seven innings of play. Korstrom went the distance, stymieing Concordia's offense, throwing eight scoreless innings and earning her 14th victory of the season.

The Cougars got a rally going in the sixth when Gay singled and stole second to put a runner in scoring position, but the Golden Eagles were able to escape the threat with no damage done. 

In Concordia's half of the sixth, an error put a runner on second with no outs but Azusa Pacific was able to calmly work out of the inning and keep the game tied at zero runs a piece. 

An extra inning was all the Cougars needed to get on the board, as Aleah Delgado led off the inning with a single up the middle, followed by a SAC bunt from Sommer Quinones. Another single from Kinsey Erickson put runners on second and third for Gay, who delivered with a base hit to plate a run and give Azusa Pacific a 1-0 lead. 

One run was all Korstrom needed as she was able to close out the game in the top of the eighth inning, helping the Cougars earn the 1-0 victory against their conference rivals. 

GAME TWO: Azusa Pacific 1, Concordia 6

The Cougars offense was quiet in the second game picking up just three hits. Azusa Pacific had an opportunity in the first inning when Erickson led off the game with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was left on second due to a pair of strikeouts and a groundout. 

Concordia strung together timely hits and took advantage of opportunities to go up 6-0 over the Cougars, but Jaelah Burrell chipped at the deficit in the fifth inning with a solo shot to center field, her first of the season. 

Sydnie Sahhar kept the Golden Eagles offense at bay for the final four innings, but the Cougars ultimately suffered the 6-1 loss in game two.

By the Numbers: Korstrom currently has the most wins in the PacWest on the mound with 14 and holds a 1.56 ERA which ranks third in the conference. The Cougars handed Concordia's ace Katlin Entrup just her third loss of the season over 20 appearances and with the victory, Azusa Pacific now ranks fifth in the PacWest rankings with a 10-10 record. 

Up Next: The Cougars will return to the Cougar Softball Complex for a pair of non-conference games against Cal State San Marcos on Wednesday, April 12th. First pitch of game one is set to start at 4:00 p.m.