ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - Facing elimination for the second time today, Azusa Pacific softball came through with a 5-4 extra inning victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills to advance to the Regional Championship on Saturday. Katie Korstrom earned her 20th win of the season on the mound, which is the first Azusa Pacific pitcher since 2001 to collect 20 victories on the mound in a season.
Izzy Rivera walked it off for the Cougars in the bottom of the ninth inning to collect her third hit and second RBI of the game. Mia Alvarez also turned in a three hit performance and Aleah Delgado also collected two hits in the game.
How it Happened: Cal State Dominguez Hills pushed a run across in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead over Azusa Pacific early and then doubled their lead in the second off a single to go up 2-0.
The Cougars responded in their half of the second when a single from Aleah Delgado scored Korstrom to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The fifth inning was exciting and key for Azusa Pacific. Delgado led off the inning with another single, and a bunt from Ally Chin put runners on first and second. A groundout from Carley Gay put runners on second and third for Jaelah Burrell, who delivered with a single to left field to tie the game at two a piece. Rivera then singled to score Chin and give Azusa Pacific their first lead of the game, 3-2. A fly out from Korstrom advanced the runners and Mia Alvarez singled once again to put the Cougars up 4-2.
The Toros got a run back in the sixth inning to make the score 4-3 and eventually went on to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning. Azusa Pacific could not respond in the bottom of the seventh and the game went into extra innings for the second time in as many days.
The Cougars had an opportunity in the bottom of the eighth when Alvarez led off the inning with a double, followed by an intentional walk to Caitlin DeCanio. Sommer Quinones came in to pinch run for DeCanio, and Bella Fraser was able to reach on a fielder's choice where Quinones was out on the play, but Alvarez advanced to third. Delgado stepped up to the plate with one out, but Cal State Dominguez Hills escaped the threat with an inning ending line out double play to keep the game at 4-4.
It was finally Azusa Pacific's turn to get revenge over the Toros and they did just that in the bottom of the ninth inning. Chin led off with a walk and a bunt single from Gay put runners at first and second. With one out, Rivera laced a ball into center field and Chin slid across home to score the game winning run, earning a 5-4 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills, their second victory over the Toros this season.
Up Next: Azusa Pacific advances to the NCAA West Regional Championship against Cal State San Marcos on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. The Cougars have to win to force a winner-take-all game which would happen 30 minutes after the first game tomorrow. To follow the action, click HERE.
