AZUSA, Calif. - Azusa Pacific defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills in the first game 5-1 before falling to the Toros in game two by a final score of 3-2 in todays doubleheader at the Cougar Softball Complex. Aly Montesino had three home runs on the day, while Korstrom threw a complete game, striking out nine in game one. 

GAME ONE: Azusa Pacific 5, Cal State Dominguez Hills 1 

The Toros jumped out to an early lead, hitting a solo homerun in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. In the third, the Cougars had a chance at tying it up when Bella Fraser doubled and a SAC bunt by Izzy Rivera moved her over to third, but two ground outs ended the potential scoring opportunity. 

The Toros would hold their lead until the fifth inning when Montesino led off with her first home run of the day to tie the game at one apiece. With two outs, Ally Chin doubled down the right field line to put runners at second and third for the Cougars. Mia Alvarez then doubled to the wall to score Kinsey Erickson and Chin to give Azusa Pacific a 3-1 lead. 

The Cougars extended their lead in the sixth when Sommer Quinones led off the inning with a walk, followed by a single from Montesino and a SAC bunt from Fraser to put runners at second and third with one out. Rivera then flew out to center to score Quinones and a single up the middle by Jaelah Burrell scored pinch runner Hailey Burns to give Azusa Pacific a 5-1 lead. 

Korstrom shut down the Toros offense in the seventh inning to end the game and give the Cougars the game on victory by a final score of 5-1. 

GAME TWO: Azusa Pacific 2, Cal State Dominguez Hills 3

It was the Cougars that got the early lead when Montesino collected her second home run of the day to give Azusa Pacific an early 1-0 advantage, but Cal State Dominguez Hills tied it up in the second inning and eventually took a 2-1 lead in the third. 

Both teams could not get anything going offensively until the seventh, when the Toros added to their lead, taking a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, it was Montesino who hit her second home run of the game (third on the day), which was a solo shot to right center to close the margin at 3-2. A ground out and strikeout ended the Cougars offensive threat, as they fell to the Toros by a final score of 3-2. 

By the Numbers: Montesino went 4-for-6 on the day with three home runs, three RBI and three runs scored. Over both games, the Cougars collected 10 hits with five of those being extra base hits. In game one, Aleah Delgado caught two Toros stealing behind the plate and the defense committed no errors in 14 innings of play. 

Up Next: The Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday, February 13th at Cal State San Bernardino. Game times are set for 12:00 & 2:00 p.m. and if you cannot attend, you can watch HERE.