COSTA MESA, Calif. - Azusa Pacific softball split their doubleheader at Vanguard on Friday afternoon, winning the first game 1-0 before falling in extra innings in the second game. Mia Alvarez provided the lone run for the Cougars on the day with a solo home run and Sommer Quinones led the Cougar offense, going 3-for-5 on the day with a walk and a stolen base. The Cougar pitching staff threw a combined 14 scoreless innings, only giving up seven hits on the day.

GAME ONE: AZUSA PACIFIC 1, Vanguard 0

In the bottom of the first, Vanguard had an opportunity to score with a runner on third and no outs via a leadoff triple. De La Torre was able to work out of the jam to keep the game scoreless. 

It wasn't until the top of the fourth inning when Mia Alvarez blasted her second home run of the year over the left field fence to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.

Azusa Pacific had another daring opportunity in their half of the sixth, when Ally Chin doubled to right center, but good defense by the Lions prevented the Cougars from getting another run across. 

Though, one run was all the Cougars needed as De La Torre and Aly Montesino combined for the complete game shutout. De La Torre now moves to 2-2 on the year and Montesino earned her first save on the season.

GAME TWO: AZUSA PACIFIC 0, Vanguard 1

In the Cougars half of the third, Azusa Pacific had themselves with a runner on third via a single by Kinsey Erickson followed by an error and a SAC bunt by Chin, but the Cougars were unable to push a run across keeping the game scoreless. 

Azusa Pacific's pitching staff kept the Vanguard offense at bay, not allowing a Lion runner to get past second for the entirety of the game until extra innings. The international tiebreaker rule went into effect in the eighth inning and the Cougars got Alexus Corona to third, but a pop up and ground out ended their opportunity to score. Vanguard was able to walk it off on their half of the inning with a single up the middle that scored a runner from second. 

Katie Korstrom, Sydnie Sahhar and Mia Castillo threw for a combined eight inning effort as Korstrom collected three strikeouts and Sahhar and Castillo each collected one. 

By the Numbers: The Cougar pitching staff of De La Torre, Montesino, Korstrom, Sahhar and Castillo threw 14 scoreless innings and all 15 without allowing an earned run, which is now 23 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run as a staff. Castillo currently leads the PacWest with an ERA of 0.00 over 12 innings pitched, while Korstrom ranks second with a 0.19 ERA over 37 innings pitched. The Cougar staff has a 1.26 ERA so far this season, combining for 61 strikeouts. 

Up Next: Azusa Pacific will open conference play tomorrow in a Cornerstone Cup matchup at Biola. The games are set for 12:00 & 2:00 p.m. in La Mirada, Calif.