IRVINE, Calif. - Azusa Pacific and Concordia each took a game of Thursday's doubleheader, with the two teams settling for a split of the four game series. The Cougars are now 17-17 overall, with a 12-7 PacWest mark.

GAME ONE: Azusa Pacific 7, Concordia 6

While the Cougars fell behind 3-0 after two innings, they would surge ahead for a 6-3 lead with runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings of play. A solo shot by Omar Lopez got the Cougars on the board in the fifth inning, and then Azusa Pacific drew even at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Cade Marshman drove in the first run of the sixth with an RBI single, and then he would cross the plate for the tying run later in the inning on a wild pitch.

Azusa Pacific took its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh, with Cameron Lee hitting a ground-rule double that scored Allan Camarillo, who led off the inning with a single. Spencer Rasmussen picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice to make it 5-3, and then Marshman added another run in the sixth by hitting a sac fly.

After a scoreless bottom of the seventh and top of the eighth, the Golden Eagles were able to get back in the game with a three spot in the bottom half of the eighth to make it 6-6. 

Rasmussen would come through in the clutch with two outs in the top of the ninth for the Cougars, as he hit an RBI single to bring home the go-ahead and eventual game winning run. 

On the mound, the Cougars had three different relievers turn in scoreless appearances, led by three innings from Cameron Kessel. Kessel allowed just two hits and struck out three batters over the third, fourth and fifth innings. Matthew Brock took over for Kessel in the sixth, and Brock did not allow a hit and overcame a leadoff walk to put up a zero in the frame. Jake Vargas was credited as the winning pitcher, as he sat the Golden Eagles down in order in the seventh, and then faced trouble in the eighth when Concordia tied the game at 6-6. Vargas got himself out of a jam and kept the Golden Eagles from taking the lead in the eighth, as he not only struck out Michael Dixon for the third out of the inning, but he did so with the go-ahead run on third base.

After Rasmussen's go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth, the Cougars handed the ball to Kohl Petersen to shut things down. Petersen did just that, retiring the Golden Eagles in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn his third save of the season.

Four Cougars had two hits in the game, as George Christison, Lopez and Camarillo went 2-for-4, while Lee was 2-for-5 with two doubles. Mikey Easter went 1-for-2 while also drawing two walks and being hit by a pitch, and he scored three runs in the game.

GAME TWO: Concordia 6, Azusa Pacific 4

Marshman wasted no time putting the Cougars in front in game two, as Lee and Easter both singled earlier in the inning and were driven home by a Marshman single to center field. While the Golden Eagles were able to take a 4-2 lead by the end of the fourth, the Cougars quickly responded in the fifth. Lee made it 4-3 on an RBI single, and Easter tied it up with an RBI single of his own.

A two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the difference in game two.

Lee and Easter each had another two-hit game, with Lee going 2-for-4 and Easter finishing 2-for-3. Cade Marshman had a game-high two RBI.

On the mound, Joey Frey started and went three innings for the Cougars, allowing just one earned run. Alfredo Frey turned in a scoreless one and a third innings of work, as he did not allow a hit or walk and sat Concordia down in order in the fifth inning. 

Up Next: The Cougars will host Hope International on Tuesday, April 2 at 5:00 pm in Azusa.