HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks was a big proponent of doubleheaders, his most famous quote being, "Let's play two."  The Cougars did Banks one better Thursday, finishing up a delayed game against Chaminade before playing a full doubleheader, dropping the in-progress game by an 8-7 final before taking the regularly-scheduled doubleheader by scores of 9-1 and 12-10.

Wednesday's Game: Chaminade 8, Azusa Pacific 7

The Cougars found themselves entering the day trailing 7-4 entering the sixth inning, with the most notable thing they had done Wednesday being a Carson Collett solo homer.  Chaminade would tack on a run in the seventh to make it a four-run game.  And that run would prove critical for the Silverswords as the Cougars made a rally in the ninth.  Cameron Lee came up with a two-run shot to left to draw the visitors within two, and Omar Lopez would drive in another via a sacrifice fly, making the score 8-7.  But that was where the threat–and the game–ended.  Spencer Rasmussen had a three-hit game for the Cougars, while Matthew Brock allowed just a single unearned run in three innings of relief work.

Game One: Azusa Pacific 9, Chaminade 1

The Cougars relied on small ball to get things done in the seven-inning game, as seven of their nine runs were driven in via singles.  Rasmussen would open the scoring with a sac fly, the first of three runs Azusa Pacific would plate in the opening inning, thanks to consecutive two-out hits by Collett and Cade Marshman.  Will Medina would drive in another run in the fourth, which the Silverswords would answer in their half of the inning.  In the seventh, the Cougars broke the game wide open, with RBI hits from George Christison, Marshman, and Lee, plus another run scoring via a wild pitch.  That was more than enough for Aidan Langley, as the freshman threw a complete-game four-hitter, needing just 83 pitches to complete his second victory of the season, striking out six along the way.

Game Two: Azusa Pacific 12, Chaminade 10

The final contest of the day was a wild one, with the Cougars again striking early.  Mikey Easter tripled in the first run of the day in the top of the first, scoring almost immediately after via a Rasmussen groundout.  The Cougars tacked on to their lead in the second, as with two on and two out, and Lee and Easter came through with back-to-back RBI singles, then Rasmussen got another run across when he reached via an error to make it 5-0.  That lead would be short-lived as the Silverswords erupted for six in their half of the second to take a 6-5 advantage.  

However, Azusa Pacific fired right back with four more in the third. Omar Lopez drove in two with a double, then Christison (who had a four-hit game) drove him in.  Another run would score via another Chaminade error before the inning was over, putting Azusa Pacific ahead for good.  The Silverswords would draw within one run multiple times over the remainder of the game, but the Cougars got just enough to hold them at bay: Easter provided sacrifice flies in both the fifth and ninth innings, while Rasmussen added an RBI double in the seventh.  Zachariah McCorvey was credited with the victory after coming out of the bullpen and getting the Cougars through the fourth inning with the lead, while Kohl Petersen got out of a two-on, nobody-out jam in the ninth to earn the save.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (6-15, 2-5 PacWest) return home in time for Cornerstone Cup action against Biola.  The four-game series will be played in the form of two more doubleheaders, with the first of those to take place Friday, March 15th at 2:00 p.m. at the Cougar Baseball Complex.