AZUSA, Calif. – After nine days off because of multiple rain delays, the Cougars finally got back on the field and made the most of it, sweeping Chaminade by scores of 3-0 and 6-1 to open their four-game series at the Cougar Softball Complex.

Game One:  Azusa Pacific 3, Chaminade 0

The Cougars did their damage early.  Mia Alvarez led off the game with a double, then was able to make her way to third on a ground ball by Ally Chin, eluding a rundown between third and home on the play and buying time for Chin to make it all the way to second.  That allowed both runners to score later in the inning; Alvarez on a Caitlin DeCanio single, and Chin on a groundout. 

The other Azusa Pacific run came in the bottom of the fifth.  Kinsey Erickson reached on an error, and was still hanging out on first base with two out when DeCanio laced a double to the wall in right field, coming around to make it a 3-0 lead.  

That was more than enough for starting pitcher Katie Korstrom, who threw a complete-game three-hitter, retiring the first 11 batters she faced on the afternoon, and benefiting from multiple web gems courtesy of third baseman Sierra Sandoval.  The game moved remarkably quickly, taking a mere 67 minutes to complete from first pitch to final out.

Game Two:  Azusa Pacific 6, Chaminade 1

For the second game, the Cougars waited all the way until the second inning to start the scoring.  With two out and Sandoval on first base, Erickson reached on an infield single.  That meant two on and two out for Jaelah Burrell.  The senior catcher launched a double deep to left that plated both runners for another early 2-0 lead.  Alvarez would lead off the third with a single, be advanced around to third on a pair of ground outs, and score on a DeCanio single to make it 3-0.

Azusa Pacific would break the game open in the fifth.  Chin led off with a triple to the right center gap.  She would score on an Alvarez sac fly.  Sommer Quinones then singled up the middle, followed by a double by Aly Montesino to put runners at second and third with one out.  DeCanio hit a grounder to short that was bobbled, allowing the first baseman to reach while Quinones scored to make it 5-0.  Bella Fraser drove in one more run via a fielder's choice to put the Cougars ahead 6-0. 

Chaminade would bring a run across in the top of the sixth inning, but that was all they would get on the day.  Felicia De La Torre went the distance in the circle, allowing five hits and striking out seven in the win.  Eight different Cougars had a hit in the victory, which again took barely an hour and a half.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (18-11, 9-3 PacWest) have won 15 of their last 17 games against Chaminade, and hope to continue that hot streak as they play another doubleheader against the Silverswords Tuesday beginning at 4:00 p.m. inside the friendly confines of the Cougar Softball Complex.