AZUSA, Calif.— Azusa Pacific faced Hawai'i Pacific in a doubleheader on Monday night. The Cougars fell in the first game 3-6, but clinched the second game 6-1 highlighted by a home run from Caitlin DeCanio. 

Game One: Hawaii Pacific 6, Azusa Pacific 3

The Sharks did their work early, scoring all of their runs in the first four innings. The Cougars answered back in the bottom of the first, scoring one run from Mia Alvarez. Azusa Pacific would go scoreless in the next two innings, while Hawai'i Pacific pulled away 1-6. 

The Cougars got their momentum back in the bottom of the fourth inning. DeCanio and Bella Fraser hit back-to-back doubles to tack on another run, making the score 2-6. On the next pitch, Jaleah Burrell then walked and Sommer Quinones laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Fraser to score and pinch runner Sakarah Buckner to advance to second base making the score 3-6. 

Both teams remained scoreless for the remainder of the game. The fifth and sixth innings were unsuccessful for both teams, earning three outs by the fourth batter. In the top of the seventh, pitching from Sydnie Sahhar kept the Sharks at bay. In an effort to extend the game, Sierra Sandoval doubled but nothing came from it as the Cougars went down in order after to end the game, falling to the Sharks 3-6. 

Game Two: Azusa Pacific 6, Hawaii Pacific 1

Another chance at a quick start for the Sharks was held off by the Cougars. Mia Alvarez had one assist and one put out in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first, Mia Alvarez was hit by a pitch and Ally Chin's sacrifice bunt would allow Alvarez to move to second. Thought the Cougars would remain scoreless, gaining their final two outs on the next two batters. 

In the Cougars half of the third, Katie Korstrom singled to left field with two outs and on the next play, Caitlin DeCanio hit a home run that would allow herself and Korstrom to waltz to home plate. Azusa Pacific headed into the fourth inning with a 2-0 lead. 

Stellar defense by the Cougars left the Sharks with no runs in their half of the fourth. Sandoval led off the bottom of the fifth with a single through the left side and pinch runner Buckner stole second, setting up Kinsey Erickson who singled up the middle to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead. On the next play, Alvarez hit a double, allowing Erickson to score. A ground out would end the inning and put APU in the lead 4-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, DeCanio singled and pinch runner Hailey Burns stole second. Sandoval earned a walk and Izzy Rivera was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Aleah Delgado hit a single, earning 2 RBIs as Burns and Sandoval reached home plate. In an attempt to head home, Rivera was caught for the third out.

Hawaii Pacific attempted to battle back, finding a run in the sixth, but that was all they could get across as Azusa Pacific took the win. Korstrom (12-4) pitched another complete game for the Cougars. 

By the numbers: DeCanio earned three hits, two runs and two RBIs on the night. She has a confernce leading eight home runs, third best slugging percentage (.663) and third best OPS (1.050) in the PacWest. Katie Korstrom improved her W-L record to 12-4 on the year, with a 0.99 ERA— which leads the PacWest. 

Up Next: Azusa Pacific (20-15, 11-7 PacWest) will be on the road for the rest of the week. On Thursday, they will take on Sonoma State in a doubleheader starting at 1:30 and 3:30. On Friday and Saturday, the Cougars will play in a four-game series against Dominican, set to start at 12 and 2:30.