COSTA MESA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific secured the doubleheader sweep over Vanguard at Dean Harvey Field on Thursday, winning the first game 6-1 and the second 11-1.

Game One: Vanguard 1, Azusa Pacific 6

The Cougars took control in the third inning, plating three runs to break the early deadlock. Antonio Lujan delivered a single RBI, as he singled up the middle to send Allan Camarillo home and put Mikey Easter on third. Jacob Hayes then singled to left field as Easter touched home and Lujan got in scoring position. Eli Cook hit a sacrifice fly to send in Lujan, putting the Cougars up 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third. 

After scoring on a wild pitch in the eighth, Elijah Morgan delivered a two-RBI hit in the 9th to send Allen Camarillo and Diego Fry home, extending Azusa Pacific's lead to 6. The Lions tacked on a home run in the bottom of the ninth, but the deficit was too much to overcome.

On the mound, David Hays was lights out, tossing five scoreless innings while striking out six and allowing just two hits. Damien Pasillas came in relief, securing the final four innings with three strikeouts and allowing only one run on a solo home run in the ninth.

At the plate, the Cougars recorded nine hits, with a handful of Cougars collecting two, and Morgan drove in two runs.

Game Two: Vanguard 1, Azusa Pacific 11

Azusa Pacific struck for four runs in the opening inning and continued to pile on, adding two in the third, three in the fourth, and single runs in the sixth and seventh. 

A Lion throwing error allowed Morgan to score early in the game and Hayes advanced two bases on the error, eventually scoring on Cook's RBI-single to center field. Another error by Vanguard allowed Danny Yanez and Cook to tack on two more runs in the top of the first.

The Cougars continued to press offensively, with Jacob Freer connecting for his second-career home run, sending in Yanez, and Hayes crushing a three-run homer in the top of the fourth. Azusa Pacific stayed steady through the sixth and seventh, adding one more run in each inning.

Gavino Rosales set the tone on the mound with five scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing just five hits. Matthew Brock and Hernandez finished the job, limiting Vanguard to one late run in the seventh.

The Cougars tallied 14 hits in the win, led by Yanez, who collected three, including a double. Hayes drove in three runs, and both Freer and Luke Denos added two RBIs.

Up Next: The Cougars aim to complete the series sweep as they host Vanguard on Saturday for another double header. First pitch is at 1:00 PM.