LA MIRADA, Calif. – Facing one of the top teams in the PacWest, Azusa Pacific rose to the occasion on Saturday, securing back-to-back victories over Biola, who boasted a 13-2 PacWest record entering the series, to split the four-game series at Freedom Field. The Cougars took game one 5-2 behind a dominant pitching performance from Mia Castillo and a memorable home run from Caitlin DeCanio, before rallying from an early six-run deficit in game two to complete a thrilling 9-6 comeback win.

Game One: Azusa Pacific 5, Biola 2

The Cougars were trailing 1-0 entering the fourth before stringing together three straight singles. Bella Fraser knocked in the tying run with a base hit to center, and two batters later, Hannah Tipton, coming off the bench, gave APU the lead with an RBI infield single to third.

Julia Doan homered in the sixth, widening the Cougars gap and marking the only scoring play in the frame, but Biola pulled within 3-2 in the final inning. Caitlin DeCanio disbanded any Eagle hope and sealed the win with a two-run blast to left to mark her first homer of the day and 25th of her career, scoring Burns and giving APU breathing room heading into the bottom half of the seventh.

DeCanio finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Doan and Rivera each recorded multi-hit games. Tipton and Fraser also contributed RBIs, and the Cougars out-hit the Eagles 12-7 in the win.

Game Two: Azusa Pacific 9, Biola 6

The nightcap started off in Biola's favor, as the Eagles jumped out to a commanding 6-0 lead by the end of the second inning, threatening to run-rule the Cougars. But Azusa Pacific refused to back down, mounting one of its most impressive comebacks of the season.

The Cougars responded with four runs in the third, beginning with a rally that featured five straight baserunners. Fraser's RBI single put the Cougars on the board, and Doan followed with a bases-clearing double to right-center, cutting the deficit to 6-4.

An inning later, DeCanio drilled a two-run homer to left-center for her second of the day. The blast tied the game at six apiece. The Cougars weren't done. Doan also crushed her second home run of the day in the fifth inning, this one a two-run hit, giving APU its first lead of the game at 8-6. A fielders' choice RBI from Quinones in the seventh added an insurance run, as Doan touched home.

Bella Fraser was unstoppable at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Doan had herself a performance as well, finishing 3-for-4 with five RBIs, a double, and a home run. DeCanio reached base three times, scoring twice and adding two more RBIs.

Ava Hernandez was excellent in relief after a tough start by Ava Reese, settling the game with 4.2 innings of two-run ball to earn her fourth win. Mia Castillo entered in the fifth and tossed 2.1 scoreless innings, earning her second save of the season.

Up Next: Azusa Pacific will travel to Dominguez Hills on Monday, March 24 for a non-conference makeup game. First pitch against the Toros is at 12:00 PM.