HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Despite an early offensive push, Azusa Pacific could not hold off a late rally from Hawai'i Pacific, falling 4-3 in the series finale at Sand Island Recreation Complex on Monday afternoon.

The Cougars jumped out to a fast start, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Sommer Quinones reached first before advancing to second on a single by Julia Doan. With no outs on the board, Caitlin DeCanio delivered a clutch two-run double to deep left-field, bringing in Quinones and Doan for an early 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Bella Fraser added to the total, driving in DeCanio with a sacrifice fly to give Azusa Pacific a 3-0 advantage.

Hawai'i Pacific responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Cougars held their lead until the bottom of the seventh when the Sharks came back in dramatic fashion. A Shark double set the tone for the inning before a string of hits, including a game-tying RBI single and a walk-off double, sealed the victory for Hawai'i Pacific.

Up Next: The Cougars complete their Hawai'i trip with the concluding series against Hawaii Hilo on Friday and Saturday. First pitch on Friday is set for 12:00 PM HST (2:00 PM PST).