FRESNO, Calif. - The Cougars continued their series with Fresno Pacific this afternoon, ending the day with a 1-1 split against the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific. Azusa Pacific claimed the 9-3 win in Game 2, while Fresno Pacific answered with a 1-7 victory in Game 4. 

Game 2: Azusa Pacific 9, Fresno Pacific 3. 

The Cougars broke the 3 inning silence and opened with a bang. Jacob Freer jump-started the rally with a double. His teammate Allan Camarillo followed with a single to left, putting two runners on base for Mikey Easter, who launched a home run out of the park—bringing all three runners home and stunning Fresno Pacific's defense. The next batter, Antonio Lujan, kept the momentum going by blasting another homer over the fence at Dan Martin Field. A few infield plays later, Elijah Cook added yet another long ball with a solo shot, making it a five-run inning for APU and sending the Cougar dugout into a frenzy.

Fresno Pacific responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, cutting into the deficit. But the Cougars weren't done. In the top of the fourth, Freer and Camarillo both doubled down the left-field line, tacking on another run. Easter followed with a single to left, advancing Camarillo to third. Lujan then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Camarillo to score and pushing APU's lead to 7-3.

The sixth inning proved pivotal for the Cougars as they aimed to close out the seven-inning game in dominant fashion. Camarillo led off with a double to left. Easter was walked, and a wild pitch advanced Camarillo to third. Following a pitching change by the Sunbirds, Dominic Martinez also drew a walk, putting Easter on second. Jacob Hayes was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Elijah Cook was hit by another pitch, forcing in a run as Easter crossed the plate. Diego Frey drew a walk, bringing home Martinez. The Cougars sealed the game with a commanding 9-3 victory, tripling Fresno Pacific's score.

On the mound, senior Gavino Rosales (4-3) earned the win with a complete-game performance. He faced 28 batters, gave up just seven hits, and struck out six Sunbird batters.

Game 3: Fresno Pacific 7, Azusa Pacific 1. 

The Cougars struck first in the second game of the day. At the top of the second inning, Diego Frey led off with a single up the middle. He advanced to second on a passed ball and later moved up to third. Danny Yanez then came through with a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Frey to tag up and score the game's first run, putting APU ahead 1-0.

Fresno Pacific quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 1-1 with a run of their own. The score remained even until the bottom of the fourth, when the Sunbirds took the lead with a sacrifice fly that brought another runner home, making it 2-1.

The game broke open in the bottom of the sixth, when the Sunbirds erupted for five runs in the inning. The Cougars struggled to regain momentum after the big inning and were unable to generate any offense down the stretch. Fresno Pacific held on and secured the 7-1 win.

Up Next: The Cougars will look to bounce back and take the series in the final game tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Dan Martin Field in Fresno.