IRVINE, Calif. – Azusa Pacific split Friday's doubleheader with Concordia, taking game one 12-5 to hand the Golden Eagles their largest margin of defeat in the last 25 years of the two teams' matchups, before falling 4-1 in the nightcap. The opener was fueled by a seven-run second inning, while freshman Sakarah Buckner highlighted game two with the first home run of her collegiate career.

Game One: Azusa Pacific 12, Concordia 5

The game broke open in the top of the second after a quiet first inning on both sides. Izzy Rivera led off the frame with a single to center, and Bella Fraser followed with another base hit. After a strikeout and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Emily Zuniga singled up the middle to bring in Rivera and start the scoring.

An error on a ground ball by Sommer Quinones plated another run before Julia Doan roped a two-run double to left, making it 4-0. Caitlin DeCanio added an RBI single, Sierra Sandoval followed with an RBI hit of her own, and Rivera capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to center to drive in DeCanio. When the dust settled, the Cougars had sent 11 batters to the plate and built a 7-0 lead.

Concordia tried to claw back in the third and fifth innings, highlighted by a three-run homer that briefly cut the deficit to 9-5. But APU kept applying pressure. Sydney Juarez knocked in a run with a pinch-hit single in the fourth, Zuniga added another RBI knock in the sixth, and the Cougars plated three more insurance runs thanks to a pair of Concordia defensive miscues.

Fraser had a standout performance, going 4-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored. Zuniga reached base three times and drove in two. Doan and Sandoval each had two RBIs, while Corona, Rivera, and DeCanio all had hits. APU finished with nine different players recording at least one hit.

Ava Hernandez picked up the win in the circle, going 6.1 innings and allowing five earned runs on seven hits while striking out three. Delaney Raetz came in to finish off the seventh, recording the final two outs to secure the victory.

Game Two: Azusa Pacific 1, Concordia 4

The game remained scoreless through the first four innings as both teams' defenses held firm. Castillo retired the first 12 batters she faced. Buckner got the Cougars on the board in the top of the fifth with a two-out solo homer to left center, her first home run of the season, giving APU a brief 1-0 lead. Quinones followed with a single, but was left stranded.

Concordia answered immediately in the bottom half. After a leadoff single and a walk, a two-run single up the middle to put the Golden Eagles ahead. Concordia followed with an RBI single, increasing the Golden Eagles' lead 3-1 and added one more in the sixth to make it 4-1.

Azusa Pacific's best shot at a comeback came in the top of the seventh when Fraser reached on an error to start the inning, but a double play followed and the Cougars were unable to mount a rally.

Castillo went the distance for APU, tossing six innings and allowing four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

The Cougars finished with four hits: one each from Quinones, Sandoval, Buckner, and Zuniga. Despite outhitting Concordia 14-9 in game one and battling in game two, APU settled for the road split.

Up Next: The Cougars and the Golden Eagles will get another go at each other when APU hosts Concordia at the Cougar Softball Complex for the last two games of the series. First pitch on Saturday April 19th is at 12:00 PM.