AZUSA, Calif. - Azusa Pacific had an offensive surge on Saturday night, after rainy weather pushed back the original start time of the final home game of the season from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. After a 5-0 shutout win in game one, highlighted by Caitlin DeCanio and Alexus Corona's home runs, the Cougars let loose in game two, putting up a season-high 15 hits to complete the sweep with a 9-3 dominating victory. 

At the conclusion of game two, APU celebrated the final games of Izzy Rivera, Emily Zuniga, Sierra Sandoval, Caitlin DeCanio, Sommer Quinones, and Simone Penuelas. The six helped lead the Cougars to 127 wins on the diamond and three consecutive trips to the NCAA West Region playoffs.

Game One: Azusa Pacific 5, Vanguard 0

Caitlin DeCanio wasted no time getting Azusa Pacific started, hammering a first-pitch solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to spark a 5-0 shutout win in game one.

DeCanio's 11th homer of the season gave APU an early 1-0 lead, and the Cougars stayed in control from there. In the second, Alexus Corona added to the lead with a solo home run of her own - her second of the season - drilling a shot to left field to make it 2-0.

Azusa Pacific pushed the advantage to 3-0 in the fifth. After Julia Doan singled and DeCanio walked, Sierra Sandoval lined an RBI double up the middle to score Doan. The Cougars tacked on two more runs in the sixth; Corona ripped an RBI double to right-center to score Bella Fraser, and Hailey Burns followed with an RBI double of her own through the left side to plate Corona.

Mia Castillo was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete-game two-hit shutout while striking out six and walking three. She needed just 82 pitches to pick up her seventh win of the season.

Corona led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs. Doan also finished with two hits and a run scored, while DeCanio, Sandoval, Burns, and Sommer Quinones each contributed at the plate.

Game Two: Azusa Pacific 9, Vanguard 3

Azusa Pacific used a six-run third inning and a season-high 15 hits to pull away from Vanguard in game two.

The Cougars jumped ahead in the bottom of the first. After Quinones drew a walk and Emily Zuniga reached on a fielder's choice, Zuniga stole second and scored when Caitlin DeCanio ripped a single up the middle. DeCanio would come home on a bases-loaded walk to Alexus Corona later in the inning, giving APU a 2-0 lead.

Vanguard answered with a run in the second and another in the third to tie the game 2-2, but the Cougars blew the doors off in the bottom of the third. Sandoval led off with a single, and after Rihanna De La Bacena came in to pinch run, back-to-back hits from Izzy Rivera and Fraser plated two runs. Corona and DeCanio each added RBI singles, and by the end of the frame, APU had batted around and pushed six runs across to take an 8-2 lead.

After the Lions scored again in the fifth, the Cougars responded immediately. Zuniga tripled to right center, and Sandoval brought her home with an RBI double to make it 9-3.

APU used six of its pitchers to navigate through the game, with Allie Resse picking her second win of the season, tossing a scoreless and hitless fourth inning and recording a strikeout. Charli Ray Escobedo closed it out with a scoreless seventh, retiring Vanguard in order.

At the plate, Zuniga went 2-for-4 with a triple, a double, and an RBI. Fraser finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Corona drove in runs and DeCanio plated three. Rivera also collected two hits, and Sandoval went 2-for-4 with two extra-base hits and two RBIs.

Up Next: The Cougars head Concordia for the PacWest tournament as the #3 seed where they will face #2 Concordia on Wednesday April 30 at 5:00 p.m. After Wednesday's games, three games will be played on Thursday and two teams will be eliminated. The two teams to advance will play for the championship on Friday.