IRVINE, Calif. - Facing elimination and the PacWest regular-season champions, Azusa Pacific got a pair of clutch home runs from Julia Doan and a complete game effort from Ava Hernandez to knock out rival Biola, 3-2, on Thursday evening at Golden Eagle Field and keep their title hopes alive. Freshman Hernandez remained posed in the circle, only surrendering two runs to the #1 seed.

Doan put the Cougars on the board in the top of the third with a solo shot to left field, giving APU a 1-0 lead. Biola tied the game in the bottom half, taking advantage of an error, but APU answered again in the fifth. Doan drew a walk and advanced on a single from Caitlin DeCanio before Sierra Sandoval delivered an RBI single through the left side to put the Cougars ahead 2-1.

The Eagles tied it again in the sixth with a solo homer of their own, but in the top of the seventh, Doan came through once more. With a full pitch count and the mindset to have a long at-bat and to just get on base, she launched her second solo home run of the game to right field, giving APU a 3-2 lead they would not surrender.

Hernandez was strong in the circle from start to finish, tossing all seven innings while allowing just one earned run on seven hits and striking out five, improving to 11-6 on the year.

Doan finished 2-for-3 with two home runs, two RBIs, all three runs scored, and a walk. Sandoval, and Izzy Rivera each added two hits as the Cougars totaled 10 on the night, with seven different players reaching base.

Up Next: With the win, Azusa Pacific (31-21) advances to Friday's championship round. The Cougars will face Concordia at 12:00 p.m. in an elimination game. A win would force a decisive second game at 3:00 p.m. to determine the 2025 PacWest Tournament champion.