AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougars dropped both games of their conference opener against rival Biola on Saturday.  Azusa Pacific capitalized on early miscues to build a lead, but Biola's five-run sixth inning swung the game as the Cougars fell 8-3 in Game One. In Game Two, APU struck first, but Biola pulled away in the 6th as the Cougars fell 4-1 at Freedom Field.

Game One: Azusa Pacific 3, Biola 8

The Cougars threatened in the first when Julia Doan worked a leadoff walk, moved up on Hailey Burns' sacrifice bunt, then advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Biola escaped with back-to-back strikeouts to keep APU off the board.

Azusa Pacific broke through in the second. Maddy Debs led off with a single to right, Alexus Corona followed with a double to left, and an error on Abi Milton's ball in play allowed both runners to score and give the Cougars a 2–1 advantage.

APU added another in the third. Doan reached on a bunt and moved up on Burns' second sacrifice bunt of the day before Bella Fraser lined an RBI single to right to make it 3–1.

Biola chipped away in the middle innings, tying the game with single runs in the fourth and fifth. The Cougars had a chance to answer in the sixth when Hannah Tipton opened the frame with a single, but a double play erased the threat.

The decisive swing came in the bottom of the sixth, when Biola pieced together a rally that included multiple singles, a walk, and a three-run double that pushed the home side in front for good.

Inside the Box Score

• Fraser went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
• Corona finished 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
• Debs went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
• Tipton added a single in the sixth.
• Burns reached base twice (walk) and laid down two sacrifice bunts.
• Azusa Pacific totaled four hits, with two runs scoring on an error in the second.
• The Cougars used three pitchers: Debs, A. Reese, and A. Reyes.

Game Two: Azusa Pacific 1, Biola 4

The Cougars wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first. Doan worked a leadoff walk, and after Hailey Burns advanced the runner, Fraser delivered an RBI single to bring Burns home and give Azusa Pacific a 1–0 lead.

Biola answered in the bottom half, taking advantage of an error to even the score at 1–1.

The game remained locked through the middle innings as Ava Hernandez settled in. The right-hander worked efficiently, keeping Biola off the board from the second through the fifth while the Cougars looked to regain momentum. Jocelyn Guzman added a single in the second, and Doan collected another base hit in the third, but APU was unable to string together a scoring threat.

The decisive frame came in the sixth. Biola pieced together four hits in the inning, pushing three runs across to take a 4–1 advantage.

Azusa Pacific was set down in order in the seventh as Biola closed out the contest.

Inside the Box Score

• Doan went 2-for-2 with a walk.
• Fraser finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.
• Tipton added a 1-for-3 performance.
• Guzman went 1-for-2.
• Azusa Pacific totaled five hits and committed one error.
• Hernandez threw a complete game (6.0 IP), allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts.

Up Next: The Cougars will look to re-enter the win column when they host Vanguard on Saturday Feb. 28. First pitch of Game One of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.