AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific opened its Tuesday doubleheader against Colorado Mesa by riding a fast start and a complete-game effort in the circle from Ava Hernandez to a 7–2 win, then carried the momentum into the nightcap, erasing a 4-run deficit to defeat CMU 6-4 and complete the sweep over the Mavericks.

GAME ONE: Colorado Mesa 2, Azusa Pacific 7

The Cougars struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, capitalizing on early traffic and Colorado Mesa miscues. After Sydney Juarez was hit by a pitch and Hannah Tipton worked a walk, Bella Fraser lined an RBI single to put Azusa Pacific on the board. Two more runs came home on a pair of errors, giving APU a 3-0 lead after one.

Colorado Mesa responded in the top of the second. With the bases loaded, CMU delivered a two-run double to right-center to cut the deficit to 3-2, but that would be the Mavericks' only scoring of the afternoon.

Azusa Pacific answered immediately in the bottom half. Maddy Debs led off the inning with a solo home run to extend the lead to 4-2.

The Cougars continued to add on in the third. Tipton scored on a sacrifice fly, and another run crossed the plate on an error to push the advantage to 6–2.

Azusa Pacific tacked on one final run in the sixth. After a walk and two singles loaded the bases, Julia Doan knocked an RBI single to right to make it 7–2.

In the circle, Hernandez went the distance, scattering two hits and allowing just two runs while striking out five to earn the win.

Inside the Box Score

• Debs went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an RBI.
• Fraser finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, a walk, and a run scored.
• Doan went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• Tipton scored twice and drew two walks.
• Juarez reached base twice and scored a run.
• Hernandez threw a complete game, allowing two runs on two hits with five strikeouts.
• Azusa Pacific totaled five hits and took advantage of four Colorado Mesa errors

The Mavericks jumped on the board right away, scoring three times in the top of the first. After a leadoff single and a throwing error put runners on, CMU hit an RBI single down the left-field line, then followed with an RBI single to right (advancing to second on the throw), and a groundout brought home another run to make it 3–0.

The Mavericks added to the lead in the second when they doubled to left and later scored on a sacrifice fly, pushing it to 4-0.

Azusa Pacific began chipping away in the third. Doan singled to left, moved up on a wild pitch, then Juarez knocked an RBI single up the middle to put the Cougars on the board.

The Cougars pulled within two in the fourth. Alexus Corona reached on a bunt and advanced on a wild pitch before Celeste Camarena singled up the middle to drive her in and cut it to 4-2.

Azusa Pacific grabbed control in the fifth. Back-to-back singles from Rianna De La Barcena and Doan set the table, and Juarez delivered again with an RBI single that also moved runners up on the throw to tie the game. Moments later, Abi Milton laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring home the go-ahead run and give APU a 5-4 lead.

The Cougars added insurance in the sixth. A walk and a single put runners on, then an error brought home a run, and a wild pitch plated another to stretch the margin to 6-4.

After Colorado Mesa's early burst, Azusa Pacific's bullpen slammed the door. Charli Ray Escobedo entered in the third and threw 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out three to earn the win.

Inside the Box Score

• Doan went 3-for-4 with a double and 2 runs scored.
• Juarez finished 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.
• Camarena went 1-for-3 with an RBI single.
• De La Barcena added an RBI and a run scored.
• Escobedo earned the win with 5.0 shutout innings in relief (3 H, 3 K).
• Azusa Pacific totaled eight hits and scored all six runs from the third through the sixth, taking advantage of three Colorado Mesa errors.