AZUSA, Calif. — Azusa Pacific dropped both games of its Tuesday doubleheader with Hawai'i Hilo, losing the opener 8-3 before falling 7-2 in the nightcap at the Cougar Softball Complex.
Game One: Azusa Pacific 3, Hawai'i Hilo 8
The Cougars struck first in the bottom of the third when Julia Doan doubled to center and Hannah Tipton followed with a two-run homer to left, giving APU a 2-0 advantage.
Hawai'i Hilo answered in the fourth, loading the bases before delivering a two-run single to right to even the score at 2-2.
The game stayed tied until the seventh, when the Vulcans capitalized on a pair of hits, three Azusa Pacific errors and four walks in the inning to score six runs and pull away for good.
APU tried to respond in the bottom half as Alexus Corona and Bella Fraser opened the inning with back-to-back doubles, with Fraser driving in a run to make it 8-3, but the Cougars could get no closer.
Tipton led the Cougars offensively, finishing 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Doan, Corona, Debs and Fraser also recorded hits, with Corona and Fraser each doubling.
Ava Hernandez kept the Vulcans quiet through the first three innings and finished with five strikeouts over six innings before Allie Reese worked the seventh in relief.
Game One: Azusa Pacific 2, Hawai'i Hilo 7
The Vulcans wasted no time in the first inning, stringing together five hits to plate three runs and take an early 3–0 advantage.
Hawai'i Hilo added another run in the second after a bunt attempt resulted in a throwing error that allowed a run to score, pushing the lead to 4–0.
Azusa Pacific threatened in the second inning when Corona and Fraser delivered back-to-back singles, but the rally stalled with two runners left on base.
The Vulcans extended their lead in the fourth with a pair of RBI singles to make it 6–0 and added another run in the fifth following a triple and a groundout to stretch the margin to 7–0.
The Cougars broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Celeste Camarena started the rally with a single before Reagan Kunkle followed with another hit. Two batters later, Doan ripped a two-run triple to left-center to get Azusa Pacific on the board and cut the deficit to 7–2.
APU continued to put runners on base late, including a double from Maddy Debs and a single from Fraser, but the Cougars could not add to the comeback effort.
Fraser led Azusa Pacific with two hits, while Doan drove in both Cougar runs with her triple. Corona, Debs, Camarena and Kunkle each added a hit as APU totaled seven on the night.
Up Next: The Cougars and the Vulcans return to the Cougar Softball Complex tomorrow, March 11 for the final two games of their four-game series. First pitch of Game One is set for 4:00 p.m.
