AZUSA, Calif. — Azusa Pacific split Wednesday's doubleheader with Hawai'i Hilo at the Cougar Softball Complex, taking the opener 5–1 before dropping the finale 6–2. The Cougars broke a scoreless game open in the fourth inning of game one with three runs and added insurance in the sixth behind a pair of RBI from Reagan Kunkle. In the second game, Hawai'i Hilo used a five-run third inning to take control, while Jocelyn Guzman and Julia Doan drove in Azusa Pacific's two runs during a fifth-inning rally.
Game One: Azusa Pacific 5, Hawai'i Hilo 1
After both teams were held off the board through the first three innings, the Cougars took control in the bottom of the fourth. Hannah Tipton reached on an error to open the frame, and Bella Fraser later delivered a two-out RBI single to bring home the game's first run. After Abi Milton stole her way to third, Reagan Kunkle followed with an RBI single, and Jocelyn Guzman added another run-scoring single to give APU a 3-0 lead.
Hawai'i Hilo got one back in the top of the sixth on a solo home run, but the Cougars answered immediately in the bottom half. Milton singled to start the inning and came around to score on Kunkle's second RBI hit of the day. Rianna De La Barcena then added an RBI single to push the lead back to four at 5-1.
Kunkle led Azusa Pacific offensively, going 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Fraser, Guzman and De La Barcena each drove in a run. Milton scored twice and swiped two bases in a spark-plug effort off the bench.
In the circle, Allie Reese tossed three scoreless innings to start the game, and Maddy Debs earned the win after allowing one run over 2.1 innings. Charli Ray Escobedo closed it out with 1.2 scoreless innings to record the save.
Azusa Pacific finished with six hits in the win, while limiting Hawai'i Hilo to four.
Game Two: Azusa Pacific 2, Hawai'i Hilo 6
The Vulcans struck first in the second inning, scoring on an RBI double to take a 1–0 lead.
Hawai'i Hilo then broke the game open in the third. After a leadoff single and a walk put two runners aboard, a two-run double to left center extended the lead before another RBI double and an RBI single pushed the advantage to 6–0.
Azusa Pacific responded in the bottom of the fifth with its only scoring of the game. Fraser started the rally with a single down the right-field line before Kunkle followed with a double to left. Guzman then drove in a run with a single through the left side, and Doan added a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 6–2.
The Cougars finished with three hits in the contest. Fraser and Kunkle each recorded extra-base hits, while Guzman added the RBI single.
In the circle, Ava Hernandez started for Azusa Pacific and struck out two across two innings before Escobedo worked the final five innings in relief, allowing just one run while striking out three.
Up Next: APU (13-13, 6-6 in PacWest) will remain home for a 4 game series next week against Chaminade starting with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 17. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.
