Azusa Pacific heads into one of its toughest tests of the 2026 season, squaring off with No. 5 Point Loma in a unique four-game split series on March 19–20. The series opens with a Friday doubleheader at Carroll B. Land Stadium in San Diego before shifting to the Cougar Baseball Complex on Saturday.

The Cougars (13-15, 11-8 PacWest) enter the weekend sitting third in the conference standings, while the Sea Lions (24-3, 20-0 PacWest) have been nothing short of dominant, riding a 20-game winning streak and holding a perfect conference record.

A Clash of Momentum vs. Dominance

APU comes in playing its best baseball of the season, having won or tied each of its last three conference series against Chaminade, Hawai'i Pacific, and Hawai'i Hilo. The Cougars most recently took three of four from Hilo, continuing an upward trend at the plate.

Over their last 12 games, APU is hitting a scorching .343 as a team, a noticeable jump from their .279 season average. The offense has powered a surge that has kept the Cougars firmly in the upper half of the PacWest standings.

However, pitching remains the question mark. APU owns a 6.90 team ERA on the season, and that inconsistency on the mound will be tested against one of the most complete lineups in the country.

On the other side, Point Loma has been dominant in every phase. The Sea Lions are hitting .341 as a team while holding opponents to a .249 average, pairing elite offense with a 4.39 staff ERA. Their balanced attack and depth have fueled a perfect 20-0 mark in conference play.

Players to Watch

APU's offense is anchored by one of the hottest hitters in the conference in Bryce Robinette, who leads the team with a .385 average and has been on another level recently, hitting .556 over his last 10 games.

Jacob Hayes continues to provide power in the middle of the lineup, batting .298 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs. He enters the weekend just three hits shy of 100 for his APU career, adding another storyline to watch.

On the mound and in high-leverage situations, Andrew Miller has emerged as a key bullpen piece. Despite an 8.40 ERA overall, he has turned things around recently with a 1.35 ERA over his last four appearances, collecting two saves.

For Point Loma, the lineup features multiple hitters batting over .340, led by Josiah Rodriguez (.440) and Aiden Arriaga (.423), making them one of the most dangerous offenses APU has faced this season.

Projected Pitching Matchups

• Joel Tornero – 7 GS, 31.2 IP vs. Derek Silva – 7 GS, 40.0 IP, 1.80 ERA

• Casey Spencer – 6 GS, 29.0 IP vs. Vaughn Neckar – 7 GS, 37.1 IP, 2.65 ERA

• Kaleb Tenn – 3 GS, 20.0 IP vs. Glen Huggins – 7 GS, 33.2 IP, 5.08 ERA

• Edwin Segovia – 1 GS, 16.2 IP vs. Devin Norton – 3 GS, 19.0 IP, 4.26 ERA

Spencer will be one to watch, entering the weekend just 15 strikeouts shy of 100 for his NCAA career.

Series Outlook

Historically, APU has had success in the matchup, holding a 142-86-1 all-time record against Point Loma. But this year's Sea Lions squad presents a different challenge, entering the series undefeated in conference play and nationally ranked.