AZUSA, Calif. — Azusa Pacific returned home and delivered the response it was looking for Tuesday night, pulling away late for a 13–6 victory over Vanguard at the Cougar Baseball Complex.
After entering the matchup looking to reset momentum following a tough home/road series at No. 5 Point Loma, the Cougars leaned on their surging offense and timely bullpen work to secure a key PacWest win.
Azusa Pacific (15–18, 13–11 PacWest) wasted little time getting on the board. After Vanguard struck first with an unearned run in the second inning, the Cougars answered immediately with a four-run frame in the bottom half. Aeden Alexander drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game before Jacob Freer delivered a two-RBI single. Tyler Preece capped the inning with an RBI knock to give APU a 4–1 lead.
Vanguard stayed within striking distance, tying the game at 4–4 in the sixth inning behind a two-run home run from Colton Perez. But once again, they responded.
Alexander jumpstarted the offense with a go-ahead solo home run in the sixth, and Bryce Robinette followed with an RBI single to push the Cougars back in front 6–4. After Vanguard trimmed the lead to one in the seventh, Freer delivered again, ripping a two-run single up the middle to extend the advantage to 8–5.
The Cougars put the game out of reach in the eighth inning with their biggest offensive burst of the night.
After loading the bases, Noah Lane drew an RBI walk before Caleb Velo delivered the decisive swing, blasting a bases-clearing double to left-center. A pair of Vanguard errors on the play allowed Velo to score as well, turning a close game into a 13–6 cushion.
Freer led the offensive charge with a 4-for-6 performance and four RBIs, while Preece added three hits. Velo reached base four times, scored three runs, and drove in two, and Alexander contributed a home run and two RBIs as part of a balanced 14-hit attack.
On the mound, the Cougars pieced together a bullpen effort. Edwin Segovia earned the win in relief, while Matthew Brock closed the door in the ninth. The staff combined for nine strikeouts and limited Vanguard to just two earned runs despite 12 hits allowed.
The performance reflected the identity Azusa Pacific has shown in recent weeks, an offense capable of erupting at any moment. Entering the night, the Cougars were hitting .328 over their previous eight home games, and that production carried into Tuesday's contest.
With the win, Azusa Pacific continues to position itself firmly in the middle of the PacWest postseason race while building momentum heading into a pivotal weekend stretch against Jessup starting on Friday.
