SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Azusa Pacific swept Friday's doubleheader at Penguin Field, opening with a 6–0 shutout win over Dominican before breaking game two open with a five-run fifth inning to secure a 9–1 run-rule victory. The Cougars jumped out early in the opener behind first-inning home runs from Julia Doan and Alexus Corona, then carried the momentum into game two with a late offensive surge to complete the sweep.
Game One: Azusa Pacific 6, Dominican 0
Azusa Pacific wasted no time taking control, striking for two runs in the top of the first.
Doan opened the game by homering to right center, and after two outs Corona followed with a solo shot to left center to quickly give the Cougars a 2–0 lead.
The Cougars added on again in the second when Kunkle launched a solo home run, pushing the lead to 3–0. Azusa Pacific then broke the game open in the third. Corona came through with an RBI single, and Fraser followed later in the inning with a two-run double to left center to score Corona and Hannah Tipton and stretch the advantage to 6–0.
Corona led the Azusa Pacific offense, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Fraser finished 2-for-3 with two RBI. Doan and Kunkle each homered, and Doan added the game's first RBI from the leadoff spot.
In the circle, Hernandez was dominant from start to finish. She tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits while striking out seven and walking two. Dominican put seven runners on base, but Hernandez kept the Penguins off the board all afternoon.
Azusa Pacific finished with eight hits in the win, while holding Dominican to four.
Game Two: Azusa Pacific 9, Dominican 1 (5 innings)
Azusa Pacific wasted no time manufacturing the game's first run in the opening frame.
Julia Doan singled to start the game, stole second, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before Hannah Tipton brought her home with an RBI single up the middle for a 1–0 lead.
The Cougars added another run in the second, then extended the lead to 4–1 in the third behind an RBI single from Celeste Camarena. Tipton stayed hot in the middle of the order, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored.
Dominican's lone run came on a solo home run in the second inning, briefly cutting into the deficit at 2–1.
With a 4–1 lead entering the fifth, Azusa Pacific delivered the knockout blow behind an RBI single from Jocelyn Guzman and home runs from Tipton and Doan. The Cougars plated five runs in the inning, highlighted by a three-RBI performance from Doan and multiple hits from Reagan Kunkle, who went 3-for-3 with a run scored.
Doan led the offense with two hits, three RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases from the leadoff spot, while the Cougars totaled 13 hits and three stolen bases as a team.
In the circle, Maddy Debs turned in a complete-game effort, allowing just one run on five hits over five innings while striking out two to earn the win.
Azusa Pacific improves to 21-21 overall and 14-12 in PacWest play with the doubleheader sweep.
Up Next: The Cougars return for day 2 of the 4 game series against the Penguins.. First pitch of game 1 is set for 10:00 a.m.
