ROCKLIN, Calif. — Azusa Pacific split Monday's doubleheader at American River College, dropping a 9–8 extra-inning heartbreaker in the opener before responding with a 5–4 comeback win in game two. The Cougars piled up 17 hits in game one, highlighted by a 5-for-5 performance from Alexus Corona, then rallied from a four-run deficit in the nightcap behind home runs from Julia Doan and Celeste Camarena to earn the split.
Game 1: Jessup 9, Azusa Pacific 8 (8 innings)
Azusa Pacific struck first in the opening inning when Julia Doan reached and came around to score off of an RBI single from Corona, but Jessup answered with a run of its own in the bottom half and added two more in the second to take an early 3–1 lead.
The Cougars responded in the third. Hailey Burns singled and Corona followed with a base hit before Celeste Camarena roped an RBI double to right center. Later in the inning, Sydney Juarez delivered a two-out RBI single to center to bring home Camarena and tie the game at 3–3.
Jessup moved back in front in the bottom of the third, but Azusa Pacific again had an answer in the fourth. Corona came through with another RBI hit, and Camarena added a second run-scoring double of the afternoon as the Cougars reclaimed a 5–4 lead.
The Warriors pushed back ahead with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, but APU erased the deficit in the top of the sixth. Hannah Tipton singled home a run, and Corona followed with an RBI double to left center to knot the game at 7–7.
After a scoreless seventh, the Cougars grabbed the lead once more in the eighth. With two outs, Corona singled through the right side and Camarena drove her home with a double to right center to put Azusa Pacific in front 8–7.
Jessup answered in the bottom of the inning, however, pushing across two runs to end it and hand the Cougars the extra-inning loss.
Corona led Azusa Pacific offensively, going 5-for-5 with four RBI and a double, while Camarena finished 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Jocelyn Guzman added three hits, and Burns scored twice as part of the Cougars' 17-hit effort.
In the circle, Ava Hernandez went the distance for Azusa Pacific, striking out five over 7.2 innings.
Azusa Pacific outhit Jessup 17–12, but the Warriors' late answer in the eighth proved to be the difference.
Game 2: Azusa Pacific 5, Jessup 4
Azusa Pacific struck first at the top of the lineup in the first inning. Julia Doan smashed a leadoff home run to put the Cougars up 1-0. Jessup answered with a run in the bottom half, then added another in the third to move in front 2–1. The Warriors stretched the lead to 4–1 in the fifth, using two more runs to put the Cougars in a hole.
The Cougars responded in the sixth with their biggest inning of the game. Hailey Burns walked to start the rally and Hannah Tipton followed with a double. Camarena then came through with the decisive swing of the inning, launching a three-run home run to center to tie the game at 4–4.
In the seventh, Doan struck again. Leading off the inning, she crushed her second solo homer of the day to give Azusa Pacific a 5–4 lead.
Doan led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two home runs, two RBI, and two runs scored, while Camarena drove in three with her sixth-inning shot. Burns and Reagan Kunkle each added two hits as the Cougars finished with eight in the win.
In the circle, Allie Reese started and allowed two runs over four innings. Charli Ray Escobedo picked up the win in relief, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings to close it out after Jessup threatened in the fifth.
Up Next: APU will remain in Rocklin for another doubleheader to conclude the 4 game series against Jessup. First pitch for game 1 is set for 11:00 a.m.
