Azusa evens series with LCSC in rolling to win

5-17-07

AZUSA, Calif. - A day after compiling the most runs and hits against the top-ranked Lewis-Clark State College baseball team this season but still coming out on the short end, Azusa Pacific wasn't about to let it happen again. 

The Cougars scorched LCSC pitching early and often in rolling to a 16-5 win to even the NAIA West Coast Super Regional best-of-three series at a game apiece.  

The third and deciding game will be held Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Both teams are already assured of a berth in the 51st annual Avista NAIA World Series, and even with a loss, Azusa still might claim the top seed in the 10-team double-elimination tournament, which kicks off next Friday at LCSC's Harris Field. Because LCSC is the host team of the Series, it can't be seeded higher than third in the tournament. 

The Warriors are the defending champions and have been ranked No. 1 in the NAIA polls all season, but fell to 52-5 with the loss. Azusa Pacific, which has been ranked No. 2 since late March, is 50-7 overall. 

In Thursday's game, the 16 runs were the most allowed by an LCSC team since it gave up 18 to Grand Canyon in a game during the 2002 season. The 16 runs are the fourth highest total the Warriors have allowed since the 1992 season, and the 11-run setback is LCSC's worst since a 15-3 loss to the University of Washington in 2003. 

It was also LCSC's first loss this season by more than two runs, and also snapped an eight-game win streak. 

In Wednesday's opener, LCSC allowed 11 runs. In the two games, LCSC's team earned run average has gone for 2.27 to 2.60. 

After LCSC took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a Paul Martin RBI single and a sacrifice fly RBI by Beau Mills, APU proceeded to outscore LCSC 12-1 during the next four innings. APU touched Warrior starter Matt Fitts for four runs in the first inning and continued to roll from there, adding five in the fourth for a 12-3 lead. APU scored at least one run in every inning it batted in but one. 

The Cougars pounded out 16 hits in the game, including five for extra bases. The big blow was a grand slam by Scott Hodsdon with no outs in the first inning. Hodsdon also was the starting pitcher for APU and picked up the win to improve to 10-1 on the season. 

LCSC used five pitcher in the game and none had much success. Fitts gave up three hits, three walks and five runs in 1.2 innings. Matt Duryea walked the only batter he faced, and Brian Bird gave up five hits and four runs in 1.1 innings. Jared Joaquin went three innings and allowed four hits and four runs, while Chris Schwinden gave up four hits and three runs in two innings. Fitts took the loss, his first of the season, to fall to 9-1. 

One of the few brights spots for the Warriors was Mills hitting his 33rd home run of the season, a solo shot in the third. Mills finished 2-for-2 with three RBI, and a run scored. He also was walked twice. With the home run, Mills became the 13th Warrior to reach 100 hits in a season. He now has 101. Jim O'Dell has the all-time mark with 117 in 1983. 

Brent Wyatt went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base, while Ikaika Lester added three hits. LCSC had 14 hits in the game, but also left 14 stranded on base.