By Tim Peterson
(Azusa) – Isaiah Rios ripped a single to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to drive in the winning run and give Azusa Pacific a 12-11 walk off win over Jessup Friday at the Cougar Baseball Complex.
The Cougars looked like they were in control after scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-8 lead. Tyler Preece hit a solo shot and Noah Lane and Caleb Velo both had RBI singles in the inning.
But Jessup responded with three in the top of the seventh to tie it. Quinton Hall doubled and scored on a single by Cole Hazel. Gabe Harris then hit a pinch hit, two-out home run to get the Warriors even.
In the bottom of the seventh Bryce Robinette walked and Preece came up with another clutch hit with a single to left. Rios then rocked one into left center to score Robinette for the walk off.
The Cougars had to rally twice to get the job done. They were down 3-0 in the fourth inning and then trailed 8-4 before coming up with four runs in the fifth.
Matt Gonsalvez hit a two-run home run for Jessup in the second inning and the Warriors added one more in the third for the 3-0 lead.
Azusa Pacific got two in the third without the benefit of a hit. There were two walks, an error and a hit batter as Diego Orozco and Jacob Freer both scored in the inning.
APU picked up two more in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. Noah Lane singled and Orozco hit a bomb to right field to put the Cougars up 4-3.
Jessup answered immediately in the fifth with five runs. Cody Anton and Landyn Plaut hit back-to-back home runs and Hazel unloaded the bases with a three-run double to left and just like that the Warriors were up 8-4.
The Cougars tied it in the bottom of the fifth. Orozco doubled in a run and Jacob Hayes and Lane forced in runs by drawing walks.
The two teams then exchanged punches over the next two innings before Rios finally ended it in the bottom of the seventh.
Jessup used three pitchers overall. Diego Chavez worked into the fifth inning and allowed eight runs but Noah Souza suffered the defeat.
For the Cougars Spencer Casey started and worked five innings before Edwin Segovia came on to pitch the last two innings to pick up the win.
The two teams combined for 23 runs, 20 hits and two errors in the contest.
With the victory Azusa Pacific swept the doubleheader after winning the first game 15-10. The Cougars improved to 17-18 overall and 15-11 in the PacWest Conference. Jessup fell to 17-13 and 13-11.
J 0 2 1 0 5 0 3 11 10 1
A 0 0 2 2 4 3 1 12 10 1
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They only play 7 innings???
From T. Peterson: Yes. In the second game of a doubleheader in the PacWest Conference the game is always seven innings unless of course extra innings are required. The opening game of a doubleheader and single games are nine innings.