By Ron Smith
February 14, 2026
 
(AZUSA PACIFIC, Calif.) The second day of the baseball series between Cougars and the Warriors ended much the same as the first day, except with a lot more scoring. Like the day before, Azusa Pacific (4-9, 2-2 PacWest) won the first game and Westmont (5-2, 2-2) claimed the second.
 
In the first game, Azusa Pacific took an early lead, going up 9-1 after five innings of play. Then, the Cougars held on to win 11-9.
 
"Our guys did a nice job competing in game one after being shut down by APU starter Joel Tornero," said Westmont's head coach Paul Svagdis. We struggled early executing a plan at the plate, and Tornero pitched his tail off. We had a couple of opportunities to score early but didn't and that seems to be the difference in the game."
 
The Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the third, all courtesy of home runs. Isaiah Rios delivered a three-run home run to right-center field before Blake Hagerty powered a solo home run to left.
 
In the top of the fourth, Westmont scored a run when Joey Rico reached on an error that allowed Isaac Veal to score from third. Veal had previously reached on a double down the left field line, then took third on a passed ball.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, however, the Cougars scored four more runs to take an 8-1 lead. Jacob Hayes drove in two with a single through the left side. Hagerty collected two more RBIs with another single to left.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Bryce Robinette added to the Cougars lead with a solo home run to left.
 
In the top of the sixth, Zach Mora, with the passes loaded, sent a pop fly into shallow left field. Mora was called out based on the infield fly rule. However, the fielder muffed the catch, allowing Rico to score from third.
 
Westmont narrowed the margin by three in the top of the seventh. After Lukas Le Gras led off the inning with a double down the left field line, Veal was walked. That brought up Rico who homered to right field, making the score 9-5.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Cougars added two more runs on a home run by Jacob Freer. As it turned out, those runs would prove the game winners.
 
Veal led off the top of the ninth with a walk, then reached third after two wild pitches. One out later, Colin Callahan and then Jayden Mingus were walked. A ground ball to third by Zach Mora retired Mingus at second, but the Cougars could not turn the double play. Veal scored and Callahan reached third on the play.
 
That brought up Grant Yzermans who delivered a three-RBI home run to left, making it an 11-9 game. Unfortunately for the Warriors, that is as close as they would get before recording the final out.
 
Rico, who pitched the first three innings, took the loss for the Warriors. He gave up four runs on four hits and struck out four.
 
Westmont wasted no time establishing a lead in game number two. After a one-out walk by Rico, Jesse Di Maggio hit an RBI-triple to deep center field, plating Rico. Then, Griffin Brown hit a single to right to drive in Di Maggio. That brought up Veal who made it a 4-0 game with a two-run bomb over the left field fence.
 
In the top of the second, Westmont added another run when Yzermans singled up the middle, driving in Mora from second. Mora had led off the inning with a double to right.
 
Three more Warrior runs were scored in the top of the third. With one away, Callahan walked, then was awarded second on a balk. A double by Yzermans brought home Callahan. Yzermans then scored when Rico doubled as well. Di Maggio then provided the third Warrior double in a row, driving the ball to left center to bring in Rico.
 
Rico made it a 9-0 game with a lead-off home run to right center in the top of the sixth. Then, with one away in the top of the seventh, Mingus scored from second when Callahan reached on an error.
 
While the Warrior bats were lighting up the top half of the scoreboard, Westmont pitchers were throwing a combined shutout. Matt Vazquez started the game and pitched five and two-third innings. He allowed two hits, struck out seven and surrendered just one walk. Nick Romero came on in relief for the final inning and one-third. He completed the shared shutout, giving up one hit and striking out two.
 
"I was proud of the team's tenacity in game two" expressed Svagdis. "Matt Vazquez came out and gave us a great chance to earn a split on the road.
 
"We have a lot of work to do, but I wouldn't want to get back to it with any other group of young men."
 
The Warriors will be in action next weekend with a four-game series against the Lions of Vanguard. On Friday, Westmont will host a doubleheader. Then on Saturday, Vanguard will host the twin bill. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at both venues.