PACWEST BASEBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK
IRVINE, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific is off to its hottest start since joining the PacWest in the 2013 season, winning its first eight games out of the gate, including sweeps of San Francisco State and Western Oregon.
The Cougars opened the week with a come-from-behind win on Wednesday at Biola, 7-6. Azusa Pacific scored three runs each in the eighth and ninth innings. A three-run shot by Sean Aspinall in the eighth inning was followed by a bases-loaded single by Osvaldo Tovalin that gave the Cougars the lead in the ninth inning.
Azusa Pacific earned two more one-run victories during the week with Aspinall delivering a walk-off double in the 11th inning of game 2 of the series. Tovalin went 5 for 9 with three runs, two RBIs a double and home run in the two one-run victories.
Dylan Spain helped Hawai`i Hilo earn its first win of the season, throwing seven one-hit innings against Saint Martin’s to earn the victory with six strikeouts.
Hawai`i Pacific also had success at home with three wins in a four-game series with Minnesota-Crookston. Tanner Tokunaga went 8 for 16 in the series, scoring five runs as he collected two RBIs and a double in the leadoff spot.
Dixie State also had a busy week with six games against Montana State Billings and Cal State San Bernardino. Gabe Taylor went 11 for 22 in the six games with wo runs and four multi-hit games.
This is the final full week of non-conference play featuring a handful of noteworthy matchups, including Dixie State’s four-game weekend series against RMAC perennial power Colorado Mesa. Dixie State enters the series with a 4-2 record.
Concordia will play a two-game series this week against Cal Poly Pomona, which is regularly one of the top teams in the region. The Eagles are looking to snap a three-game losing streak when the Broncos come to Irvine on Thursday.
Azusa Pacific attempts to build on its eight-game winning streak on Friday as the Cougars begin a two-game series with Cal State San Bernardino. The Cougars already have their best start to a season since joining the PacWest.
California Baptist plays at home this week against Colorado Christian after taking two of three games to open the season last week against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Hawai`i Pacific will remain at home for the week with Saint Martin’s in town for a four-game series after the conclusion of the Saints’ series at Hawai`i Hilo.
Weekly Awards for the week of Feb. 5-11
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sean Aspinall, Azusa Pacific
OF, Sr., 6-0 -- Upland, Calif.
Aspinall helped Azusa Pacific earn a sweep of the GNAC preseason favorite Western Oregon along with a win over Biola in a non-conference encounter. Aspinall went 7 for 17 at the plate with three home runs and eight RBIs. Against Biola, Aspinall belted a three-run shot to tie the game in the eighth inning before the Cougars went on to win the game. In the second game against Western Oregon, Aspinall got the walk-off hit with a double in the 11th inning to give the Cougars a 4-3 win. The 8-0 start is the best in program history since joining the PacWest.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Dylan Spain, Hawai`i Hilo
RHP, So., 6-6 -- Honolulu, Hawai`i
The Vulcans earned their first win of the season with a 3-0 triumph over Saint Martin’s on Sunday night. Spain earned the win on the mound, throwing seven shutout innings with just one hit allowed. He struck out six of the 22 batters he faced to improve to 1-1 on the season. Spain turned things over to the pen with a 3-0 lead before Deric Valoroso got the hold and John Kea earned the save in the ninth inning.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Osvaldo Tovalin, Azusa Pacific
OF, Sr., 6-0 -- Upland, Calif.
Tovalin recorded his fourth and fifth career multi-hit games in the final two games of Azusa Pacific’s sweep of Western Oregon. In the second game of the series, Tovalin recorded a career-high three hits, including his first career home run. He boosted his batting average to .412 in the series finale, going 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and two runs. The freshman also had an RBI single in the win over Biola on Wednesday. Tovalin leads the league in both hits and batting average after two weeks of play in the 2018 season.