5 reasons why No 1 Azusa Pacific is off to its hot start in DII
5 reasons why No. 1 Azusa Pacific is off to its hot start in DII NCAA.com
1. Azusa Pacific
2. Delta State
3. Florida Southern
4-25: — NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) RELATED: END 3 (Game 2): Sean Aspinall gives Cougars a 4-1 lead with a 2-out grand slam in the bottom of the 3rd inning. — APU Baseball (@APUBaseball) VIDEO: Isaiah Carranza records one of his 14 strikeouts in opener, leading Cougars to 8-1 win over Concordia.
The 4-game series continues Friday with a 3:00 pm doubleheader and concludes with a single game Saturday at 1:00 pm. — APU Baseball (@APUBaseball) The Cougars' leadoff hitter, shortstop Mychael Goudreau, has struggled with the bat a bit this season. He's hitting just .253 through 20 games, but his impressive .423 on-base percentage keeps him atop the order. That's thanks to taking a clunker for the team 12 times already this season. MORE: Goudreau leads the PacWest in hit-by-pitches, landing second in all of DII on the season. It may just be a team strategy for the Cougars as they have been hit 36 times overall this season, a top five mark in DII. Whatever the case may be, its working for Goudreau. He's scored 19 runs this season, in large part by getting on base the hard way. Impact freshmen The Cougars have an extremely veteran-heavy lineup slugging its way to the top of the leaderboards. Freshman third baseman Osvaldo Tovalin is making his presence felt early on, however. The left-handed hitter is slashing .359/402/.551 through his first 20 collegiate games. He has nine extra base hits, including a team-best two triples. Tovalin plays a big role in the run department as well, driving in 19 and scoring 18. The bullpen has some interesting freshman arms to watch as well. Lefty Brendan Dixon can strike people out in bunches, coming off a four-strikeout, two-inning performance. Redshirt-freshman Declan Kearney had a rough outing at Dixie State, but has otherwise been strong. He's struck out 17 and walked just three in 11 innings thus far in 2018.
FALL CHAMPS
TONIGHT
PRESENTED BY Azusa Pacific is off and running in 2018. The 18-2 Cougars are the top team in DII baseball for three consecutive weeks. Baseball Poll:1. Azusa Pacific
2. Delta State
3. Florida Southern
4-25: — NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) RELATED: END 3 (Game 2): Sean Aspinall gives Cougars a 4-1 lead with a 2-out grand slam in the bottom of the 3rd inning. — APU Baseball (@APUBaseball) VIDEO: Isaiah Carranza records one of his 14 strikeouts in opener, leading Cougars to 8-1 win over Concordia.
The 4-game series continues Friday with a 3:00 pm doubleheader and concludes with a single game Saturday at 1:00 pm. — APU Baseball (@APUBaseball) The Cougars' leadoff hitter, shortstop Mychael Goudreau, has struggled with the bat a bit this season. He's hitting just .253 through 20 games, but his impressive .423 on-base percentage keeps him atop the order. That's thanks to taking a clunker for the team 12 times already this season. MORE: Goudreau leads the PacWest in hit-by-pitches, landing second in all of DII on the season. It may just be a team strategy for the Cougars as they have been hit 36 times overall this season, a top five mark in DII. Whatever the case may be, its working for Goudreau. He's scored 19 runs this season, in large part by getting on base the hard way. Impact freshmen The Cougars have an extremely veteran-heavy lineup slugging its way to the top of the leaderboards. Freshman third baseman Osvaldo Tovalin is making his presence felt early on, however. The left-handed hitter is slashing .359/402/.551 through his first 20 collegiate games. He has nine extra base hits, including a team-best two triples. Tovalin plays a big role in the run department as well, driving in 19 and scoring 18. The bullpen has some interesting freshman arms to watch as well. Lefty Brendan Dixon can strike people out in bunches, coming off a four-strikeout, two-inning performance. Redshirt-freshman Declan Kearney had a rough outing at Dixie State, but has otherwise been strong. He's struck out 17 and walked just three in 11 innings thus far in 2018.