Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Azusa Pacific came to San Marcos on Saturday looking for revenge after CSUSM swept them in Azusa earlier this season. But the surging San Marcos squad had other plans, shutting out Azusa in both ends of a double-header to sweep them again. CSUSM won game one 4-0, and rode a Brenna Sandberg 2-hitter to a 2-0 victory in game two. Game one pitted CSUSM starter Chanel Rose against Azusa’s Jeanette Murad. Both pitchers looked good early, with each stranding a pair of runners in the first. Rose used her change-up effectively to keep the opposing lineup off-balance, and Azusa’s lineup couldn’t get under many of her pitches. In fact, Rose’s first seven outs came via the grounder. CSUSM caught a break in the third, when after a Holly Russell single, a double-play ball by Kami Williams was thrown away, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Coach Kelly Warren then manufactured the run, sending pinch runner Aly Brown to steal second. The throw by the catcher went into center, allowing Russell to trot home with the game’s first run. -Azusa threatened in the third, putting two runners on with two outs; but Rose escaped thanks to her defense. First, Russell snagged a rocket line drive hit right at her. Then with two outs, Nicolette Nassiff saved a pair of runs with a lunging catch on a sure-double down the right field line. Rose’s day over after three scoreless innings, and she gave way to ace Melissa Lerno. Lerno worked around a leadoff single to preserve the 1-0 lead in the fourth, striking out the inning’s final two hitters. Her overpowering fastball proved a perfect complement to Rose’s repertoire of finesse pitches, and Azusa’s lineup had trouble catching up. Lerno tossed a perfect fifth, then stranded a couple runners in the sixth. She also knocked Murad out of the game with a leadoff single in the sixth. Elizabeth Bush followed that up with a single, and Russell laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. A walk to Kami Williams loaded the bases, and after a strikeout, Nicolette Nassif slapped a grounder to third. It looked like Nassif would have beaten the throw to first, but it went awry anyway, allowing a second run to score. Nassif would then steal second, and the throw sailed over the second baseman’s head, plating Williams. Now with a much more comfortable 4-0 lead, Lerno breezed through the seventh to secure the victory. Defense was the deciding factor, with CSUSM playing flawlessly in the field while Azusa struggled to six errors. The win improves Rose to 2-1 on the season, and the save is Lerno’s first. Game two matched CSUSM’s Brenna Sandberg against Azusa’s Camille Hundley. After both pitchers threw perfect first innings, Azusa threatened in the second with a leadoff triple by Natali Mickelson. But Sandberg didn’t panic, and retired the next three hitters without letting the run score.