TURLOCK, Calif. – Behind strong pitching performances by Lindsay Miller and Lauren Maley, and a go-ahead RBI by Lauren Diuco in the fifth inning, the Saints won their opening game of the Tournament of Champions with a 2-1 victory over Azusa Pacific.
 
In the top of the second inning, Regan Byrd led off with a walk, and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt by Alyssa French. The Saints (9-11) took advantage of a throwing error by Azusa Pacific (9-16), scoring Byrd from second and taking a 1-0 lead.
 
Azusa Pacific tied the game quickly, after back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the second resulted in a run on a RBI single to second base.
 
The game remained tied 1-1 entering the fifth inning when Sabrina Hicks started with a walk. A sacrifice bunt by Paige Miller put the runner in scoring position for Diuco. Diuco, who leads the Saints' offense in batting average this season, delivered the clutch hit, singling through the left side and scoring Hicks.
 
Azusa Pacific had opportunities to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth, with runners on second and third and two outs. Lauren Maley worked out of the jam with a fly ball to left field. After a quiet sixth inning, Maley recorded two quick outs in the seventh before a double down the left field line put the game-tying run on second. The runner proceeded to steal third but the Saints sealed the victory with a line out to Hicks at shortstop.
 
On the day, the Saints only collected four hits, but managed to reach base on six walks, resulting in two runs. L. Miller pitched the first two innings for SMU, giving up one run on a hit with two walks. Maley (5-8) earned the win after coming in to throw five shutout innings of relief, giving up four hits and only walking one.

"We played a real close competitive game and were able to get the victory," said head coach Jim Peterson. "Lindsay Miller and Lauren Maley pitched really well for us today."