Brice Cutspec Named GSAC Player of the Week; Helps Clinch Conference Title
Brice Almighty
AZUSA, Calif. — The NAIA’s No. 2-ranked Azusa Pacific rode the powerful bat of true freshman Brice Cutspec to a 6-3, 4-1 doubleheader sweep over No. 16-ranked Point Loma Nazarene Saturday evening, clinching the Golden State Athletic Conference championship and setting the program’s single-season wins record with 4 regular-season games remaining. Cutspec answered every Point Loma Nazarene score with a home run, lifting the Cougars to come-from-behind wins in both games.
“This is the best I’ve ever hit in my life,” said Cutspec. “I hit two, but then three in one game was crazy. I was just trying to stay focused, not try to change anything and just stay inside the ball. To clinch (the conference title) today was sweet.”
The Cougars, who had already clinched a share of their ninth GSAC title, extended their lead over second-place Point Loma Nazarene to 8 games and secured home-field advantage for the NAIA Region II Playoffs. In addition, Azusa Pacific extended its program-record winning streak to 21 straight games.
“I told the guys to enjoy this tonight and tomorrow, because they deserve it,” said Cougar head coach Paul Svagdis. “I was very impressed with how we handled the second game. When we won that first game and knowing that we had clinched it, I was tired, and I wasn’t even playing, but the guys got it out of their head and said, ?we’ve gotta win this series.’ That became their focus, and it was really important for them to win this game.”
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GSAC Player of the Week
Brice Cutspec ~ Azusa Pacific University
Freshman ~ 6-5 ~ First Baseman ~ Westminster, California
Brice Cutspec was 7-for-17 at the plate with 5 runs, 4 homeruns and 8 RBIs as No. 2-ranked Azusa Pacific won all 4 of its conference games last week and clinched the GSAC championship. In the 2 wins over Vanguard, he had 3 hits, 1 run, and 2 RBI. Cutspec then led Azusa Pacific to a GSAC championship-clinching doubleheader sweep over No. 16-ranked Point Loma Nazarene, belting 4 home runs in the twinbill, all with 2 outs. Cutspec drilled 3 home runs in the first game, including the game-winning solo shot in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Point Loma Nazarene struck first in the nightcap with a run in the fourth inning, Cutspec again provided the game-winning RBI with a 2-run home run. The doubleheader sweep extended the NAIA’s No. 2-ranked Cougars’ program-record win streak to 21 games, and it gave Azusa Pacific its 41st victory, another program record. The Cougars have won 18 straight GSAC games.