Kailua, HI— The Academy of Art University softball team traveled to Hawaii for a four day, eight game series. They played their first two games of the road trip against Hawaii Pacific University on Sunday afternoon. With beautiful weather overhead, the Urban Knights came out strong and eager to play. The games proved to be a pitching duel between the two teams. But even with key pitching, the Academy of Art University could not manage to score enough runs, as they dropped both games to HPU in extra innings. The Urban Knights lost the first game with a score of 4-3 in the eighth, and the second game with a score of 3-2 in the ninth.
Box Score #1
The Academy of Art University batters were shut out in the first inning, going three up, three down. The HPU Warriors attacked first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. But soon after that, the Urban Knight pitching settled down and kept the Warrior offense quiet for next six innings. Hawaii Pacific University's pitching was successful in keeping the Urban Knight's offense off balance for most of the game. The Urban Knights were held scoreless until the top of the sixth inning.
Junior Nicole Palmer started the sixth inning rally off with a one out single to left-center field. Sophomore Carissa Nichole Perales later singled to center field, advancing Palmer to second. With two outs and two runners on, junior Shampayne Clay hit a towering home run to left-center field. This tied the game at three and with strong pitching still on the mound for the Urban Knights, the game was forced into extra innings.
The Academy of Art University's offense was again shut out in the eighth inning. Then in the bottom of the eighth, with one out, the Warriors scored a run off a game ending solo home run to left field. With the walk off home run, Hawaii Pacific University ended up winning with a score of 4-3.
Freshman Sierrah Garcia was on the mound for the Urban Knights. She pitched a good game, going 7.1 innings pitched, giving up seven hits, four runs (three which were earned), and a home run. Garcia had two walks and posted six strikeouts.
Academy of Art University junior Nicole Palmer had a good afternoon going 2-4 with one run scored. Junior Shampayne Clay went 1-3 with a home run, one run scored and three runs batted in, and sophomore Carissa Nichole Perales also went 1-3 with a run scored.
Hawaii Pacific University player T. Acierto went 2-4 with one run scored and two RBI's. K Plunkett went 2-3 with a run scored and M. Kim went 1-4 with a run scored and a run batted in.
The Academy of Art University scored three runs off five hits, with three errors and left two runners on base.
Box Score #2
After the short break, the Urban Knights came out ready to go for the second game. Both teams again had tough pitching which kept the batters quiet. The first half of the game was kept scoreless. But the Academy of Art University would soon make something happen.
The Urban Knights scored first in the top of the fourth inning. Shampayne Clay doubled to deep center field to get the offense going. Crista Sykes then walked and Shelby LaFond reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Clay from second and advancing Sykes to third. Sykes was then able to score on a wild pitch and the Urban Knight's left the inning with a two run lead. The HPU Warriors answered right back with a run off a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, cutting the lead in half. It seemed as if that one run would be enough to hold the Warriors, as that was all they would score in two more innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, another solo home run allowed the Warriors to tie the game at two, and again push the game to extra innings. The Academy of Art University had a huge opportunity in the bottom of the ninth inning. They loaded the bases with two outs. But they failed to push any runs across and came out empty handed. In the bottom of the ninth Hawaii Pacific got their leadoff batter on, from a costly throwing error. That runner would end up being the winning run, and the Warriors would end up taking that game with a final score of 3-2.
Again, Sierrah Garcia was in the circle for the Academy of Art University. She pitched 8.1 innings giving up nine hits, a home run, and three earned runs. She also had one walk and two strikeouts in the game.
For the Urban Knights, Shampayne Clay went 2-4 with a double and a run scored. Alana Aweau and Ashley Roy also had good games each going 2-4.
Hawaii Pacific University's K. Plunkett went 2-4 with a run scored and a run batted in, and C. Stewart also went 2-4 with a run batted in.
The Urban Knight's scored two runs on six hits, with one error and left seven runners on base.
After both losses the Academy of Art University's record falls to 6-20 overall. The Urban Knights play again tomorrow, March 16th, against BYU Hawaii. Game times are set for 2:00 and 4:00 pm (HST time) in Laie, HI.
