Arcata, CA—On Saturday afternoon, the Academy of Art University softball team battled the tough Humboldt State University Lumberjacks. The Lumberjacks are currently ranked number three in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The two games were a hitting contest as they both ended in five innings from the eight run mercy rule. The Urban Knights dropped the first game to Humboldt with a score of 10-2 and came back to win the second game 11-3.
Box Score #1
Things started off well for the Urban Knights in the first game. Their pitching was keeping the Lumberjacks off balance and they were able to start their own offense early. The Academy of Art University scored first in the top of the third inning and jumped out to an early lead. Junior Nicole Palmer led off the inning with the solo home run to deep center field. Then with two outs, junior Shampayne Clay walked and advanced to third on an error by the short stop. Sophomore Alana Aweau then singled to score Clay from third. But those two runs would prove not to be enough to hold the dangerous offense of Humboldt State.
The Lumberjacks answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning, and they never looked back. They tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning, and one more run in the fifth taking a big enough lead to end the game by the eight run mercy rule. In three innings Humboldt State hit a total of five home runs. The Lumberjacks ended up winning the game with a final score of 10-2.
Junior Ericka Ames started on the mound for the Academy of Art University. She pitched 3.1 innings, giving up eight hits, and seven earned runs. Freshman Sierrah Garcia came in to relieve Ames in the fourth inning. She pitched 0.2 innings, giving up one hit and three earned runs. She had one walk and one strikeout.
Humboldt State University's leading hitters were Natalie Galletley, Marissa Slattery and Chrissy Motzney who each went 2-3 in the game. Together they had a total of five runs and eight runs batted in.
For the Urban Knights junior Nicole Palmer had a great game going 1-3 with a homerun. Alana Aweau and Jacqueline Nieves both went 1-2 in the game.
The Urban Knights managed only four hits during the first game, with no errors and left five runners on base.
Box Score #2
The Academy of Art University came out strong in the second game. Their intensity was up and it showed. Again they scored first, trying to take control of the game. In the top of the first inning, leadoff batter Nicole Palmer singled to start the game. Alana Aweau also singled. Junior Carissa Nichole Perales then sacrificed bunted to move the runners to second and third. Then, junior Shampayne Clay homered well over the fence in left field. With a three to nothing lead in the bottom of the first inning, the Academy of Art University knew better than to let up on the tough Humboldt offense.
Humboldt State answered back with one run in the bottom of the first, and then tied things up by adding two more runs in the bottom of the third. After losing the lead for the second time against the Lumberjacks, the Urban Knights were determined to not lose the game.
In the top of the fourth the Urban Knights struck again. Ashley Petty, Jacqueline Nieves and Nicole Palmer each singled. With a full count, bases loaded and two outs Alana Aweau hit a sharp line drive to the center field fence. From her double, all three base runners were able to score. Again the Urban Knights had the lead and this time there was no stopping them.
The Academy of Art University added to their lead in the top of the fifth. Shampayne Clay led off the inning with a walk. Crista Sykes then bunted her over to second. Ashley Roy then singled to center field, scoring Clay from second, and advancing to second on the throw home. Roy then Advanced to third on Ashley Petty's ground out. Freshman Jayme Stewart then singled to left field, scoring Ashley Roy from third. Jacqueline Nieves walked and the Urban Knights had runners on first and third with two outs. Junior Nicole Palmer then hit a towering homerun to center field. After scoring five runs in the fifth inning, the Academy of Art University now held an eight run lead over the Lumberjacks.
With strong pitching and defense in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Academy of Art University was able to hold the Lumberjacks to their three runs, and ended up winning the game with a final score of 11-3.
Freshman Sierrah Garcia pitched a phenomenal second game for the Urban Knights. She pitched all five innings giving up seven hits, and three runs (two which were earned). She also had one walk and two strikeouts.
Humboldt State's big hitters were Nikki Ketteringham who went 2-3 with two runs, and Lindsay Warren who went 2-2 in the game.
The Academy of Art University's Nicole Palmer went 3-4 with a homerun, three runs scored and three runs batted in. Shampayne Clay also had a terrific game going 2-2 with a home run, two runs and two runs batted in. Alana Aweau went 2-3 in the game with a double, two runs batted in and a run scored. Junior Ashley Roy went 2-3 with a run scored and a run batted in and freshman Jacqueline Nieves went 1-2 with two runs scored in the second game.
The Urban Knights had twelve hits in the game, with three errors and left four runners on base.
After both games, the Academy of Art University's record is 6-14 overall and Humboldt State University's record improves to 10-4. The two teams face off again tomorrow March 8th in Arcata, CA. Game times are set for 10:00am and 12:00pm.
