San Leandro, CA—On Sunday afternoon, the Academy of Art University's Softball team faced Holy Names University in a double header. Battling the hot sun, the Urban Knights came out strong in the first game winning it with a score of 5-4; but they couldn't hold onto their momentum and ended up dropping the second game with a final score of 1-4.
Box Score #1
The Academy of Art University scored first in game one, when they pushed a run across the board in the top of the second inning. Melissa Coe got things going with a single and then stole second. Crista Sykes followed with a double scoring Coe from second base. The Urban Knights settled for a one run lead that inning, but showed no signs of slowing.
In the top of the third, the Urban Knights scored three more runs. With bases loaded junior Nicole Palmer hit a long fly ball over the left fielder's head. With no homerun fence Palmer's fly ball rolled all the way to the end of the field, a mere 290 feet. She managed to score Jacqueline Nieves from third, Alana Aweau from second and Shampayne Clay from first. Palmer only managed a triple and was thrown out trying to score on her hit. The Urban Knights would add one more run to their lead in the top of the seventh when Ashley Roy scored on Shampayne Clay's single.
The Academy of Art University's pitching was solid during the first game. They held Holy Names scoreless for five innings. But the Hawks came back to score two runs in the sixth, and two runs in the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks had runners on second and third with one out; but Urban Knight pitcher Ericka Ames got her team out of the jam. The Urban Knights ended up holding onto the lead for the win with a final score of 5-4.
Ericka Ames pitched a great game for the Academy of Art University. She went all seven innings pitched, giving up four earned runs on seven hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored five runs on seven hits with two errors in the game. Combined they totaled two doubles, one triple, three stolen bases and left five runners on base.
Box Score #2
The hot weather took its toll in the second game. With the temperature in the 90's, the sun definitely affected the Urban Knight's play. Again Ericka Ames was on the mound for the Academy of Art University. Partially dehydrated, Ames did the best she could, but the team's offense could not back her pitching efforts.
The Hawks struck first, posting three runs in the bottom of the second inning. They took an early lead and fought hard to keep it the rest of the game. The Urban Knights finally got some offense of their own going in the top of the fourth, but only managed to score one run. Holy Names followed by posting one more run in the bottom of the fifth. The Academy of Art University hitter's could not make any more adjustments to the Hawk's pitcher, and ended up losing with a final score of 1-4.
Academy of Art University pitcher Ericka Ames threw a good game despite getting the loss. She pitched six innings, giving up nine hits, four runs (three which were earned), no walks and one strikeout.
The Urban Knights scored one run on three hits, with two errors and left three runners on base.
After the split, the Academy of Art University's record is at 12-28 on the season, and Holy Names University's record is 20-12 overall. The Urban Knights are scheduled to play a double header on Wednesday April 22nd against Patten University. Game times are set for 6:00pm and 8:00pm at Standley field in Hayward, CA.
