Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
Brisbane, CA - The Academy of Art University's softball team hosted Notre Dame de Namur University in the final match-up between the two teams on Sunday afternoon. The Knights came out with good energy as they celebrated senior day. But the Argos seems eager for revenge, and also came out attacking. The Urban Knights' usual strong pitching faltered on the day, and the team couldn't manufacture enough run support to back the struggling defense. At the end of the day, ART U fell twice to the Argos losing game one 4-8, and dropping the second game 1-2. The two teams split the six game series, winning three games apiece.
The visiting Argos got things going right away in game one when they put up three runs in the top of the first inning. They then struck again in the top of the third to take a four run lead. But the Knights fought back and finally got some offense of their own going in the bottom of the third. ART U pushed across four runs of their own sparked by two consecutive singles by senior Alana Aweau and freshman Elyse Cordova.
That short rally allowed the Knights to tie the game, but again, ART U's pitching was challenged by the Argo's offense. The visitors added four more runs to re-take the lead in the top of the fifth. ART U threatened with runners on in every inning, but they failed to bring in any of those runners and could not make adjustments to NDNU's pitching. After only being able to score runs in one inning, the Knights fell with a final score of 4-8.
Leading the Urban Knights offensively was Aweau. She went 2-3 with a double, and one run scored. Cordova also did well going 2-4 with a stolen base and one run scored. Freshman Lauren Stover who doubled in the game and sophomore Andrea Hanchey, both went 1-3 with one run and one run batted in.
On the mound for the team was sophomore Kimberly Dauer. Dauer went all seven innings pitched allowing nine hits, eight runs, and had three strikeouts. She received the loss in the game.
For the Argos, D. Gray went 3-4 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and four runs batted in. R. Araujo went 2-3 with two runs and two RBI, and A. Castro went 1-4 with a home run, one run, and two runs batted in. Recording the win was Sammy McConvey who came in for relief going four innings allowing two hits, no runs, and had three strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored four runs on seven hits, committed two errors, and left four runners on base.
During the short break between games, the Urban Knights re-grouped and came out with more fight and energy than in the previous game. But they again gave up a first inning lead to NDNU to fall behind in the game right away. After the first inning blunder, ART U's pitching really settled in and shut-out their opponents for the remainder of the game.
ART U started a small rally in the top of the third inning when they scored one run. Sophomore Julie Martin led the inning off with a single and was sacrificed over by senior Alana Aweau. Freshman Elyse Cordova then singled to center field to score Martin from second. The Knights continued to apply pressure when they had runners in scoring position in the last three innings, but again they failed to capitalize on any of those runners. The team had one final chance with bases loaded in the top of the seventh, but couldn't score any runners, and fell with a final score of 1-2.
On the mound for the Urban Knights was junior Sierrah Garcia. She went six innings pitched giving up just four hits, two earned runs, and posted eight strikeouts. Garcia received the loss for her team.
Cordova had another great game for ART U going 3-3 with one run batted in. Martin also stood out going 2-3 with one run scored, and rounding things out was junior Genna Allen and sophomore Alyssa Hickey who both recorded a hit in the game.
For NDNU, R. Araujo went 1-3 with a home run, one run and two runs batted in, J. Reyes went 1-3 with one run scored, and A. Castro also went 1-3 in the game. Receiving the win was again Sammy McConvey who went all seven innings pitched allowing seven hits, one earned run, and had two strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored one run on seven hits, had three errors, and left 10 runners on base.
After the losses, the Academy of Art University's record falls to 23-17 overall, and 13-9 in conference, while Notre Dame de Namur University's record improves to 21-25 overall, and 10-11 in conference. The Knights play next on Wednesday, April 20th in their final home game of the season. They are set to take on San Francisco State at 1:00 and 3:00pm.
