Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
Phoenix, AZ – In their final games of the 2011 season, the Academy of Art University's softball team faced off against Grand Canyon University on Sunday afternoon. The sun was again hot, and the day would soon be a roller coaster of emotions for ART U. The Urban Knights' offense was its usual powerful self, while their pitching was outstanding. But just like in yesterday's games, it was the team's own defense that beat them. Without the defensive support in the game, the Knights' offensive numbers were meaningless. After costly errors late in the game, ART U fell with a final score of 9-11 in game one. Game two was a different story. Relying on their powerful pitching performance, and backed by good defense, the Knights struggled to get their offense going. After 10 innings of hard fought softball, the Knights prevailed over the 'Lopes in come back fashion to take the game with a final score of 5-4.
“Game one was very tough giving up such a big lead and I do believe that in the beginning of game two those emotions got the best of us,” said Head Coach Rachel Sherman. “But like so many times before, we adjusted at the plate and had the confidence to come back. We had some clutch at bats that put us right back into the game, and Katie did a very good job keeping us in the game defensively, along with some other clutch defensive plays. I have to give everyone credit because in some very tough situations, with the game on the line, everybody did a great job at controlling their emotions.”
In game one the Urban Knights were swinging a hot bat, and came out attacking from the get go. They jumped on the board early and did not let up. The team scored once in the top of the first inning when sophomore Jayme Stewart drew a bases loaded walk to score freshman Lauren Stover from third. The Knights then struck again scoring in the top of the second when freshman Julie Martin led the inning off with a single, and after being moved around the bases, later scored on a single by Stover.
ART U didn't stop there, however. They scored twice in the third off a two RBI double by senior Alana Aweau, and then twice in the fourth when junior Genna Allen hit a two run homerun, her third of the series. Since the Urban Knights' pitching was shutting out the Grand Canyon batters, the Knights had a six run lead heading into the 5th. But that's when things went downhill for the Knights.
The 'Lopes rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the 5th, to come to within one run of the Knights' lead. But the Urban Knights didn't let up offensively. They scored three runs in the top of the sixth when Stewart hit a towering three run homerun to give her team the edge once more. ART U's defense continued to falter in the sixth as it had in the 5th, and GCU capitalized on those errors. After a grand-slam in the bottom of the sixth, the 'Lopes took over the lead and held onto it for the win. The Urban Knights lost the heartbreaker with a final score of 9-11, despite outhitting the 'Lopes.
Offensively the Knights put up big numbers. They were led in the game by Allen who went 3-4 with a homerun, two runs, and two RBI, and Stover who also went 3-4 with two runs and one RBI. Stewart stood out going 2-2 with a homerun, two runs, four RBI, and two walks, and Aweau rounded things out going 3-5 with a double, and two RBI. Eight of the nine Urban Knights batters recorded a hit in the game.
Freshman Katie Brooks started in the circle for ART U, and pitched a great game. She went five innings allowing seven hits, five runs (no earned), and posted two strikeouts. Receiving the loss in the game was junior Sierrah Garcia who came in for relief and went .2 innings giving up three hits, and five runs (two earned).
For the 'Lopes, Teddy Barry led the team going 2-4 with a homerun, a double, two runs, six RBI, and a stolen base. Brittany Manzoline went 2-4 with a double and two runs, and Claire Zampiniwen 2-3 with one run scored. Receiving the win was Danielle Legee who came in for relief and went two innings giving up three hits, three earned runs, and had no strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored nine runs (all earned) on 15 hits, committed three errors, and left eight runners on base.
Game two was very different. The game was a pitching duel in the early innings. The Knights were slow to get their bats going, but they were backed by strong pitching, and solid defense. However the 'Lopes were able to string together some hits to take the lead which would hold them for a while. GCU scored twice in the top of the third, and once more in the top of the fourth to take a three run lead over the Knights. But finally after four scoreless innings, ART U's offense adjusted to the 'Lopes pitching and got something going for themselves in the bottom of the fifth.
With two on and two out, senior Alana Aweau stepped up to the plate in her final game for the Urban Knights. She then hit a line drive over the left field fence for a three run homerun which got her team on the board and tied things at three heading into the late innings of the game. But after that rally, the Knights again struggled to capitalize on any of their base runners.
The Urban Knights' pitching was outstanding, and was keeping their opponents scoreless after the first few innings. ART U also had solid defense to back their pitcher as they headed into extra innings, after both teams failed to score in the sixth and seventh innings. The Knights came close to winning the game in the bottom of the eighth when they had runners on second and third after a clutch double to center field by sophomore Andrea Hanchey. But the Knights would be unable to bring those runners in, and so the game continued on.
With the game still tied 3-3 in the 10th, the game was moved to international tie-breaker, in which a runner is placed at second base to start the inning. With a runner already in scoring position, GCU scored one run off a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning to take a 4-3 lead over the Knights, even though freshman Katie Brooks threw three pitches to get three outs in the inning. Now in the bottom of the 10th it was ART U's chance to score in international tie-breaker.
Aweau was placed at second base, and freshman Elyse Cordova then singled to the pitcher to put runners at first and second with no outs. Freshman Lauren Stover then sac bunted to advance the runners. Hanchey was then intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Junior Genna Allen then reached on a fielder's choice, as the 'Lopes threw out Aweau at the plate. Then with two outs and bases loaded, sophomore Jayme Stewart came up to bat. Her patience and experience paid off, and she hit a double to right-center field to score both Cordova and Hanchey. Those two runs were all ART U needed, and after the dramatic finish, the Knights won with a final score of 5-4.
“The whole game was just such a team effort. To see everybody come together and be a part of the last win of our season was so great to be a part of and witness,” exclaimed Sherman. “This whole season I have been so proud of everyone and how much they have picked each other up, never given up, and this series was a true testament to the character of the team.”
Brooks threw a phenomenal game for her team. She went all 10 innings allowing 17 hits, and three earned runs, and receives the win for her team. With no strikeouts recorded, she relied heavily on her defensive support, and the combination of the two was unstoppable. “I think Jayme did a great job calling the game and knowing the scouting report, and Katie did a great job in trusting Jayme and hitting her spots. When Katie is confident in her catcher and herself, she is unstoppable. It only shows great signs of the future,” added Coach Sherman.
The Urban Knights' offensive charge was led by Aweau who had a great finish to her career here at ART U. She finished the game going 2-5 with a homerun, one run, and three RBI. Stewart also did very well going 2-5 with a double and three RBI, along with the game winning hit. Stover rounded out her impressive day going 2-4, and junior Melissa Coe rounded things out going 1-3 with one run scored.
GCU was led by Claire Zampini who went 3-5 with one run and one RBI, Montana Lucas went 1-5 with one run and one RBI, and Kara Holtorf went 2-5 with one run scored. Receiving the loss was Ivy Campas who went 9.2 innings giving up 11 hits, four earned runs, and had seven strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored five runs on 11 hits, committed one error, and left 10 runners on base.
Coach Sherman closes with these thoughts, “I think we learned that we need to clean up our defense but to continue to have faith that our offense can keep us in games when the defensive side struggles. We have to continue to work hard and get better every day because the PacWest knows that we are coming for the top, and nobody is going to take us for granted.”
After the split, the Academy of Art University finishes the 2011 season with a 29-20 overall record, and a 17-11 conference record, while Grand Canyon finishes with a 22-25 overall record, and a 14-14 conference record. Be sure to keep up to date with your Urban Knights over the off-season by checking the website at www.artuathletics.com.
