Box Score (ART U vs. Simon Fraser)
Box Score (ART U vs. Lewis)

Las Vegas, NV -- Academy of Art University softball got the win and then some under the Friday night lights in a 4-2 victory over Lewis as part of the 2012 Desert Stinger. With two outs, teammate Ashley Lokey at third, and the score tied 2-2, senior infielder Genna Allen blasted a triumphant walk-off home run to left field, giving the Urban Knights their first win in 2012. ART U also played Simon Fraser earlier in the day, taking a tough 10-5 loss despite more late-inning offense in that game as well.

“I feel relieved to get the first win because I know this will get us rolling,” head coach Rachel Sherman said. “We are starting to find our groove and having everyone contribute in one way or another.”

Friday night's clutch situation called for a heroine and Allen, who was second on the team in home runs last season, was more than willing to deliver. Lokey had hit a one-out double before advancing to third on a ground out so with the score tied and the possibility of a walk-off hit on the minds of the Urban Knights, the designated home team, Allen stepped to the plate.

“This week we have been working with Genna on some specific adjustments and I knew she was feeling a lot more comfortable in the box so I knew she was due,” Coach Sherman said. “I was just hoping she was confident and going to hit it hard.”

The Thousand Oaks, CA native who transferred to Academy of Art from Sacramento City College to study Multimedia Communications made the eighth homer of her ART U career really count as it rocketed the Knights to a 4-2 victory. However, for all the excitement in the game's late stages, it was not without drama earlier on.

Following a 1-2-3 first inning for freshman starting pitcher Kristin Valdivia, Lokey got Academy of Art going with a bunt single then reached third base on two wild pitches. Junior catcher Andrea Hanchey, who had two runs batted in to her name in each of Friday's games, would drive in Lokey to give ART U an early 1-0 lead.

Valdivia seemed to settle in nicely from that point as the Knights also used three key defensive plays in the next two innings to shut down the Flyers' opportunities to respond. Senior right fielder Melissa Coe threw out Alexis Munaco at first base to deny her the hit and, when the next batter singled, Valdivia induced a double play turned by herself, Allen, and junior Alyssa Hickey at first.

In the third inning, Lewis had runners on the corners with one out and after LU's Jayme Hefler flied out to sophomore Elyse Cordova in left field, Ali Brems tagged up from third and proceeded to make her way home. Cordova, however, would launch a bullet to the plate where Hanchey was able to tag Brems and effectively end the scoreless inning for the Flyers.

“I thought our outfielders did a great job in game two in some clutch situations,” Coach Sherman said. “Elyse threw a runner out at the plate to kill a rally and Coe threw out a runner at first base to swing momentum our way early in the game. I was very happy with their commitment to be aggressive and let their arms loose.”

Academy of Art added to its 1-0 advantage with a run in the fourth by way of Hanchey's fourth homer of the year, another solo shot, to right center. LU's first two runs of the game would come in the fifth and sixth innings as Valdivia exited after five strong frames on the hill. Freshman Haily MacDonald came on in relief and, despite allowing the game-tying run early; she struck out the final two batters she faced in the seventh to give momentum to ART U as they entered what would be the final inning where Allen signed off on the 4-2 game with her home run.


In the first contest of the day, a mid-morning matchup with Simon Fraser, many runs were scored by both teams in the early going. The Clan took a 1-0 lead after one inning, but Academy of Art promptly tied things 1-1 after an Allen single and later an RBI ground out for junior infielder Nicole Smith.

Multi-run innings would follow on each side as SFU's bats came alive and eventually set the table for Rosie Murphy's two-run single. A 3-1 game then became 3-3 when ART U brought out the lumber in the third. Lokey led off with a home run to center and then Hanchey also blasted a ball over the centerfield fence for a pair of solo shots. Simon Fraser's Leah Riske would answer back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to put the Clan back on top 5-3.

Over the fifth and sixth innings, SFU expanded their lead by scoring five runs which included another two-run home run, but the Knights were not ready to give in just yet. A 10-3 game turned into 10-5 after Lokey again helped ART U initiate a rally in the top of the seventh. She hit a leadoff double and later came home on a RBI groundout for Cordova before Hanchey had a RBI double. The final two outs came for Academy of Art, however, and it was Simon Fraser who ended up winning its Desert Stinger opener.

ART U (1-5) once again had many key contributions from the top of the order with the heart, Allen and Hanchey, each having big days. Allen finished 2-for-6 with the game-winning home run, two RBIs, and one run scored. Hanchey went 4-for-6 with two homers, four RBIs, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Lokey enjoyed the fruits of her hard-hitting teammates, going 4-for-7 with a home run, two doubles, four runs scored, and one RBI on the afternoon and evening.

Game one's starting pitcher was freshman Kamyle Glover (0-1) who took the loss with three earned runs allowed in 2.1 innings and two strikeouts. Valdivia pitched well in her no-decision, lasting 5.0 innings with one run allowed on five hits and two strikeouts. One game after picking up her first career RBI, MacDonald (1-0) earned her first win after pitching the final 2.0 innings of game two with just one run allowed on one hit with two strikeouts.

“I think Kristin threw a great game and really kept us in it while the offense warmed up,” Coach Sherman said. “Then Haily came in to mix things up and did a very good job in relief. The pitchers are really starting to work as a staff and matching up with each other well which makes it fun.”

For Simon Fraser, Kelsey Haberl, Leah Riske, and Sammie Olexa all had solid performances. Haberl went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and one run scored while Leah Riske finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Olexa also had a home run, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and two runs scored. On the mound, Cara Lukawesky picked up the victory after lasting 6.0 innings with three runs allowed on five hits and five strikeouts. SFU moved to 1-0 on the year with the win.

Lewis was led offensively by Alyssa Moseley who had a home run in her single pinch-hitting appearance. Mary Giancarlo and pitcher Ali Brems each went 2-for-3. Brems also threw a complete game with 6.2 innings pitched, four runs allowed on nine hits, and six strikeouts.

ART U is scheduled to have a rematch with Sonoma State and face Western Washington in its second day at the 2012 Montana State Billings Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas, NV. The Knights' finale pits them against Western Oregon on Sunday.

“For the next three games, we need to play solid defense and continue to make adjustments at the plate,” Coach Sherman said. “The second game was a great example of what I know we can do and expect every game. So as long as we do the small things offensively, play at our pace, and play solid defense, we will put ourselves in a good position to take three games.”