Box Score

Las Vegas, NV – In Academy of Art University's finale of the 2012 Montana State-Billings Desert Stinger, junior pitcher Kimberly Dauer limited Western Oregon to just four hits and one earned run, but it was not enough as WOU earned a 2-1 victory in the end. Two runs for the Wolves on a pair of hits and an error in the first inning wound up being the difference Sunday at Majestic Field 2 as the Urban Knights plated one in the fourth and could not break through further against the Western Oregon relievers.

Academy of Art had runners get into scoring position throughout the game and that trend began in the first inning when senior infielder Genna Allen hit a two-out single. She would steal her second base of the year, but a groundout then ended the inning. Western Oregon put the first runs of the game on the board in the bottom of the inning with a bases-loaded lineout which scored one and a bases-loaded walk, but Dauer was able to exit the jam without any further damage.

The second inning saw sophomore infielder Lauren Stover reach on an error before junior infielder Jayme Stewart went the opposite way with a one-out single. ART U later had both runners in scoring position and just one out, but again WOU was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run.

“We were able to get runners on but are continuing to struggle to get those runners in,” head coach Rachel Sherman said. “Until we get more consistency out of the bottom half of our lineup, we will struggle and continue to leave runners on base. Once they get in the groove though, it's on and we will be able to put a lot of runs on the board.”

Academy of Art did break through in the fourth when another Wolves fielding error allowed junior catcher Andrea Hanchey to reach and junior infielder Alyssa Hickey followed that up with a single. Western Oregon had two more errors in the inning, one of which allowed Hanchey to score, but the final two outs for WOU kept them in front 2-1. Both squads had solid pitching for the remainder of the game and it was the Wolves who managed to steal a victory in the Desert Stinger finale for both squads.

Four Urban Knights, freshman Haily MacDonald, Allen, Hickey, and Stewart, logged hits in the game and each went 1-for-3. Sunday's outing was Dauer's second complete game of the season after she went 6.0 innings on the mound and allowed one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts. Following her first trip to the hill, the Los Osos, CA native surrendered just two hits and no runs.

“After the first inning, Kim threw really well and had great control of her pitches,” Coach Sherman said. “I believe this game will be a great starting point and building point for the rest of the season for her.”

For the 1-4 Wolves, Kendra George and Ali Parkerson delivered the two RBIs despite going 1-for-5 collectively in the contest. On the mound, Eryka Brill picked up the victory after pitching 2.0 scoreless innings in relief.

At the conclusion of Sunday's games, the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team was announced. For her solid play throughout the Knights' five contests, Andrea Hanchey earned an All-Tournament Second Team selection.

After returning from Las Vegas, Academy of Art will now play three more series against CCAA opponents. The first pits ART U against Chico State on Feb. 17 at the Wildcats' Softball Field.