PacWest Release #1 (Feb. 1-5)
PacWest Release #2 (Feb. 6-12)
PacWest Release #3 (Feb. 13-19)

Phoenix, AZ -- At least one Urban Knight softball player was recognized each of the past three weeks with Monday's announcement of the first set of Pacific West Conference Weekly Top 10 Honor Rolls. Sophomore outfielder Elyse Cordova earned two selections (Weeks of Jan. 29, Feb. 12) while juniors Andrea Hanchey (Feb. 5) and Kimberly Dauer (Feb. 12) each captured one apiece. The honors were announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ on Monday, Feb. 27 for games played on three separate weeks spanning Feb. 1-19.

Through the first four games of Academy of Art University's 2012 season, Cordova was absolutely sizzling at the plate. Her eight-game hitting streak to start the year began against Cal State East Bay (Feb. 1) and Sonoma State (Feb. 4) and, through those four games, she hit .500 (7-for-14) with two runs scored, runs batted in, a walk, and three stolen bases. The Tulare, CA native would post a .500 slugging percentage and .533 on-base percentage that week.

Two weeks later, Cordova took home her second PacWest Weekly honor of the season when she broke out and went 6-for-7 in ART U's series against Humboldt State (Feb. 19). That week, which also included the Knights' near upset of No. 15 Chico State, the sophomore outfielder batted .636 (7-for-11) with a double, a triple, and three RBIs. She would have had two triples in Academy of Art's 11-3 victory over HSU if it weren't for the mercy rule which kicked in during a historic seven-run sixth inning. Cordova slugged a whopping .909 that week and added a .636 on-base percentage.

“Elyse had a great day at the plate,” head coach Rachel Sherman said at the conclusion of the Humboldt series. “She has so many tools and showed them today. I thought she looked very composed in the box in some crucial situations and that was key to her success. She is doing a great job providing a spark at the end of the lineup and getting things rolling for the top. I'm really proud of how she has adjusted the last few games and I know we will continue to see great things from her.”

An especially valuable contributor in the Urban Knights' trip to Las Vegas for the MSU-Billings Desert Stinger, Hanchey not only earned All-Tournament Second Team, but now also a PacWest Weekly Top 10 selection for her efforts. The junior went .467 (7-for-15) at the plate that week and had numerous key hits to help ART U secure its first two victories of the year.

Perhaps Hanchey's biggest highlight came in a 2-for-3 performance against Lewis where she slammed a home run to give Academy of Art a 2-0 lead and later finished with two RBIs and a run scored. Over the course of the five starts that week, Hanchey hit two home runs, scored three runs, added a double, four RBIs, a walk, and two stolen bases. After offering a .933 slugging percentage and .500 on-base rate, it was no wonder Hanchey was recognized with an All-Tournament Team honor.

“Dre is doing a great job on defense and in the box,” Coach Sherman said. “She is staying patient, truly getting an understanding of situational hitting, and sticking to a plan in the box. She is a competitor and the maturity she is showing on the field is making me proud.”

Called upon to pitch both games in the series with Humboldt State (Feb. 19), Dauer delivered an impressive pair of performances. She began by throwing 7.0 innings in game one with just two runs allowed and at one point retired 17 of 20 batters she faced. The junior'r rhythm would continue in game two when she sat down seven Jacks in a row during a stretch where she retired 11 of 13. The second victory, which saw Dauer go 6.0 innings on the mound with two earned runs allowed and no walks, moved her up to 2-4 on the year.

The Los Osos, CA native finished her memorable day with 13.0 innings pitched and limited Humboldt's powerful offense to just four earned runs with only a single walk. She struck out five Jacks and posted a 2.15 earned run average in the two complete games.

“Kim threw well today,” Coach Sherman said following the HSU doubleheader. “Despite a rough first inning in both games, I think she did a great job coming out strong the remainder of the games and Jayme did a good job working with her on pitch calling. Two complete games is not an easy thing to do and Kim did it with only one walk on the day. She proved that with a strong defense, we can win with throwing ground balls and pop ups.”

These are the fifth and sixth PacWest Weekly Top 10 honors for Cordova in her career at ART U. For Hanchey, it is the third honor of her career and this marks Dauer's fourth overall selection.