Box Score #1
Box Score #2

Photo Gallery (images by Austin McKeon)

Brisbane, CA – Academy of Art University softball captured to more wins against Dominican to complete the four-game weekend sweep Sunday in ART U's 3rd annual Swing for a Cause out at Mission Blue Field. A one-hit shutout by freshman Haily MacDonald as well as impressive defense all series paved the way for the Urban Knights' 8-0 victory in game one. The second contest saw three separate three-run rallies by Academy of Art, a four-hit performance by senior infielder Genna Allen to tie the program record, and a solid outing by freshman Kristin Valdivia in the circle for a 9-1 win. Throughout the day, both teams helped generate numerous donations to With Hope, The Amber Craig Memorial Foundation and the Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital.

“I am very pleased with our 3rd annual Swing for a Cause,” head coach Rachel Sherman said. “I think we had a great turnout and a lot of support in the stands for a great cause. We are very thankful for Annette Craig and the With Hope Foundation for coming out to the event and helping so many people with what they do.”

In the opening inning of game one, Dominican (3-38, 0-23 PacWest) managed to get two runners aboard against MacDonald (6-6) by way of a walk and a hit batter. The threat was quieted, however, as MacDonald induced a grounder back to herself and got out of it. The Santa Rosa, CA native and the ART U defense would then go on to retire the next 11 Penguins who stepped to the plate and Academy of Art (20-23, 14-12 PacWest) would provide its starter run support beginning in the third inning.

“I think all weekend we played some great defense,” Coach Sherman said. “Our outfield did a great job showing their range, diving, and making great throws. Our infield was solid and did a good job closing up holes.”

Singles by sophomore outfielder Elyse Cordova and senior outfielder Ashley Lokey put a pair in scoring position for sophomore infielder Lauren Stover who knocked in one on a single up the middle. Lokey and Stover then executed a delayed double steal in which Lokey scored to give the Knights a 2-0 advantage in the third.

ART U would add to that margin in each of the next two innings. Allen started off the fourth with a bang as she blasted a solo home run over the centerfield fence. Then, with freshman infielder Taylor Thurman and Cordova both on via singles, Lokey drove in two with a double to left center. That play was followed by an RBI single down the left field line by Stover and soon it was a 6-0 lead for Academy of Art.

The run rule would eventually be triggered in the bottom of the fifth when two more came in on an RBI single by Cordova and an error on a ball hit back to the pitcher which allowed Thurman to score. The end result was an 8-0 victory for ART U in five innings of game one.

The Urban Knights would score in bunches in the second contest. After a quick first inning, three consecutive Academy of Art hits opened the second. Junior infielder Andrea Hanchey led off with a single, Allen added a double, and then both runners scored on Thurman's double to center. Later in the inning, junior catcher Jayme Stewart hit a sacrifice fly to score fellow junior Alyssa Hickey who had previously coaxed a four-pitch walk.

Valdivia (2-5) held that 3-0 lead by throwing two hitless innings to start game two and posting zeros through the first six. She was supported further in the fifth when three more runs came home with one swing of the bat as Allen crushed a three-run homer to center once again. The senior now has a team-best 10 home runs on the season.

After retiring nine consecutive batters from the fourth through the sixth inning, Valdivia had her squad in command 6-0 heading into the final frame. Singles by Hanchey, Allen, and Thurman set the table for Hickey who cleared the bases, connecting on a shot into the right field corner which turned out to be the second triple of her career. Dominican plated one run in the seventh, but the Knights remained in front and would go on to win 9-1.

It was another pair of strong pitching performances for Academy of Art on Saturday. MacDonald finished off her third shutout of the year with just one hit allowed and one walk in 5.0 innings pitched. That was followed up by Valdivia's one run allowed on six hits with two strikeouts through 7.0 innings of game two.

“Haily and Kristin did a great job keeping [Dominican] off balance,” Coach Sherman said. “Haily threw not only a shutout, but a one-hit shutout and that was a great outing. Kristin came back from an injury today and stayed strong all game.”

The offensive highlights continued for Allen who had the home run in game one before going 4-for-4 with another homer, three RBIs, and three runs scored in game two. The Thousand Oaks, CA native is now tied with Lokey for the team-high in slugging percentage (.657) and has a five-game hitting streak going. A triple short of the hitting for the cycle, Allen's four hits in the second contest make her the ninth Urban Knight to ever reach that single-game mark.

“Genna had an amazing weekend,” Coach Sherman said. “I thought she did a great job adjusting and hitting all pitches.”

Among the other top ART U performances of the day was Hickey's 2-for-3 game two which included her three RBIs off the triple, two RBIs apiece for Lokey and Stover with each of their 2-for-3 game ones, and a 4-for-7 performance on the day for Thurman who added a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Cordova, also the owner of a five-game hitting streak, went 3-for-3 in the first contest while driving in one and scoring twice before her 1-for-4 game two. Hanchey too contributed a solid 3-for-5 doubleheader which saw her score once in the opener and three times in the series finale.

Dominican was limited to the single hit in the opening contest, but came back with six hits and a run in game two. Leslie Mesa went 1-for-3 in the series conclusion, notching the RBI. Shawna Robb (1-13) sustained the loss in game one after allowing six runs on nine hits through 4.0 innings pitched. She would eventually be relieved by Jessi Saaty (0-11), who threw a complete game two and took the loss there after surrendering nine runs on 13 hits.

The Urban Knights will continue their homestand at Mission Blue Field with a four-game series against Cal Baptist next week. The first doubleheader comes on Friday, Apr. 20 and is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM.