Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Phoenix, AZ – Academy of Art University Softball demonstrated its 'road warrior' style, battling against one of the top teams in the Pacific West Conference on Saturday out at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium. Though the Antelopes claimed game one 9-1 after six innings and threatened with another lead in game two, ART U refused to concede defeat. Exploding for a four-run fifth inning highlighted by freshman Elise Oldham's two-run double against one of the best pitchers in the conference, the Urban Knights tied the game 6-6 before GCU plated one in the bottom half of the frame to win 7-6.

Grand Canyon seemed to be keyed in offensively from the start of game one. The Antelopes capitalized on a throwing error to score an unearned run in the first and added one more on a sacrifice fly in the second. The 2-0 lead was threatened when redshirt sophomore Jasmine Dickenson opened the third with a single and soon stood on third base after a passed ball and sacrifice bunt by sophomore Haily MacDonald. However, an inning-ending double play got GCU out of the jam.

The 'Lopes doubled their lead in the third on a pair of RBI singles in the third and, after a solo homer by Lauren Regester in the fourth as well as another RBI single in the fifth, went ahead 6-0 heading to the sixth. ART U proceeded to break up the shutout bid by Grand Canyon starter Stephanie Pesqueira (17-7) in that inning, using a double from junior Elyse Cordova and an error to do so.

Game one ended in the bottom of the sixth, however, when the Antelopes got a two-run double from Pesqueira herself to trigger the run-rule in a 9-1 final.


Exacting revenge early on in game two, Academy of Art started a two-out rally with junior Lauren Stover and sophomore Taylor Thurman each being hit by pitches in the first inning. Oldham promptly ripped a double to right field to score Stover and ART U was on the board first 1-0.

GCU rallied itself in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs on five hits and taking advantage of two errors. The 'Lopes soon grew their lead to 6-1 in the third and would have gotten more had it not been for an inning-ending double play turned by Cordova in center to Thurman at third base.

The fifth inning belonged to the Knights as eight batters came to the plate and nearly all had productive at-bats. Senior Andrea Hanchey got things started with a single and sophomore Kamyle Glover moved her into scoring position with a groundout. MacDonald singled as well to put two on and Cordova hit a ball that was misplayed by the GCU shortstop to load the bases.

"It took us a little time to get our bats going, but once we did, everyone wanted in on the action," co-head coach Sami Strinz said. "Hitting is contagious. It's a lot of fun when we get contributions from our entire batting order."

Stover contributed a sacrifice fly to score Hanchey then Thurman doubled home MacDonald and Oldham once again had a bit hit in a key situation. She smacked a two-run single to right and suddenly it was a 6-5 ballgame. All this had been done against Grand Canyon starter Kiki Sepulveda (12-2), who led the PacWest in ERA coming into the game.

The Antelopes attempted a rebuttal in their half of the fifth, but sophomore Kristin Valdivia (3-3), who had entered in relief of freshman Shelby Gill (1-7) in the third, denied them that possibility. The inning ended dramatically as MacDonald threw out a Grand Canyon runner at the plate. ART U was back to work in the sixth where Dickenson initiated the offense with a single, was sacrificed to second by Hanchey, then later scored on a RBI single by MacDonald.

Now tied 6-6, the game moved into the bottom of the sixth where a walk and two singles loaded the bases for Grand Canyon. GCU's Stephanie Smith had the decisive hit, another RBI single, which ended up serving as the only run scored against Valdivia in 4.0 strong innings of game two. The seventh saw three batters make three outs and the Antelopes ended up stealing a 7-6 victory from ART U.

For Academy of Art (13-28 overall, 9-15 in PacWest), Oldham continued her recent hot streak at the plate. She went 1-for-3 in game one then posted a 2-for-4 game two that featured three RBIs. She now has hits in three consecutive games.

"We are seeing the production from Ice that we know she is more than capable of," co-head coach Randy Ward said. "I think playing in front of her family and friends was empowering for her. We have been wanting her to step up all year and she definitely has these past three games. I believe there are more great things to come from her in the future."

Thurman offered hits in both games, finishing the day 2-for-5 with a double, RBI, and a run scored all in the second contest. MacDonald added her 12th multi-hit performance of the year with a 2-for-4 game two that included a RBI and a run scored. Cordova was 2-for-3 with a run scored in game one, adding her sixth double of the season.

Grand Canyon was led by Nicole Newbury who finished the day 5-for-7 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Pesqueira picked up two wins on the day, going a complete 6.0 innings with one run allowed on six hits and three strikeouts in game one then coming in for 2.0 relief innings in game two where she allowed one run on two hits while striking out two. GCU improves to 36-12 overall and 19-5 in PacWest play with the victories.

With its regular season road schedule now complete, Academy of Art returns home to Mission Blue for its final four matchups of the year. The first features Hawaii Pacific on Thursday, Apr. 18 followed by a rematch with Holy Names on Apr. 20.

"We really want our five seniors to go out on a high note," Coach Strinz said. "They have dedicated their past four years to this program and we want to send them out with a positive experience. I know that they want to help leave the program better than they found it and they are excited to finish their careers at home."