Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Turlock, CA – Back for day two of the Tournament of Champions presented by Mizuno, the Academy of Art University softball team found itself in yet two more dogfights. In a game that saw two ties and three lead changes, ART U and Saint Martin's fought into extra innings where the Saints pulled off a shocking come-from-behind 7-6 victory in the eighth. Versus Central Washington under the lights, the Knights were trailing 4-1, but nearly came back themselves with two runs in the seventh and the tying run on third. CWU, however, came away with the 4-3 win.

ART U started the day by immediately jumping into a two-run rally in the first inning against Saint Martin's. A double by junior Elyse Cordova was followed by walks to junior Lauren Stover and freshman Jessica Marin, setting the table for redshirt sophomore Jasmine Dickenson. After working a full count, Dickenson smacked a single through the left side to give her team a 2-0 advantage early.

The Saints fought back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first to tie the game 2-2, but that deadlock lasted very briefly as another Urban Knights push came in the next inning. A walk to sophomore Kamyle Glover plus singles by MacDonald and Cordova again packed the bases. This time, Stover stepped in and promptly hit an RBI single to left. A SMU fielding error gave ART U one more, but the Saints again got one back in their half to make it a 4-3 game at the conclusion of the second inning.

In to relieve starter Haily MacDonald (3-4), freshman Shelby Gill (0-7) silenced the Saints in the third, retiring the side on just 10 pitches. Academy of Art went up 5-3 in the fourth when MacDonald singled, stole second, and later scored on a throwing error in the Saint Martin's infield.

This margin was short-lived again, however, as the Saints used a pair of RBI singles to match ART U 5-5 through four. Sophomore Kristin Valdivia (2-2) entered in the fifth and was simply lights out for the next three innings. In that span, she retired nine of the 10 batters she faced, allowing just a single while keeping her team in position to win.

Neither side managed to break through in the seventh so the 5-5 tie carried into extra innings. Per softball tournament rules, the international tie-breaker rule was observed which meant the last batter to make an out in the inning prior would be placed at second base to start the eighth. Dickenson headed out to second and would eventually score after a groundout by senior Andrea Hanchey and a clutch single by sophomore Taylor Thurman.

Now up 6-5, Saint Martin's was also given a runner at second to start the bottom of the eighth.  The Saints used their speed, notching a bunt single and steal to tie things up 6-6. The next batter, Christina DeMar, would then finish the game with a walk-off RBI single to give SMU the 7-6 victory.


Playing under the lights for the second time in two nights, Academy of Art started by getting Cordova into scoring position in the first inning against Central Washington. Though she singled and stole second, CWU starter Heidy Wells (7-3) managed to pitch her squad out of the jam. The Wildcats would come back with a two-run double off the bat of Maikala Galusha in their half of the first and another RBI double in the second to take a 3-0 lead through two innings.

After senior Alyssa Hickey was hit to start the third and pinch run for by fellow senior Julie Martin, the Urban Knights strategically made a move. Glover provided a sacrifice bunt and then MacDonald singled home Martin to make it a 3-1 game.

Senior Kimberly Dauer (6-12) settled into a rhythm and held CWU scoreless through the third and fourth innings. She got two of her four strikeouts to end the Wildcats' fourth and then started the fifth with another. That inning, however, did not go as planned for ART U as a fielding error later turned into another RBI double for Galusha and a 4-1 lead for Central Washington.

In the seventh, Academy of Art had its final chance for a comeback. Though her team was had one out on the board and was down by three, Thurman got the Knights going with a single up the middle and later reached third on a pair of wild pitches, one of which Hanchey drew a walk on. After Glover also walked, the bases were loaded for MacDonald who reached on an error at first base that scored two runs. The 4-3 game hung in the balance with the tying run on third, but a groundout finished it and CWU prevailed.

Cordova continued to wield a hot bat Saturday. The junior, who is now riding an eight-game hitting streak, was 4-for-8 with a double and two steals after her 11th and now team-leading 12th multi-hit games. MacDonald added a 4-for-8 day which included two runs scored and an RBI. Stover (3-for-3, RBI, R) and Dickenson (1-for-4, 2 RBI, R) each had stellar offensive games against SMU. Following three non-conference battles, Academy of Art is now 11-24 overall this season.

With the results from Friday and Saturday, Academy of Art now enters Sunday's Tournament of Champions finale in the Platinum Bracket set to face the winner of MSU-Billings or Notre Dame de Namur to determine the champion of the Platinum Bracket. Following a bye instead of facing Dominican, the Urban Knights' game takes place at 3:30 PM. Check @ARTU_Knights on Twitter for updates on that game. For complete bracket, click here and, for more information, visit the Tournament of Champions homepage here.