Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Brisbane, CA – Battling rain and cold in addition to the #21 team in the country, Academy of Art bounced back from a 10-0 loss to California Baptist in game one and held a 7-6 lead midway through the second contest, but the Lancers rallied in the final two frames for a 12-7 victory. The opener saw CBU post nine runs in the fourth to take control, but even after a six-run first to start game two amid heavy rain, ART U fought back with six of their own in the fourth highlighted by Jasmine Dickenson's three-run homer to put her team up 7-6. However, a game-tying home run followed by three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh for California Baptist shifted the momentum.

"We did the best we could with the conditions given to us," co-head coach Randy Ward said. "Pitchers battled the wet ball as much as possible. They really didn't get beat by hard-hit balls, but finding the grip necessary to throw strikes was the challenge sometimes. California Baptist is a good team and you can't give them an inch because they will take a mile and they did today."

With the field handling the wet early morning conditions well, the teams were able to start on time despite dark clouds overhead promising more rain was to come. In the opening inning, a leadoff double was cashed in by London Miller's RBI single and the Lancers quickly went ahead 1-0. Starter Carlee Emerson (3-13), however, blanked the high-powered offense over the next two innings, allowing just a single hit and only two base runners.

In each of the first four innings, ART U got a runner into scoring position, starting with Elyse Cordova's single plus an error in the first, but left them stranded on each occasion. In the second, Lauren Stover walked and Dickenson singled yet a popout ended the chance. The third saw Cordova double for her second hit off Belinda Renne (25-6), but Renne struck out the final batter of the inning.

The fourth inning was a difficult one for the Knights as California Baptist benefited from four walks plus five hits including Ashley DeVaere's three-run double during a nine-run rally. Academy of Art still had another scoring chance in the bottom half when Dickenson singled and Alexandra "Lexie" Hernandez walked, however, a flyout finished it and a brief fifth gave CBU the 10-0 win to start the day.


Game two began perhaps against Mother Nature's wishes as heavy rain deposited on Mission Blue Field prior to and during the first inning. It was a challenging start for Jill Johnson (11-11) who walked four in the inning, surrendering six runs despite only a single hit. The Urban Knights came back to score once on a pair of walks and Thurman's RBI double, making it a 6-1 game for the first three innings.

Johnson regained her control and rebounded by retiring the Lancers in order on seven pitches in the second then stranded the bases loaded in the third. With Academy of Art batting in the third, more rain forced a 20-minute delay after which the sun began to eventually emerge.

In the bottom of the fourth, Stover led off with her ninth double of the year and Elise Oldham drove her in on a single. After an error in the outfield continued the stream of base runners, Cordova soon delivered a RBI groundout and Thurman smacked a RBI single to center. With two on and two out, Dickenson stepped in, worked the count to a pitch she liked, and proceeded to crush a home run over the fence in left center. The three-run shot would immediately put ART U in front 7-6.

"Jas has been having some really good swings lately," co-head coach Sami Strinz said. "We've been really proud of her! I think our team did a really good job after the rain delay in coming back and attacking on offense. That helped set the momentum for our comeback."

Two batters into the fifth, the game was once again tied after Rachel Meyer hit a solo homer. The Knights had a chance to break the 7-7 tie in the bottom half with singles from Oldham and Hernandez, but a force-out at third kept the contest knotted up. The sixth inning belonged to CBU as five hits yielded three runs and a 10-7 advantage moving into the late innings. Two more in the seventh sealed the deal and a 12-7 victory for the visitors.

The day's results bring ART U's overall record to 16-30 and 13-15 in PacWest play. Dickenson led the way Friday, going 4-for-6 with three RBIs and now three home runs in her last four games. Thurman added a 2-for-4 game two with a double and two RBIs while Oldham went 3-for-4 with a RBI in that one.

Academy of Art will celebrate its senior class of Lauren Stover and Elyse Cordova tomorrow, Saturday, Apr. 26 with the ceremony scheduled for prior to game one of the 12:00 PM doubleheader against Dixie State back out at Mission Blue Field.