Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ARCATA, Calif. – Matching up with its first ranked opponent of the year on Monday, Academy of Art University Softball showed that its offense can hang with anyone. Despite a seven-run eruption early in game one, ART U ended up losing its lead late and fell to No. 19 Humboldt State, 11-10 and 9-0, on the road.

"The team came out strong and did a great job attacking Humboldt's ace," said head coach Sonja Garnett. "I was very proud of how we competed in game one and I think there were some good lessons to take away from today."

GAME ONE
Both teams scored twice in the opening inning with a sacrifice fly by senior Taylor Thurman and an error getting the Urban Knights on the board to start. The Jacks responded with a run-scoring double and their own sac fly as the game moved along 2-2.

Following a quick second inning, Academy of Art had yet another impressive rally come in the third. Seniors Haily MacDonald and Kamyle Glover set the table for grad student Nirana Singh who proceeded to take Katie Obbema deep for a three-run homer. Two singles later, junior Elise Oldham stepped in and smashed one more three-run shot out of the park to chase Obbema. MacDonald later added a RBI single and the seven-run, seven-hit surge was complete, putting ART U up 9-2.

After an error allowed one run back in the bottom of the inning, freshman Brenna Mitchell (7-4) and the Knights defense kept the Jacks quiet in the fourth despite another miscue. The fifth inning saw sophomore Hallie Curtis double after Oldham's leadoff single and it was a balk that gave Academy of Art a 10-3 advantage.

Despite facing a bases-loaded situation in the fifth, ART U still kept the Humboldt State off the scoreboard. However, two home runs in the sixth yielded four runs for HSU and, fortunes changed dramatically when Hanna Holland came up with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and hit a walk-off grand slam.

GAME TWO
It was Humboldt State who scored first in the second contest as an infield single drove in one in the first inning. As Madison West (7-3) started very strong for the Jacks, ART U was limited to two hits through the first three innings and another RBI single made it 2-0 after two frames.

A costly outfield error gave HSU three more touches of home plate in the third and a solo homer made it 6-0 through four. Academy of Art had its best offensive opportunity come in the fifth when freshman Samantha Klune, sophomore Jessica West, and MacDonald all singled to eventually load the bases. Unfortunately a pop up ended the opportunity and the Jacks finished the run-rule victory with three more runs in the sixth.

Academy of Art is now 10-9 overall and was led by a pair of three-hit games from MacDonald who finished 6-for-7 with two doubles, one RBI, and two runs scored. Singh and Oldham each homered in the opener, finishing 1-for-4 and 2-for-4 with three RBIs each.

Humboldt State improves to 12-8 overall after Holland was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and four runs scored in the opener. Harris doubled twice on the day and finished 4-for-7 with two RBIs as well. Madison West (7-3) picked up the complete game shutout in the second contest, going 6.0 innings with five hits allowed and six strikeouts.

ART U turns its attention back to PacWest play this weekend with doubleheaders at Notre Dame de Namur (Mar. 13) and hosting Dominican (Mar. 14).

"Each game we create goals and try to focus on little things," said Garnett. "We now start looking at Notre Dame and Dominican and creating goals. Pitching has to be stronger each inning and we have to keep our hitting consistent."