Game #7
ART U Urban Knights (3-3) vs. Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters (4-0)
Friday, February 17, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. MT (8:30 a.m. PT)
Tucson, Ariz. – Lincoln Park Field 5
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #8
ART U Urban Knights (3-3) vs. Fort Lewis Skyhawks (1-4)
Friday, February 17, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. MT (10:30 a.m. PT)
Tucson, Ariz. – Lincoln Park Field 5
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #9
ART U Urban Knights (3-3) vs. No. 2 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs (11-0)
Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. MT (8:30 a.m. PT)
Tucson, Ariz. – Lincoln Park Field 6
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #10
ART U Urban Knights (3-3) vs. Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps (11-1)
Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. MT (10:30 a.m. PT)
Tucson, Ariz. – Lincoln Park Field 6
Live Stats, Audio, & Video | Live Video (Facebook Live)

Game #11
ART U Urban Knights (3-3) vs. University of Mary Marauders (0-5)
Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. MT (10:30 a.m. PT)
Tucson, Ariz. – Lincoln Park Field 6
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #12
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. University of Mary Marauders (0-5)
Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 2 p.m. MT (1 p.m. PT)
Tucson, Ariz. – Lincoln Park Field 6
Live Stats | Live Video

ART U TO FACE FOUR NEW OPPONENTS IN CACTUS CLASSIC
Riding the momentum of two 5-1 victories over Northwest Nazarene, Academy of Art University softball enters uncharted territory this weekend with a host of first-time matchups as part of its inaugural appearance in the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona.

FIRST PITCH
The first of three doubleheaders for ART U in the Cactus Classic will be this Friday, Feb. 17 with Lincoln Memorial up first at 9:30 a.m. MT (8:30 a.m. PT) followed by Fort Lewis at 11:30 a.m. MT (10:30 a.m. PT). Both games will be at Lincoln Park (Field 5). Day two, Saturday, Feb. 18, features No. 2 West Texas A&M at 9:30 a.m. MT (8:30 a.m. PT) then Lubbock Christian at 11:30 a.m. MT (10:30 a.m. PT) both at Lincoln Park (Field 6). The tournament finale on Sunday, Feb. 19 pits ART U against University of Mary twice at 11:30 a.m. MT (10:30 a.m. PT)  and 2 p.m. MT (1 p.m. PT) at Lincoln Park (Field 8). Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights on Twitter & Instagram and "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
With nine hits in her first 16 at-bats, freshman outfielder Gabi Hirsch carries a team-best .563 batting average and ranks sixth among hitters in the Pacific West Conference. Currently on a four-game hitting streak, she also has scored four times. Senior outfielder Hallie Curtis has a four-game hitting streak as well and boasts a .455 batting average while fellow senior outfielder Jessica West tripled twice during her four-game hitting streak and now leads the conference in three-baggers. Top 20 in the PacWest in runs batted in, freshman infielder Freddie Carrillo has driven in a team-high six of her teammates thus far. A team-best five-game hitting streak belongs to freshman infielder Gracie Sotomayor who ranks second on the team with three RBIs.

Freshman pitcher Hannah Rose Balke (2-1) and sophomore pitcher True Park (1-1) both come off complete game victories. Balke holds the team-lead in strikeouts (11) while Park offers ART U's lowest earned run average (4.50).

NO SPLITS, JUST SWEEPS FOR THE RAILSPLITTERS
Residing in the South Atlantic Conference, Lincoln Memorial was picked to finish sixth in the SAC in the preseason coaches' poll after going 24-28 last year. The Railsplitters are undefeated through two series thus far after sweeping Mount Olive and Lees McRae. Offensively, LMU has been led by the one-two punch of Dakotah Fraley and Ashley Hunter who both are hitting .346 and have combined to hit three doubles with five RBIs. Justice Smith (2-0) owns the top ERA (1.91) among starters with just three runs allowed in 11.0 innings and seven strikeouts. Friday will be the first-ever meeting of Academy of Art and Lincoln Memorial.

SKYHAWKS' OFFENSE SOARING
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference coaches picked Fort Lewis to finish 10th in the RMAC following the team's 15-32 run in 2016 and, through its first tournament of the year, the West Texas A&M Invitational, FLC is 1-4. Despite their results, the Skyhawks, who go up against No. 23 Dixie State before Academy of Art, are averaging nearly six runs per game thanks in large part to Gianna Melaragno who is tied for fifth in the RMAC with a .500 batting average (8-for-16) and ranks third with 10 runs scored after doubling twice and tripling twice thus far. Megan Redd (0-0) owns a team-best 3.94 ERA with three runs allowed in 5.1 innings. ART U and FLC have not met previously.

BUFF STUFF
After moving up to No. 2 in the country with this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association rankings, West Texas A&M of the Lone Star Conference appears on track to avenge their NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals loss to Southern Arkansas last year. The Lady Buffs were ranked No. 1 for much of 2016 and only three years ago stood tall as NCAA Division II National Champions. To date in 2017, WT is 11-0 and is riding a string of five straight victories each in less than seven innings. The only ranked team the Lady Buffs have faced was No. 18 California Baptist in their second game of the year and the end result was an 8-3 win for WT. West Texas A&M, who face University of Mary and Lincoln Memorial before the Knights, touts LSC Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year, Ashley Hardin and Kilee Halbert, and that duo has not disappointed. Hardin ranks second on the team with 15 RBIs and three home runs while Halbert is 4-0 with 13 strikeouts and four earned runs allowed in 23.0 innings for a 1.22 ERA. Hardin's .387 batting average ranks eighth on the team with Allie Smith at the top, hitting .500 (17-for-34) with 18 RBIs. Halbert is second in ERA to Shayne Starkey (3-0) who is sub-1.00 with a 0.82 ERA through her first 17.0 innings. WT will be the highest-ranked team ART U has faced to date and it will be the first meeting in the history of the program.

HELLO, OLD CHAP
Picked to finish second in the Heartland Conference preseason coaches' poll by just seven votes, Lubbock Christian comes off a 45-15 overall record last year. LCU fell to St. Mary's, this year's favorite to win the Heartland Conference title, in the 2016 South Central Regional portion of the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Chaps have won 11 of their first 12 games this year, mercying their first four opponents, but later falling to Tarleton State 12-2 in five innings. Lubbock Christian rides a four-game win streak into the Cactus Classic and will play No. 23 Dixie State as well as University of Mary before ART U. Sydney Beuthien has been the Lady Chaps' most dangerous hitter thus far with her .486 batting average (18-for-37), 14 RBIs, and two homers. Katera Eltsosie is a perfect 5-0 to date with a 0.78 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 23.0 innings of work. Sunday will be the first time Academy of Art and Lubbock Christian have faced one another.

MARAUDERS IN SEARCH OF A VICTORY
The one team Academy of Art has seen previously, University of Mary has yet to record a win in five chances thus far in 2017. The Marauders have allowed opponents to score double-digit runs in four of those contests and have scored no more than two runs themselves in any game. Three players are hitting .300 or higher thus far led by Taylor Mendez who is 5-for-13 (.385) with two doubles and a home run. The team's ERA leader is Madison Jahner (0-1) at 4.38 with 8.0 innings of work to her name. The Knights are 0-2 against the Marauders after their last meeting in the 2013 Desert Stinger Tournament. 

PITCHERS DOMINATE IN ART U'S SWEEP OF NNU
In two games that practically mirrored one another on Feb. 13, Academy of Art University softball used two three-run fifth inning rallies to create the necessary separation for a pair of 5-1 victories over Northwest Nazarene. Both sides of the doubleheader featured stellar complete games in the pitcher's circle with freshman Hannah Rose Balke (2-1) in the opener and sophomore True Park (1-1) backing that up with a strong finale.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Knights' first Pacific West Conference game awaits them when they return from the Cactus Classic. On Saturday, Feb. 25, Academy of Art hosts Dominican at Mission Blue Field in a noon doubleheader.