TURLOCK, Calif. – Academy of Art University softball finished the Tournament of Champions with a split on Sunday, but did so with two impressive efforts out at Warrior Softball Field. The Urban Knights began the day by scoring six runs in the fourth inning en route to a 9-1 victory over Montana State Billings in five innings then fought through every pitch against No. 15 Cal State Monterey Bay, falling 5-3, but ended up just a few miscues from the upset.

GAME 1 – ART U 9, MSUB 1 (5)
In the first inning, Academy of Art foreshadowed what was to come by loading the bases despite not putting a run on the board. ART U broke through in the second with freshman outfielder Gabi Hirsch's run-scoring single then progressed further ahead with two runs on a single by freshman utility Dominique Seva'aetasi in the third.

Through those first three frames, freshman pitcher Hannah Rose Balke (14-7) had allowed just one baserunner (on an error), but she would run into a bit of trouble in the fourth when the Yellowjackets stung for a run on a single then a double.

Everything changed in the bottom half of that inning when the Knights put together a huge two-out rally. After both freshman infielder Gracie Sotomayor and sophomore outfielder Juliana Lopez reached base and stole bases, senior outfielder Jessica West delivered both on a double and soon came around to score on an error. Two more errors prolonged the inning for a three-run double by redshirt freshman catcher Adrianna Rupright with the bases loaded.

Six runs later, the Academy of Art lead was 9-1 and Balke promptly finished off the run-rule victory with two of her five strikeouts in the fifth. She moves into sole possession of the PacWest leader in both wins (13) and innings pitched (133.1).

GAME 2 – No. 15 CSUMB 5, ART U 3
Although both teams got two runners into scoring position in the first inning, Balke and CSUMB starter Hayley Fein (17-3) exited unscathed. The Knights were not so fortunate in the second when a pair of bases-loaded walks gave the Otters a 2-0 advantage.

In the fourth, singles by sophomore infielder Brenna Youngquist, Seva'aetasi, and freshman catcher Ryia Grant set the table for a pinch-hit appearance by junior infielder Brenna Mitchell. The result, on a 1-0 count, was a single which fell into right center and plated two, tying the game.

Cal State Monterey Bay came back with a rally in their half of the fourth, capitalizing on two errors that resulted in three unearned runs. The Otters 5-2 lead lasted briefly as Lopez opened the fifth with a single and West brought her home on another double. CSUMB threatened with runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings, but Balke and the ART U defense held the line for a 5-3 score heading to the seventh.

The Knights would bring the tying run to the plate after Sotomayor walked and West singled, but a double play ended what had been an intense battle with the Otters on top.

"We competed well today against a great nationally ranked team," said head coach Sonja Garnett. "A few timely mistakes cost us the game, but Hannah threw well and our offense kept us in the game."

Academy of Art exits the Tournament of Champions 2-4 and is now 17-21 overall on the season. The Knights tie their win total from 2016 with still 12 games left this year. Balke finished the day with just three earned runs allowed in all 11.0 innings and nine strikeouts.

"I was really proud of Hannah's performance today," said Garnett. "She kept us in both games and our offense made a huge adjustment."

Offensively, West was 4-for-6 with three runs batted in, her team-high 13th stolen base (eighth in PacWest), and two more doubles to move her into second in the conference in that category (12). Lpoez was 3-for-6 with a double and a steal while Seva'aetasi went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Rupright was 2-for-6 with a double and three driven in and Mitchell had two RBIs as well.

"Jessica West, Julie, and Dom all hit really well today," said Garnett. "They helped us put a lot of runs on the board."

Montana State Billings drops to 13-23 with the loss in the early game and Cal State Monterey Bay rises to 28-4.

Finishing off their 12th game in seven days, the Knights will turn right around and host Chaminade at Mission Blue Field on Tuesday, Apr. 4 in a noon doubleheader.