SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art University Softball got two more quality pitching performances from freshmen
Brooke Larsen (5-1) and
Cecilia Lopez (3-1) while senior utility
Brenna Mitchell remained on fire at the plate as ART U swept SF State on the road on Friday. Mitchell homered to start game one and Larsen would allow just two runs on two hits for the 4-2 win before Mitchell broke open the second contest with a two-run double and Lopez was just as stingy in a 3-2 victory.
GAME 1 – ART U 4, SFSU 2
Three batters into the first contest, Mitchell stepped in with two outs and launched a solo homer to left center to give Academy of Art a 1-0 lead. That margin would maintain through the first four innings as Larsen struck out four of the first seven batters she faced and had a no-hitter entering the fifth.
After SF State broke through with two singles, a pair of run-scoring bunts helped the Gators gain a 2-1 lead moving to the sixth. Larsen immediately answered back by tying the ballgame 2-2 on a single to drive in Mitchell who had led off the inning with a double.
In the seventh, the Knights scored twice after walked four times with a sacrifice fly from senior infielder
Samantha Klune and a bases-loaded walk on eight pitches to Larsen both mixed in. The hitless rally pushed Academy of Art ahead 4-2 and Larsen would go on to retire the final three batters in order, logging her eighth strikeout to end it.
GAME 2 – ART U 3, SFSU 2
Both pitchers surrendered just a single hit apiece through the first two innings of game two, but in the third, Mitchell came through with a big two-run double after sophomore outfielder
Gabi Hirsch and Klune set the table.
"Brenna is in a great place right now," said head coach
Sonja Garnett. "She
hit one out at SF State last time we were there as well and I think that just boosted her confidence going into today. I am very proud of her performance today."
In the bottom of the fourth, two SF State singles combined with an infield error to get the Gators an unearned run on the scoreboard. The Knights, however, would reestablish their two-run advantage an inning later on Hirsch's run-scoring double in the fifth.
SF State plated one more in the sixth on three singles, but Lopez continued to roll, finishing the seventh on 13 pitches with no hits allowed. Academy of Art would complete its third victory over the Gators of this year, prevailing 3-2.
The Urban Knights are now 10-6 overall this season, making them the second team in the PacWest Conference to reach double-digit wins. Larsen finished off her PacWest Conference-leading sixth complete game of the year with two runs allowed on two hits and one walk plus eight strikeouts through 7.0 innings of the first contest. Lopez followed with her second complete game of 2018, surrendering just one earned run on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
"Our defense was very solid today," said Garnett. "We made routine plays, kept our composure, and fought the entire game. Brooke and Cece threw very well both games."
Offensively, Mitchell pushed her current hitting streak to six games with an impressive 3-for-6 day that featured a homer, two doubles, and three runs batted in. Freshman infielder
Jayda Alaan extended her lead as the nation's leader in times hit by a pitch after wearing two more on Friday in addition to going 2-for-5. Hirsch finished 2-for-7 with two stolen bases to move her into second in the conference with 11 thefts on the year. Larsen added a double and two RBIs on the day.
SF State, who was held without an extra-base hit in the doubleheader, drops to 7-10 overall this season. At the top of the order, Andrea Hildan went 2-for-6 with one of just three RBIs for the Gators on Friday.
Academy of Art will resume PacWest Conference play at Holy Names on Mar. 4 before returning to Mission Blue Field to face Notre Dame de Namur on Mar. 10.
"We have a lot of season ahead of us," said Garnett. "It always feels good to start strong, but we have to keep progressing as we go. We can't let off the gas."
