AZUSA, Calif. – Bouncing back from a one-run loss in the opener, Academy of Art University Softball confidently took the second game behind early offense and another brilliant start from freshman pitcher Brooke Larsen (9-1) in its Pacific West Conference doubleheader at Azusa Pacific on Wednesday. A two-run homer proved to be the difference in a 3-2 game one before Larsen's fourth shutout highlighted a 5-0 victory in the finale, a contest that saw the Urban Knights register double-digit hits for the 10th time this year.

GAME 1 – APU 3, ART U 2
After getting out of a jam with a runner at third in the bottom of the first inning, freshman pitcher Cecilia Lopez (4-3) retired the Cougars in order in the second before both teams navigated an eventful third. Academy of Art got a leadoff double from senior infielder Samantha Klune which later produced their first run of the game on a single from freshman infielder Jayda Alaan.

That run was matched by Azusa Pacific in the bottom half, however, on Cayla Broussard's own run-scoring single. The game's momentum shifted toward the Cougars in the fourth when Becca Jewett hit a two-run homer to give her squad a 3-1 advantage.

An dramatic seventh inning began with a one-out double from sophomore infielder Gracie Sotomayor immediately followed by a triple from Klune to cut the Knights deficit in half. One hit batter and an Alaan walk later, the bases were loaded with two outs, but Azusa Pacific got the groundout it needed to fend off the ART U comeback and seal the 3-2 victory.

"We started to get hungry in the bottom of the seventh," said head coach Sonja Garnett. "The team did a great job making adjustments at the plate and turned up our offensive production substantially in game two."

GAME 2 – ART U 5, APU 0
Both teams loaded bases in not just the first inning, but the second as well, and yet the scoreboard read only 1-0 Knights heading to the third. Back-to-back singles by sophomore outfielder Gabi Hirsch and senior utility Brenna Mitchell combined with a walk to junior infielder Brenna Youngquist in the first, but a lineout to the outfield ended the chance. In the bottom half of the inning, Larsen pitched her way out of two walks and a single with a pair of strikeouts.

A Larsen single initiated a scoring opportunity in the second where a hit batter and an unsuccessful fielder's choice set up Hirsch's run-scoring single up the middle. Now up 1-0, Larsen protected the lead in the bottom of the second with her third strikeout and proceeded to help double ART U's lead with a run-scoring single of her own in the third.

Though the Cougars continued to threaten with runners in scoring position virtually every inning, Larsen and the Knights defense held strong, denying the home team a touch of home plate. In the sixth, Sotomayor cashed in a pair of runs on a double then, following Larsen's leadoff double in the seventh, Alaan brought her home on a single. Up 5-0, Larsen struck out two more hitters in an uneventful bottom half of the inning to finish off the win.

"We know we need to start producing earlier," said Garnett. "The women did a nice job of being aggressive game two and producing offensively. I was proud of how they turned it around. Brooke did a great job tonight. She got herself into some jams, but was able to bare down when it mattered and produce big outs with her defense."

Following the day's results, the Knights move to 15-9 overall and 5-3 in PacWest play. Larsen's fourth shutout of the year was also her PacWest-leading 10th complete game and saw her allow seven hits and five walks with eight strikeouts. She added a 3-for-6 day at the plate that included a double and a run batted in. Six ART U players finished with two hits apiece in the twinbill highlighted by Klune's double and triple with a RBI as well as Sotomayor's two doubles plus two RBIs and a stolen base. Alaan also finished with two RBIs and a steal.

Azusa Pacific moves to 6-15 overall and 2-9 in conference. Kat Ung (4-6) picked up the victory in game one after surrendering two runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Offensively, Cayla Broussard finished 5-for-7 with a RBI and stolen base.

Continuing its Southern California roadtrip, Academy of Art next travels to La Mirada for its first-ever meeting with new PacWest member Biola tomorrow, Mar. 15, beginning at 1 p.m.

"Biola will be fun," said Garnett. "We have been tracking them in conference, but really are not sure what to expect. They have been playing well so we need to come out strong and trust our game tomorrow."