LA MIRADA, Calif. – Up against new Pacific West Conference member Biola for the first time in program history, Academy of Art University Softball used the momentum of an energizing pregame routine to strike right away and, after freshman pitcher
Cecilia Lopez (5-3) tossed her second collegiate shutout, the Urban Knights won the opener 5-0. The teams were then separated by one run after two innings of the second contest, but the Eagles forced a split with a rally in the fifth to end on a 4-1 victory.
GAME 1 – ART U 5, BU 0
Nearly all of the ART U offense came in a big first inning with two runs on a double by sophomore infielder
Gracie Sotomayor, another on a single from freshman pitcher
Brooke Larsen, and a fourth on a catcher throwing error.
"We play best when we are loose and pumped up," said head coach
Sonja Garnett. "We had a great pregame and came out with energy and grit. I think that helped our momentum in the first inning."
After inducing two double plays in the first three innings, Lopez and the ART U defense held the line once more in the fourth when a popout helped them dodge a potential score by the Eagles with two runners in scoring position. Lopez retired Biola in order in the fifth, pitched around a double in the sixth, and was rewarded with a 5-0 lead heading into the seventh after freshman catcher
Alyssa Brundage drew a bases-loaded walk.
In the seventh, Lopez logged two more strikeouts as part of a clean final frame, giving her a career-high five on the day and her team the victory.
"Cece threw great today," said Garnett. "She was very effective and used her defense well."
GAME 2 – BU 5, ART U 0
Looking to continue her dominance, Larsen (9-2) struck out the side in the first, however, she also surrendered a two-run homer to Areana Ramos which gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead after one inning. Academy of Art responded in the very next inning by putting together two singles and a pair of walks to get one run back.
Both pitchers settled in for a scoreless next two-and-a-half innings (a stretch that saw Larsen strike out four), but after Biola went to the bullpen in the fifth, it was Larsen who ran into trouble in the bottom half of that inning. Five singles contributed to two more runs and the Eagles would carry a 4-1 advantage into the final two frames.
After Larsen recorded her 100th strikeout of the season in the sixth, the Knights started a two-out rally with a walk to freshman infielder
Jayda Alaan and a single by sophomore outfielder
Gabi Hirsch. Despite sending the potential tying run to the plate, it was Biola who came away on top 4-1.
The day's split puts ART U's overall record at 16-10 and their conference record moves to 6-4. Lopez turned in her fourth complete game of the season with the shutout, going 7.0 innings with just five hits and one walk allowed. Additionally, she amassed a career-high five strikeouts. On the day, Larsen was 3-for-7 with a run batted in, Sotomayor went 2-for-7 with two RBIs and a double, and Alaan added a 2-for-6 collective performance with one stolen base and a hit by pitch to tie the program's single-season record.
Biola is now 24-6 overall and 11-3 in PacWest play. After Terri Van Dagens (9-2) did not allow an earned run in her 4.0 innings of a loss in game one, Paula Damas (3-1) picked up the win one run allowed in the second contest through 4.0 innings while Paige Austin earned her sixth save of the season with a scoreless 3.0 innings of relief. The two Eagles with hits in both games, Ramos (3-for-6, HR, two RBIs) and Selina Sherlin (2-for-6, one RBI), led the way.
The Urban Knights' conclude their Southern California tour this Saturday, Mar. 16 with a doubleheader at Concordia in Irvine beginning at noon.
"Concordia is a good team, but we have to focus on playing to our ability, keeping our energy high, and adjusting some minor things offensively," said Garnett. "If we do that, we are capable of anything."
