BRISBANE, Calif. – Following a fun pup parade as part of "Dog Day" out at Mission Blue Field, Academy of Art University Softball came away with its second consecutive sweep of Hawaii Pacific for what is now 19 wins in the Urban Knights' previous 20 games. Three straight two-run rallies by the offense and three runs batted in for freshman catcher Lauryn Henderson helped support freshman pitcher Brooke Larsen (19-3) in a 7-3 game one victory. Then senior pitcher Brenna Mitchell (3-3) turned in a truly dominant performance in game two, striking out a season-high nine batters in her first complete game in nearly two years after an injury kept her out of the pitcher's circle all of 2017. The Knights added four runs of support, two on Mitchell's own single in the third, in the 4-0 triumph.

GAME 1 – ART U 7, HPU 3
Intent on not being shutout for the second straight day, the Sharks struck first four batters into the game with a pair of hits in the opening inning. The margin only lasted until the second inning, however, when Academy of Art rallied behind an error and two hits including Henderson's two-run single to right center.

After Larsen got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the third inning, ART U touched home plate twice more in the bottom half on a run-scoring plays from Mitchell (double) and junior infielder Brenna Youngquist (single) for a 4-1 advantage. Larsen struck out two in the fourth before a two-run error made it 6-1 Knights in the bottom half of the frame.

Hawaii Pacific managed to load the bases with no outs in the fifth, but only got one run out of it and that was promptly matched by a run on Henderson's groundout in the same inning. The Sharks did not go without a fight, scoring one final time in the seventh, but Larsen ended the game on her eight strikeout, securing the 7-3 victory.

GAME 2 – ART U 4, HPU 0
In a foreshadowing of things to come, Mitchell's stellar outing fittingly began with a strikeout and a total of eight Sharks would be sat down on strikes in just the first three innings. Jordan Curry (5-7), Mitchell's counterpart, looked strong through her first two innings, but in the third, a costly error with two outs set the stage for Mitchell to help her own cause with a two-run single.

Hawaii Pacific put the shutout in jeopardy in the very next inning, but despite the Sharks connecting on a potential run-scoring hit, sophomore outfielder Dominique Seva'aetasi fired an impressive throw home to end the inning on a play at the plate.

The ART U lead expanded to 3-0 in the fifth when freshman infielder Jayda Alaan provided a run on a single to right center and, after Mitchell retired the side in order, in the sixth, Seva'aetasi plated another on a sacrifice fly. Following a leadoff single in the seventh, Mitchell retired the next three batters for the 4-0 final.

The Urban Knights improve to 35-12 overall and 18-6 in conference play with the day's results and, currently on a nine-game win streak with 19 victories in their previous 20 games, they become the second-winningest team in the West Region behind No. 3 Chico State who has 18 consecutive wins. Offensively, Mitchell and Henderson each had three RBIs on the day, going 2-for-6 and 1-for-3 respectively. Hirsch, who has a nine-game hitting streak, upped her other streak to now 18 straight games having reached base with a 3-for-7 doubleheader that saw her steal two bases and score three times. Youngquist also went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Just two pitchers were needed for the second straight day with Larsen tossing a complete 7.0 innings (her 18th complete game) while allowing three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and one walk with eight strikeouts. Mitchell's first shutout of the year featured a season-high nine strikeouts and just six hits plus no walks. Her complete game was the first since Apr. 30, 2016.

Hawaii Pacific will return home 21-18 overall and 14-14 in PacWest play with two games left in its 2018 regular season. Cieana Curran finished the twinbill 4-for-7 with three steals and one RBI. Emilee Leonard (5-3) took the loss with three earned runs allowed in a complete first game then Curry surrendered only two earned runs in the finale, but was outdone by Mitchell.

Academy of Art now has one day off from competition before hosting UH Hilo on Tuesday, Apr. 24 at noon back at Mission Blue Field.