LAS VEGAS – Academy of Art began its 2019 season by rallying to score runs in each of its respective first innings as part of a twinbill at Majestic Park in the Desert Stinger Tournament on Friday. Unfortunately, late runs by the opposition resulted in a shortened 11-3 loss to Stanislaus State followed by a 7-4 defeat at the hands of Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
"It was definitely a promising day," said head coach Alex Gomez. "They fought hard and scored first in both games, which is something we want to continue. We just need to be more consistent scoring in the middle innings, not just beginning and end."

GAME 1 – STAN STATE 11, ART U 3 (5)
Getting on the scoreboard right away in the season opener, junior outfielder Gabi Hirsch legged out an infield single then eventually scored on successive singles by junior infielder Gracie Sotomayor and junior utility Dominique Seva'aetasi plus an error.
"Gracie executed multiple times today," said Gomez. "Gabi is always a tough player to pitch to and I think she showed that today. She is going to be a consistent leadoff hitter for us."

Now with a 1-0 advantage, starting pitcher Cecilia Lopez (0-1) opened her sophomore season with a strikeout and combined with the ART U defense to keep the Warriors off the scoreboard for the first three innings.

After stranding a pair in scoring position in the third, Academy of Art began the fourth inning with sophomore catcher Alyssa Brundage being hit by a pitch then reaching second via a passed ball. She would continue her progression around the bases with a groundout and an error to eventually give the Knights a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, however, the game's momentum shifted dramatically. Stanislaus State put together a nine-run rally highlighted by three run-scoring singles and a pair of two-run homers to go up 9-2. Though ART U got one back on a sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Lauryn Henderson in the fifth, the Warriors ended up triggering the run-rule with another two-run blast in the fifth for an 11-3 final.

GAME 2 – CSUMB 7, ART U 4
Game two started similar to the first, with the Urban Knights on the board early. Sotomayor singled to the left side before a fielder's choice and error brought her home to put ART U up 1-0 early.

Junior pitcher Hannah Rose Balke (0-1) got through two clean innings before a Cal State Monterey base hit and error tied the game at one in the third. CSUMB struck again in the fifth after a double to left field knocked in two runs. The Otters made one more offensive push in the seventh to put up four runs and went into the bottom half of the inning with a 7-1 lead.

"Other than the one inning, Hannah pitched a gem today," said Gomez. "She did really solid. She went all seven innings and coming out of off-season going a whole game is admirable."  
 
ART U showed perseverance and threatened when Sotomayor singled up the middle for her third hit of the game and drove in freshman outfielder Bethany Mitchell. Mitchell was pinch running for Brundage who started the inning with a single down the right field line. Down to their final out, senior infielder Brenna Youngquist came up clutch with a single to drive in a pair of runs and bring the Urban Knights within three. But the Otters cut the comeback short and took the game 7-4.

Academy of Art will return to Majestic Park tomorrow for two more matchups with West Region opponents. The day begins versus Northwest Nazarene at 2 p.m. on Field 8 and concludes with Saint Martin's on Field 10 at 7 p.m.