Games #8 & 9
ART U Urban Knights (3-4, 2-0 PWC) vs. NDNU Argonauts (0-22, 0-16 PWC)
Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 10 a.m. & Noon
Brisbane, Calif. – Mission Blue Field
Live Stats & Live Video

ART U SET FOR FIRST HOME GAMES OF 2019
Welcoming the season's first sunny week in the Bay Area, Academy of Art softball is on track to resume Pacific West Conference play this Saturday with its first two games at Mission Blue Field this year. This Saturday features a PacWest rematch with Notre Dame de Namur.

FIRST PITCH
ART U is set to play its first two games of the year at Mission Blue Field this Saturday, Mar. 16 with Notre Dame de Namur coming in for a 10 a.m. doubleheader. Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

The Urban Knights' Saturday doubleheader with the Argonauts will be "Military Appreciation Day." Fans in attendance will receive an exclusive ART U camouflage promotional t-shirt and military personnel will be recognized during the gameday.
 
KNIGHT WATCH
Leading Academy of Art's offense, senior infielder Brenna Youngquist currently ranks third in the PacWest with a .409 batting average to go with team-bests of seven runs batted in and two doubles. She remains 33 RBIs from the program's career leader Taylor Thurman (137) and has moved into a tie for sixth in career doubles (28), just 14 back of the career leader Lauren Stover (42). After breaking the program's single-season walks record last year, Youngquist (63) needs 10 more to become the career leader. After her third extra-base hit in a three-game stretch, sophomore catcher Lauryn Henderson sits second in the PacWest slugging percentage (.813) and has moved up to second on the team in batting average (.375) back of junior infielder Gracie Sotomayor's .360 clip.

No earned runs allowed in her first 7.0 innings of PacWest play has gotten sophomore pitcher Cecilia Lopez (1-1) to a 2.80 earned run average on the year. Freshman pitcher Haley Arnold-Jolley's team-leading 0.00 ERA came after two scoreless relief innings and just one hit allowed in her collegiate debut against NDNU.

ARGOS APPROACHING
Since falling to Academy of Art twice back on Feb. 23, Notre Dame de Namur had a difficult Hawaii roadtrip which saw the Argonauts go 0-12 on the islands. After a sweep at the hands of Humboldt State on Thursday, NDNU is still in search of its first victory of the 2019 season. The Argos are led by Megan Lawson's .333 batting average and four doubles, but not Notre Dame de Namur pitcher has an ERA under 6.35. Including this year's results, ART U has pulled in front of NDNU in the all-time matchup, now leading 19-18.

URBAN KNIGHTS SPLIT ROAD MATCHUP WITH STANISLAUS STATE
Finally taking the field after nearly two weeks of rainouts, Academy of Art softball found itself in two closely contested games against Stanislaus State at Warrior Softball Field on Mar. 8. Bouncing back from a 3-0 loss in the opener, the Urban Knights got a brilliant pitching performance from sophomore Cecilia Lopez (1-1) and a difference-making hit from freshman outfielder Nikki West en route to the 2-1 victory to conclude the day.

LOOKING AHEAD
As the schedule currently stands, ART U will have one more PacWest doubleheader before heading to Turlock for five games as part of the Tournament of Champions. Academy of Art is set to match up with Holy Names in Moraga on Mar. 23.