WAIPAHU, Hawaii – Academy of Art softball put on a true power display under the lights at Central Oahu Regional Park on Sunday evening. The Urban Knights blasted six home runs, two in a 5-0 game one victory and an ART U record-tying four in a 10-2 run-rule win that ended in six innings, to sweep a doubleheader versus Chaminade and capture the season series. Leading the offensive charge was senior infielder Brenna Youngquist who cranked three homers to close in on the program's career record.

"Our offense was on fire today and it was really just great softball to watch," said head coach Alex Gomez. "The team made even more adjustments and really started to let their bats do the work. It made me very proud."

GAME 1 – ART U 5, CUH 0
In a foreshadowing of things to come, Youngquist quickly put her team ahead with a three-run homer after junior outfielder Gabi Hirsch and freshman utility Nikki West set the table. The senior's first home run of the season came on the first pitch she saw and that would prove to be the difference-making hit in the ballgame.

After junior pitcher Hannah Rose Balke (4-8) retired eight consecutive batters and continued to force zeroes from Chaminade on the scoreboard, sophomore catcher Lauryn Henderson furthered her team lead with home run number five on the season, a two-run shot, in the fifth inning. The blast to center field put Academy of Art up 5-0 and that would be all they needed the rest of the way.

Balke faced lone baserunners in the fifth and sixth, but continued her shutout bid and, despite allowing a leadoff single in the seventh, she induced a double play ball that freshman infielder Cassandra Mittman and Youngquist turned to finish off the 5-0 victory. Balke's second shutout of the season saw her give up just three hits with four walks and one strikeout across 7.0 innings pitched.

GAME 2 – ART U 10, CUH 2 (6)
Chaminade was the first to score in the series finale, plating a run on two singles and two errors in the first inning. That would soon be erased, however, as Mittman and senior utility Katie Tablada deposited solo home runs in back-to-back fashion in the second. Mittman's was the first of her collegiate career.

While sophomore pitcher Cecilia Lopez (6-3) was retiring seven consecutive Silverswords, the Knights' 2-1 advantage expanded to 3-1 when Henderson stayed hot with a run-scoring single to follow up junior utility Dominique Seva'aetasi's one-out double in the third. Lopez faced the bases loaded and allowed a run in the fourth, but was able to preserve what was now a 3-2 lead after striking out the final batter on four pitches.

The fifth inning absolutely belonged to Academy of Art with Seva'aetasi and Henderson getting aboard for Youngquist's second three-run homer of the day and later a two-run double by junior infielder Gracie Sotomayor made it an 8-2 lead. For good measure, Youngquist launched another multi-run blast beyond the center field fence in the sixth and ART U moved in front 10-2.

"Brenna hit really well at practice on Friday and I wanted her to really visualize that at the plate," said Gomez. "She stayed loose, stayed focused on her pitches and went up there with a purpose. She was amazing today."

Lopez would finish off the sixth without allowing another score and the eight-run margin triggered a mercy rule victory. The sophomore completed her fourth consecutive game, finishing with just one earned run allowed on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

For the Urban Knights who are now 11-10 overall and 7-4 in PacWest play, the 16 hits in game two were a season-high and the most the team has had since Apr. 19, 2017. Youngquist's 3-for-6 day included the three home runs, eight runs batted in, and three runs scored. With 19 long balls in her career, she now sits second in program history behind ART U's career home run leader Alana Aweau (21). Fellow infielders Mittman and Henderson, who also joined in on the long ball action, went 5-for-6 and 4-for-8 respectively while combining for four RBIs and four runs scored. Tablada's home run was the second of her career and contributed to a 2-for-5 day while Seva'aetasi ended up 3-for-7 with a double and three runs scored.

The losses drop Chaminade to 11-31 on the season and 8-22 in conference. Rainelle Matsuoka was the lone Silversword with a hit in each contest, finishing 2-for-5 in the twinbill.

With its first of three Hawaii series complete, ART U remains on the same island, but now turns its attention to Hawaii Pacific for a four games beginning Apr. 9.

"We're just going to continue to take steps forward," said Gomez. "We're focusing on 21 outs defensively and really trying to back up our pitchers by 'wanting' balls to be hit to us. Everyone has a role and the team is starting to find their groove. Like I said, we just want to continue to get better together and continue improving so that we peak as a team at the right time. I was really pleased with what I saw from our entire team today - offensively, defensively, and on the mound."