HAYWARD, Calif. – In the teams' first meeting of the season, Academy of Art softball and Holy Names paired up for Pacific West Conference action out at Chabot College on Friday. A big fourth inning extended the Hawks' game one lead toward their eventual 9-1 victory then sophomore pitcher Jolene Rhoades (1-13) was locked in game two pitchers' duel, but an unearned run in the sixth spelled the difference in a 1-0 result despite four doubles from the Urban Knights including one that put the tying run on in the seventh.

GAME 1 – HNU 9, ART U 1 (5)
Though Academy of Art was the first to put a runner on via junior catcher/utility Cassandra Mittman's single, Holy Names scored first with three runs on three hits including a homer in the bottom of the opening frame. Another in the second inning upped the margin to 4-0, but when two Knights reached base via a hit batter and a walk in the fourth, the gap was shortened on a run-scoring fielder's choice from sophomore pitcher/infielder Katie Humphreys.

A 4-1 ballgame took a turn in the following half inning, however, as the Hawks pushed an 8-1 advantage with four runs on five hits. ART U once again loaded the bases with singles by sophomore infielder Haley Randall and senior catcher/infielder Lauryn Henderson, but could not convert and the home team then walked off 9-1 with one more run in the bottom of the fifth.

GAME 2 – HNU 1, ART U 0
Academy of Art looked to strike first with senior utility Alyssa Rasmussen and Henderson using a single and double to put themselves into scoring position, but the first frame wound up being scoreless. Senior catcher Alyssa Brundage added the Knights' second double of the contest in the frame that followed though she ended up stranded as well.

Meanwhile, Rhoades sat down a pair of Hawks on strikes as she retired the side in order in the second then added her fourth punchout in a scoreless third. Though freshman utility Elle Edeker connected for her second double of the year in the fourth, the game remained at 0-0 as the fifth began. Rhoades continued to deal, striking out another as part of six straight batters retired to get to the sixth.

An error followed by a single suddenly put Holy Names ahead 1-0 in the bottom half of that frame and, though Rhoades added to her season-high with strikeout number six thereafter, ART U found itself in a position where the Knights had to score to extend the game in the top of the seventh. There, a two-out double came in a pinch-hit appearance from graduate student utility Nina Vallejos, but an impressive jumping catch two pitches later ended the day.

Rhoades finished with no earned runs allowed on four hits and three walks plus the season-best six strikeouts in a complete 6.0 innings.

ART U, now 2-28 overall and 1-11 in PacWest play, notched a total of four doubles in game two led by one as part of Brundage's 2-for-2 effort. A 2-for-5 day from Henderson included the 36th double of her career while hits also came in both contests from Randall and Rasmussen (both 2-for-5) as the former pushed her hit streak to six games. Rasmussen and junior outfielder Bethany Mitchell each added one stolen base on the afternoon, extending their spots as the team's top two with seven and four respectively. The Knights' four doubles in the finale were the most since the team had six, ironically also against HNU, on Apr. 9, 2021.

Holy Names rises to 7-26 overall and 5-17 in conference action with the day's results. Leading the way offensively, Lyndsey Widner finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a homer, one run scored, and one stolen base. Haighley Kissee (3-7) picked up one victory and allowed just one run on nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 9.0 combined innings across the twin bill. Kelsey Volkmar (2-10) collected the game two victory after logging 3.0 scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.

Academy of Art rematches Dominican this Sunday, Mar. 27 with a doubleheader set for noon at Mission Blue Field..