BRISBANE, Calif. – Building off the momentum from a late comeback attempt in the first contest, Academy of Art softball quickly grabbed a lead in game two and never looked back, splitting the first part of the Pacific West Conference series at Mission Blue Field on Friday. The Sharks' three-run advantage was threatened with ART U rallies in the final two frames, but despite the Urban Knights bringing the winning run to the plate in the seventh, HPU escaped with the 4-3 win. Three different Knights registered run-scoring singles to open the second contest before freshman pitcher Kamielle Powell (4-9) settled into a solid rhythm, notching a season-high 7.0 innings pitched in the 4-1 victory.

GAME 1 – HPU 4, ART U 3
Bouncing back from Hawaii Pacific's two runs in the first inning, senior pitcher Haley Arnold-Jolley (0-11) retired five in a row including the side on just eight pitches in the second frame. The Sharks plated an unearned run in the fifth, but the 3-0 lead would not last as the Academy of Art bats broke through in the sixth. A one-out double by junior utility Cailee Grayhorse-Pupecki got things started before an error set up junior infielder Haley Randall for a sacrifice fly and freshman infielder Audrey Allen for a run-scoring single.

The one-run ballgame then had more drama in the seventh as HPU used small ball to make it a 4-2 contest, resulting in a relief appearance for Powell following Arnold-Jolley's season-high of 6.1 innings pitched. Keeping the margin at just two, the Knights opened their half of the inning with a walk and a sacrifice bunt before Grayhorse-Pupecki sent a single up the middle to return the difference to one yet again. That brought the potential winning run to the plate, but a groundout ended the comeback as Hawaii Pacific prevailed 4-3.

GAME 2 – ART U 4, HPU 1
The roles reversed at the start of the second contest with Academy of Art the first to score as, all with two outs, junior infielder Katie Humphreys, freshman catcher Alexus Sorenson, and freshman utility Marissa "Roo" Menard all connected on run-scoring singles for the eventual 3-0 lead.

Powell proceeded to retire the side in order both in the second and third frames, but two extra-base hits began HPU's fourth, putting them on the scoreboard. Unfazed, the Advertising major started another streak by sitting down the next seven batters while her team added on in the fifth. Senior catcher/utility Cassandra Mittman offered a sacrifice fly for the fourth run then strong defense saw the Knights' infield turn two to end the sixth ahead of three groundouts in the seventh to close out the 4-1 victory.

ART U moves to 4-22 overall and 1-9 in conference play after seven different Knights recorded at least one hit on the afternoon. Allen recorded hits in both games, going 2-for-5 with one run batted in to extend her current hitting streak to six games while Grayhorse-Pupecki was 2-for-3 with one run batted in, a run scored, and a double in the opening contest. In addition to driving in one and scoring twice, Randall extended her current reached base streak to a team-high eight games while Humphreys added a 2-for-5 doubleheader, driving in one and scoring once to push her own six-game hitting streak.

With her scoreless relief work in the first game, Powell finished with just one run allowed over 7.2 innings pitched, surrendering just four hits, walking none, and striking out four.

The day's split puts HPU at 14-19 on the year and 9-9 in PacWest action. Leading the way offensively was Tita Saunders who went 4-for-7 with one RBI, one run scored, and one steal. Posting her ninth complete game of the year, Taylor Thompson (5-10) picked up the game one win with three runs allowed on four hits, one walk, and five strikeouts in 7.0 innings while Gianna Kerschbaum (4-5) took the loss in the finale, allowing four runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings.

When the Knights and Sharks complete their four-part conference series tomorrow, it will be with another noon doubleheader from Viking Field on the campus of West Valley College in Saratoga.