LA MIRADA, Calif. – Despite scoring first in each of Tuesday's Pacific West Conference twin bill, Academy of Art softball could not maintain its advantages against multi-run rallies from Biola at Freedom Field. To start the afternoon, an immediate 2-0 margin was rebutted by five runs from the Eagles in a high-scoring opening frame that ended with BU on top 10-2. Then a three-run third inning from ART U in the series conclusion shifted to Biola on top 5-3 an inning later en route to the 11-3 final.

GAME 1 – BU 10, ART U 2 (6)
Battling through a seven-pitch at-bat senior outfielder Bethany Mitchell began the day with a walk and soon stood on third base following a double from junior utility Cailee Grayhorse-Pupecki. The table was then set for freshman infielder Audrey Allen's two-run single to give the Urban Knights a 2-0 lead just four batters into the first game. Biola, however, would respond with five runs in their half of the frame to move in front.

Senior pitcher Haley Arnold-Jolley (2-24) combined with her defense to retire six of seven Eagles through the second and third innings, but BU would add three runs in the fourth then one apiece in the fifth and sixth to eventually win 10-2.

GAME 2 – BU 11, ART U 3 (5)
Following two scoreless frames to begin the series finale, Academy of Art loaded the bases on a hit batter, junior infielder Haley Randall's single, and a walk before senior catcher/utility Cassandra Mittman delivered a two-run single and junior infielder Katie Humphreys followed with another run coming in on her own single.

The margin was shortened to one run after two hits and an error in the home half of the third then the Eagles rose to a 5-3 advantage in the fourth then rallied for six in the fifth to end the game on top 11-3.

Moving to 7-40 overall and 3-23 in conference play with the day's results, the Urban Knights got a pair of multi-hit games from Mittman who finished 4-for-5 with two runs batted in while Allen finished the opening contest 2-for-3 with two driven in and Randall added her own 2-for-3 performance in game two, scoring once. Grayhorse-Pupecki doubled once on the afternoon and scored twice before Humphreys added a 1-for-2 game two effort that included one driven in.

Biola's overall record shifts to 25-18 on the year and 17-9 in PacWest action. Kaitlyn Hawkins led the Eagles with three runs batted in as part of a 2-for-4 opening contest then Colby McClinton went 4-for-4 with four driven in, three scored, a double, and a triple in the finale. Raylene Roybal (13-6) tossed 6.0 innings with two runs allowed on six hits, one walk, and two strikeouts in the first game which was followed by Kayla Bousquette (8-9) going 5.0 innings with three runs allowed on five hits and one walk plus six strikeouts in game two.

Academy of Art looks ahead to its final two home games of the season coming up next on Apr. 28 as Nina Vallejos, Bethany Mitchell, Haley Arnold-Jolley, and Cassandra Mittman will be honored prior to ART U hosting Dominican at noon for Senior Day.