Game #24
ART U Urban Knights (7-16) vs. No. 14 Western Washington Vikings (17-4)
Friday, March 22, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.
Turlock, Calif. – Pedretti Park - Field 3
Live Stats

Game #25
ART U Urban Knights (7-16) vs. Chico State Wildcats (5-14)
Friday, March 22, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.
Turlock, Calif. – Pedretti Park - Field 1
Live Stats

Game #26
ART U Urban Knights (7-16) vs. Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes (13-11)
Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 2 p.m.
Turlock, Calif. – Pedretti Park – Field 1
Live Stats

Game #27
ART U Urban Knights (7-16) vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros (14-10)
Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Turlock, Calif. – Pedretti Park - Field 3
Live Stats

Game #28
ART U Urban Knights (7-16) vs. Sonoma State Seawolves (14-9)
Sunday, March 24, 2024 at Noon
Turlock, Calif. – Pedretti Park - Field 3
Live Stats

Game #29 *New Addition*
ART U Urban Knights (7-16) vs. Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes (13-11)
Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.
Turlock, Calif. – Pedretti Park - Field 1
Live Stats

FIVE NON-CONFERNCE MATCHUPS AWAIT ART U AT TOC
Academy of Art softball takes a break from Pacific West Conference play this week as the Urban Knights will meet one team from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and four from the California Collegiate Athletic Association as part of Stanislaus State's 2024 Tournament of Champions sponsored by City of Turlock.

FIRST PITCH
Moving between two fields at Pedretti Park, ART U begins the Tournament of Champions on Friday, Mar. 22 against No. 14 Western Washington at 11:30 a.m. from Field 3 before heading to Field 1 to face Chico State at 4:30 p.m. Day two action on Saturday, Mar. 23 features matchups with Cal State San Bernardino at 2 p.m. from Field 1 followed by a 7 p.m. start versus Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7 p.m. on Field 3. The third and final day, Sunday, Mar. 24, pits Academy of Art against Sonoma State from Field 3 at noon followed by a newly-added 2:30 p.m. contest against Cal State San Bernardino on Field 1. 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. 

KNIGHT WATCH
Academy of Art can be found third in the PacWest in both triples (4) and stolen bases (28) with three Urban Knights contributing to the triples category and nine adding at least one stolen base. Senior infielder Katie Humphreys steps into the Tournament of Champions 15 hits in her last 27 at-bats (.556) to elevate her team-high batting average to .368 (fifth in PacWest). Joining Humphreys as the four Knights hitting above .300 are sophomore infielder Audrey Allen (.329, 11th in PacWest), junior utility Alexis Folks (.314, 15th in PacWest), and senior infielder Haley Randall (.313, 16th in PacWest). Allen adds 15 runs batted in (sixth in PacWest), six doubles (second in PacWest), and two home runs while Randall checks in at second on the team with 12 RBIs (11th in PacWest) and three doubles. Meanwhile, senior outfielder Cailee Grayhorse-Pupecki, who has 10 RBIs, paces the squad with 13 runs scored (seventh in PacWest) and freshman outfielder Lida Wos is right behind her teammate with 12 runs scored (11th in PacWest) thanks in large part to her perfect 10-for-10 clip (second in PacWest) in stolen bases.

In the pitching circle, Academy of Art has rotated six or more starts apiece between sophomore Kamielle Powell (1-3), freshman Alyssa Fullmer (3-4), and freshman Kayla Vaughan (3-6). Powell has moved to the top position in earned run average (4.27) while Vaughan's 51.2 innings pitched remain top 10 in the PacWest and her 41 strikeouts (fifth in PacWest and first among non-seniors/grad students) lead the team in their respective categories.

VIKINGS' VITALS
After winning eight games to start the season, No. 14 Western Washington dropped matchups to Western Oregon and Simon Fraser before going 4-2 with a series split versus Northwest Nazarene taking the Vikings into this week. Hailey Rath (.352, 11 RBIs), Ashley Jacobsen (.348, 14 RBIs, five home runs), and Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez (.276, 11 RBIs, eight home runs) lead WWU offensively while Kaiana Kong (6-1) has been the squad's top reliever with a 0.89 ERA, three saves, and 28 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched. With their last five meetings coming at the TOC, Western Washington is 7-2 historically against ART U.

CLASHING WITH THE 'CATS
Chico State, who dropped a 6-1 decision to Academy of Art back on Feb. 10, opened the year with seven consecutive losses before taking three from CSUSB, being swept by Stanislaus State, and splitting four with Sonoma State. The Wildcats have relied upon Tayler Berens' .365 batting average and seven RBIs at the plate with Katelyn Oldwin (2-4) posting team bests of 61.1 innings pitched, 51 strikeouts, and a 1.94 ERA in the pitching circle. The win for the Urban Knights earlier this season was their third over Chico State in 13 previous matchups.

'YOTES NOTES
A season of oscillating wins and losses has brought Cal State San Bernardino to a 13-11 record after a series win against Stan State and sweep of CSUDH was balanced by two losses to Biola earlier this month. The Coyotes, who face Dominican and WWU on the TOC's first day, carry one of the top bats in the West Region in Tereise Tosi (.452, 16 RBIs, five home runs) as well as Bri Goris (.357, 23 RBIs, five home runs) in addition to their leading hurler, Natalie Carlos (3-3), who offers a 3.20 ERA over 46.0 innings of work. Though they have not met in Turlock since 2018, the historical matchup between ART U and CSUSB favors the latter 4-2.

TALKIN' TOROS
Despite only playing two games through the first two weeks of 2024, Cal State Dominguez Hills was able to post 13 straight wins shortly thereafter, sweeping Adelphi, Chico State, Stan State, and SSU ahead of falling in three of four to both CSUSB and Cal State East Bay. The Toros are slated to face Central Washington, Saint Martin's, and Dominican before the Knights and much of their success has come from the bat of Jay Ross (.411, 14 RBIs, eight extra-base hits) plus the arm of Mariah Ramirez (8-6, 2.63 ERA, 80.0 innings pitched, 66 strikeouts). Meeting one another every other year since 2016 following a five-year stretch with no matchups, CSUDH is in front 4-1 all-time against Academy of Art.

SIGHTS ON SEAWOLVES
Since darkness forced its Feb. 11 game to be halted with ART U ahead 9-7 in the fifth, Sonoma State took three of four from Cal State San Marcos, dropped a doubleheader with CSUDH, split with Chico State, and swept both Cal State Monterey Bay and Dominican to give SSU a six-game win streak entering TOC. The Seawolves, who face Western Oregon, Simon Fraser, UH Hilo, and Central Washington over the weekend, are paced by Anna Zoia-Buescher's .403 batting average, 21 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases along with Giana Hays' .328 average with 17 RBIs, four home runs, and 19 runs scored. Bailee Reed (6-4) has a 2.26 ERA in 71.1 innings pitched while Nichole Sarra (4-2) adds a 2.63 ERA across 48.0 innings of work. Not counting the previously halted game, Sonoma State is on top of Academy of Art 17-3 historically.

DOMINICAN TAKES PAIR FROM ART U IN PACWEST DOUBLEHEADER
Though Academy of Art softball put together multiple two-run rallies to challenge Dominican at Penguin Field on Mar. 16, the PacWest twin bill ended up in the hands of the Penguins as a 7-2 victory in the opener was followed by an 8-2 final in game two after late pushes had the home team further its winning margins on both occasions.

ON THE HORIZON
The return of conference play can be found on the other side of the Tournament of Champions as ART U starts its Hawaii road trip with four games at UH Hilo on Mar. 29-30.