Junior Lauren Stover continued to just tear the cover off the ball since the start of Pacific West Conference play, going 9-for-14 (.643) over the Urban Knights' 3-1 roadtrip through Southern California this past weekend. Beyond upping her batting average nearly 100 points in four games, she added a home run, a double, five RBIs, four runs scored, and a stolen base.
Among Stover's two hits in the Azusa Pacific series opener (Feb. 22) was her fourth double of the year. She then went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored in game two. Her two-run single helped push across an early 4-0 lead for ART U in that one. Then, up against defending PacWest Champion California Baptist, Stover finished game one a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, but certainly saved her best for last.
Coming up to bat with two on, Stover smashed the Lancers' 2-1 offering over the left field fence for her first home run of the season and a 6-1 advantage for her team. She scored three times and stole a base in addition to the three RBIs in what would become a 10-7 victory for Academy of Art.
“Mentally at the plate, I'm just fearless,” Stover said. “I've really focused on seeing the ball big and only hitting my pitch. The home run was great. She made the mistake so I capitalized and it's always nice to be able to boost the team's momentum.”
