LAS VEGAS – Up against one of the top offenses at the MSU Billings Desert Stinger, Academy of Art University Softball combined an inspired pitching performance from freshman Brooke Larsen (1-1) with rallies in five of six innings for a 7-0 victory over Central Washington. Larsen delivered her first collegiate complete game shutout, striking out nine, and senior infielder Samantha Klune championed 11 ART U hits with a 3-for-3 day that saw her finish just a double shy of hitting for the cycle.

"Brooke had an unbelievable outing and held a very good hitting team to five hits and no runs," said head coach Sonja Garnett. "She maintained her focus, relied on her defense, started ahead in the count, and mixed it up to get some big strikeouts."

Although Academy of Art did not score in the first inning, the Knights still put two runners on and many scoring opportunities came thereafter. A Klune single and passed ball set up sophomore outfielder Gabi Hirsch's run-scoring double to break the scoreless tie in the second inning. Then, after Larsen struck out the side in the third, ART U made it a 3-0 score in the bottom half on the second triple of Klune's career, a two-run shot into the right field corner.

Academy of Art added two more runs in the fourth when freshman catcher Lauryn Henderson took the 12th pitch of her at-bat and singled home freshman infielder Jayda Alaan. Mitchell quickly followed with another run-scoring single and the Knights found themselves ahead 5-0.

After a three-up, three-down top of the fifth for Larsen and the defense, the ART U rallies continued into the bottom half where Hirsch set the table for junior infielder Brenna Youngquist who smacked a double into right center. That made the Academy of Art margin 6-0 and it would climb once more when Klune blasted a solo homer over the centerfield fence in the sixth.

Larsen had no problem securing the victory in the seventh as she struck out the final two Wildcats for the 7-0 win.

ART U exits its season-opening tournament 2-3 overall. Larsen needed 102 pitches to complete 7.0 innings with no runs or walks allowed, five hits, and nine strikeouts. Offensively, Klune went 3-for-3 with a home run, a triple, and three runs batted in, Mitchell was 2-for-4 with one RBI, Hirsch was 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI, Alaan was 2-for-3 with a stolen base, and Youngquist finished 1-for-4 with a double and one RBI.

"We made some minor adjustments offensively going into this game and our hitters were aggressive and consistent," said Garnett. "We were able to continue momentum in multiple innings and that helped us stay relaxed on defense."

Central Washington drops to 3-2 overall and was held without a run after scoring nine or more in its first four games. Taelor Griffin went 2-for-3 in the loss.

Academy of Art will next play its home opener against Cal State East Bay this Wednesday, Feb. 7 out at Mission Blue Field. First pitch of game one is set for noon.