Game #5
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. Chico State Wildcats (2-3)
Friday, February 10, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.
Chico, Calif. – University Softball Field
Live Stats | Live Video
 
Game #6
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. Stanislaus State Warriors (0-0)
Friday, February 10, 2023 at 2 p.m.
Chico, Calif. – University Softball Field
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #7
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. Stanislaus State Warriors (0-0)
Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.
Chico, Calif. – University Softball Field
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #8
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. Chico State Wildcats (2-3)
Saturday, February 11, 2021 at Noon
Chico, Calif. – University Softball Field
Live Stats | Live Video

Games #9 & 10
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. Cal State East Bay Pioneers (3-3)
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at Noon & 2 p.m.
Hayward, Calif. – Pioneer Softball Field
Live Stats | Live Video

PAIRS OF GAMES VERSUS WILDCATS, WARRIORS, PIONEERS NEXT FOR ART U
After seven runs on seven hits led Academy of Art softball past No. 25 Sonoma State, the Urban Knights carry momentum into the season's second week of action which will feature two matchups apiece with Chico State and Stanislaus State before a trip across to Cal State East Bay comes early next week.

FIRST PITCH
In a similar format to its previous matchups with Saint Martin's and SSU, ART U will face Chico State at 11:30 a.m. then Stanislaus State at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10. The three teams will return to University Softball Field on Saturday, Feb. 11 for a reverse sequence as the Knights first take on the Warriors at 9:30 a.m. followed by Chico State again at noon. On Tuesday, Feb. 14, Academy of Art will be in Hayward to meet Cal State East Bay for a noon doubleheader at Pioneer Softball Field. 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
With three of its hitters among the Pacific West Conference's top five in batting average thus far, Academy of Art softball has started 2023 by collectively hitting .316 (second in the conference). That trio is junior infielder Katie Humphreys (.500), senior outfielder Bethany Mitchell (.455 with a hit in all four games), and senior catcher/utility Cassandra Mittman who have combined for nearly half (seven) of the team's runs batted in, three doubles, and four runs scored. Junior outfielder Maddie Sticka follows with a .375 batting average plus four RBIs and both freshman infielder Audrey Allen (.308) and junior infielder Haley Randall (.300) are also hitting .300 or better. Productive both offensively and defensively, sophomore infielder/pitcher Elle Edeker (0-0) paces the team with four runs scored (eighth in PacWest) as well as a 2.10 earned run average.

Freshman pitcher Kamielle Powell (1-2) has logged over half of ART U's innings through the first four games and is sporting a 3.00 ERA (sixth in the conference among pitchers with multiple starts) and nine strikeouts (10th in PacWest) in the first 14.0 innings of her collegiate career.

IN THE WILD
Chico State had its ups and downs throughout the Concordia Kickoff Classic where a narrow loss to Montana State Billings was followed by strong victories over Northwest Nazarene and Biola. Two more one-run defeats then came at the hands of Western Washington and Colorado Christian for a Wildcats squad that received votes in the NFCA Top 25 poll and was picked to finish fourth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Offensively, Ashlee Toy and Tayler Berens are each hitting .333 to lead Chico State with a combined five RBIs while Amelie Valdez (1-1) has struck out 15 in 18.2 innings of work toward a 1.50 ERA. In 10 previous meetings between the two teams, Chico State is ahead of ART U 8-2.

THE STATE OF STANISLAUS
Yet to play a game in 2023, Stanislaus State comes off a 2022 campaign that saw the Warriors go 17-30 overall and finish ninth in the CCAA standings. The Turlock-based team has been picked to repeat that result in the 2023 CCAA Preseason Poll, but will return All-CCAA selection Sarah Warden (.316 batting average, nine extra-base hits) as well as Kyndra Marzorini (4.38 ERA in 121.1 innings pitched). A more extensive history between the Warriors and Knights favors the former 12-4-1.

EYE ON THE PIONEERS
Following a loss to No. 19 Concordia, Cal State East Bay emerged from the first week of the season an even 3-3 thanks to three consecutive victories over Central Washington, UH Hilo, and Western Oregon in the Concordia Kickoff Classic. Picked to finish sixth in the CCAA, the Pioneers, who play Holy Names next on Feb. 10, made the program's first appearance in the conference tournament last season and return All-CCAA selection Sarah Duran who has led the way with a .381 batting average and six runs scored thus far. Facing one another every year since 2011 with the exception of 2021, Cal State East Bay and ART U are separated by five wins historically with CSUEB holding a 12-7 edge.

SOFTBALL KNOCKS OFF NO. 25 SSU 7-2 IN SPLIT TO END WEEK
Academy of Art softball combined what is quickly becoming its trademark hit parade offense with stingy pitching to put away No. 25 Sonoma State on Feb. 3. After weather conditions relocated action to Santa Rosa Junior College's Marv Mayes Softball Field, ART U found itself on the losing end of a 3-2 decision as Saint Martin's used a three-run homer to capture the win late, but seven ART U hits from six Urban Knights turned into seven runs, powering a 7-2 victory over the Seawolves which also featured the first win of freshman pitcher Kamielle Powell's collegiate career.

ON THE HORIZON
Home for just the second and final gameday of February, Academy of Art next hosts Menlo for a noon doubleheader on Feb. 17 back at Mission Blue Field.