NOVATO, Calif. – Academy of Art softball excelled in every facet of the game Saturday as the Urban Knights scored six runs in the first two innings on big hits by sophomore infielder Audrey Allen and senior infielder Haley Randall then had freshman pitcher Alyssa Fullmer (2-0) limit Chico State to a single run over seven innings as ART U began the North Bay Challenge as 6-1 victors over the Wildcats.

"I'm really proud of this team and how far they've come in such a short amount of time," said Head Coach Geena Garabedian. "Today's game is a testament to how hard they've been working and I'm excited to watch them progress through the season. It was a real team win. We were able to start the game strong with some runs on the board thanks to Audrey. It was just all-around good softball defensively and offensively as well as a huge moment for our first-year pitcher Alyssa in the circle."

Four Academy of Art batters stepped to the plate before an out was made in the game as junior utility Alexis Folks singled and senior outfielder Cailee Grayhorse-Pupecki walked to set up Allen's two-run double into the gap. Up 2-0, ART U saw its margin halved in the bottom of the first inning on two hits and a sacrifice bunt, but Fullmer induced a key double play to prevent further damage.

After freshman outfielder Lida Wos legged out an infield single and Folks walked to begin the second frame, Allen delivered once again with a single down the right field line and Randall soon followed by sending an 0-1 pitch back up the middle to plate two more. Sophomore infielder/catcher Olivia Glover brought home one more with a bunt, giving the Knights what would be their eventual 6-1 winning margin.

From that point in the contest, Fullmer and the defense behind her were extremely tough as just three hits were allowed and it was not until the seventh that multiple baserunners were allowed. The Interior Architecture & Design major finished with the final inning on a groundout, securing the win with her first collegiate complete game after striking out two and surrendering only one run on five hits and two walks in 7.0 innings.

Improving to 3-2 on the season, Academy of Art had Allen finish 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, a double, and two stolen bases while Randall followed going 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Folks scored twice in the contest as part of a 1-for-3 effort and Glover added her own 1-for-4 day with one RBI and a stolen base.

Chico State, who had played just one game this year coming into the day, moves to 0-3 on the season, having a 2-for-3 performance from Mia Santos as its lone multi-hit game. Choley Swenson (0-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits and walking two without recording an out.

ART U will be in action at Marv Mayes Softball Field on the campus of Santa Rosa Junior College tomorrow for two more games in the North Bay Challenge versus Cal State Monterey Bay (12:30 p.m.) and tournament host Sonoma State (3 p.m.).