KANEOHE, Hawaii – In an epic finale to Academy of Art softball's Pacific West Conference series with Hawaii Pacific, ART U loaded the bases in the ninth inning of a 3-3 game for a pinch-hitting freshman utility Kayla Vaughan to deliver a two-run single that gave the Urban Knights a 5-3 lead which was then protected by freshman pitcher Alyssa Fullmer's complete game victory as the visitors bounced back from an 8-2 loss in Wednesday's first contest back out at Howard A. Okita Field.

GAME 1 – HPU 8, ART U 2   
After the Knights loaded the bases on two walks and an error to start the day, they scored their first run on a wild pitch, but the Sharks responded with their own rally capped by a run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly, making it a 2-1 ballgame after just one inning. A leadoff single by senior infielder Elle Edeker turned into the tying run for Academy of Art as senior outfielder Cailee Grayhorse-Pupecki sent a single up middle to bring in her teammate.

Two singles plus two swings for extra bases including a three-run homer shifted the game back to Hawaii Pacific 7-2 in the bottom of the third then another run was tacked on in the fourth. Both the fifth and sixth frames moved by quietly as sophomore pitcher Kamielle Powell (1-4) settled in before singles by Edeker and senior outfielder Maddie Sticka got a potential rally started in the seventh. However, the Sharks were able to dodge any further damage and emerged with an 8-2 victory.

GAME 2 – ART U 5, HPU 3 (9)
Both utility Alexis Folks and sophomore utility Marissa "Roo" Menard singled to start the final game of the series and soon it was senior infielder Haley Randall who stepped up with the bases loaded and brought two home on a single to left.

Fullmer (4-7) allowed isolated baserunners in each of the first three frames, but repeatedly worked with the defense behind her to keep them stranded. The Interior Architecture & Design major made it four scoreless frames before a double and a single helped HPU cut the lead in half to 2-1.

Academy of Art, however, put another run back on the scoreboard as singles from Edeker and freshman outfielder Lida Wos opened the sixth inning ahead of Sticka's squeeze bunt for a 3-1 advantage. The rollercoaster ride would continue with the Sharks answering on back-to-back doubles that tied the game 3-3 in their half of the sixth.

Neither side put runners on in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings where ART U could not convert despite a bases-loaded opportunity right away.  Though Hawaii Pacific singled to start the home half of the eighth, Fullmer benefited from a double play turned by Randall and senior infielder Katie Humphreys before inducing a foul out.

Menard began the ninth inning by working a walk then quickly found herself on third base with HPU misplaying a bunt by Grayhorse-Pupecki. Later with the bases loaded and two out, Vaughan entered as a pinch hitter and, following five consecutive foul balls, sent a pitch she linked into center to plate two. Fullmer closed out the ninth in order, needing just 92 pitches in all, to secure the 5-3 win for ART U.

The Urban Knights end the day 8-28 on the year and 4-18 in conference play as Vaughan's lone hit of the afternoon served as the game-winner. Meanwhile, Fullmer became just the fifth Academy of Art pitcher to ever throw 9.0 innings (just the fourth freshman) as she gave up just three runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout. Edeker finished with a run scored in each contest after her 3-for-6 collective effort, Randall ended 1-for-4 with two RBIs, a run scored, and four walks on the day, and Sticka went 2-for-4 with a RBI, a double, and a stolen base.

Hawaii Pacific moves to 7-17 overall and 3-9 conference, having Tiari Hernandez go 3-for-7 with three RBIs, a homer, and a double along with Gianna Kerschbaum's 3-for-8 day at the plate that saw her double twice an drive in three in addition to tossing a complete game in the opening contest, allowing two runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Taylor Thompson (3-6) was charged with the loss in the second game after surrendering two runs on one hit with three walks and one strikeout in 2.0 relief innings.

With two of its series in Hawaii now complete, Academy of Art turns its attention to Chaminade for four games across Apr. 6-7 at Silversword Field At Sand Island Park in Honolulu.