GAME #32, 33 (Doubleheader)
AAU Urban Knights (9-23) vs Western Washington (9-9) Wednesday April 1, 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Cal State Stanislaus Softball Field (Turlock, Calif.)
THE WEEK AHEAD:
Academy of Art University had two weeks off after traveling to Hawaii to compete against three of the four Pacific West Conference opponents. Western Washington will be its first challenger after returning to the mainland.
LOOKING BEYOND:
After the games against Western Washington University, the Urban Knight softball team heads to Atherton, California, to take on the Menlo College Oaks (6-15*) in a doubleheader on April 8. Just two days later AAU will face a tough Sonoma State team (20-10*).
*as of 3/30/2009
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS:
Western Washington University started its season 6-1 but then dropped eight out of its next 10 games. The Vikings come into the games against the Urban Knights with a 9-9 record on the year with their last three losses coming against Central Washington University. The Urban Knights have every opportunity to beat the Vikings as their best player is out with an ankle injury. She was hitting .489 (23-for-47) with a .632 on-base percentage and a .745 slugging percentage. She had driven in 20 runs and scored 11. Michelle Wrigley has the next highest batting average with a .413 avg in 63 at bats Wrigley has 26 hits, scored 21 runs and racked up six RBIs. On the mound for the Vikings, Sarah McEnroe has a 2.33 ERA, has started nine games and is 6-5. McEnroe has pitched eight complete games and has thrown two shutout games. Out of 66 innings pitched, she has only given up 33 runs, 22 of which were earned, and one home run.
LAST SERIES RECAP: HAWAII GAMES
The Academy of Art University's softball team finished a four-day, eight-game series against BYU-Hawaii, Chaminade University and Hawaii Pacific University, with a 5-3 record. Their first two games in Hawaii were against Hawaii Pacific University. The games proved to be a pitching duel between the two teams. But even with key pitching, the Academy of Art University could not score enough runs, as they dropped both games to HPU in extra innings. The Urban Knights lost the first game with a score of 4-3 in the eighth, and the second game with a score of 3-2 in the ninth. In game three, against Chaminade University, both teams battled hard through the games and again pitching played a major role in the outcomes. With little offense the Urban Knights dropped the first game to the BYU-Hawaii Seasiders with a final score of 2-1 ending in the eighth inning. The Academy of Art University came back strong for the second game and beat the Seasiders with a final score of 2-0. With muddy field conditions from the rain the night before, the ladies had many obstacles to overcome in the second doubleheader against BYU-Hawaii. But the field was the least of their problems, as the BYU-Hawaii Seasiders came out attacking and took both games from the Urban Knights with scores of 1-0 and 3-2. Concluding their Hawaiian road trip with a doubleheader Thursday evening, the Academy of Art University went head to head with Chaminade University. The Urban Knights came out strong eager to finish the Hawaiian series on a high note. Key pitching and timely hits allowed the Urban Knights to take control of the games as they won both games with final scores of 5-0 and 9-1.
