Atherton, Ca—The Academy of Art University split a double header with Menlo College Wednesday afternoon. Offense came alive for the Urban Knights as they took the first game with a score of 8-3, but they fell short in the night cap. The Academy of Art University ended up losing to the Oaks in the bottom of the eighth inning with a final score of 5-4.
Box Score #1
The Urban Knights literally came out in full swing during the first game. Wasting no time, they scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Jacqueline Nieves started things off with a double down the left field line. Alana Aweau then hit a long fly ball, well over the fence in left-center field for a two run homerun. Shampayne Clay and Nicole Palmer followed with singles of their own, and Melissa Coe singled to center to score Clay from second. With a three run lead in the first, the Urban Knights were confident and took control of the game.
But the Academy of Art University didn't stop there. They added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning. With one out Alana Aweau singled, and advanced to second on the right fielder's bobble. Shampayne Clay then hit a towering two run homerun to left. The next batter Nicole Palmer answered with a homerun or her own to dead center field. With two outs Crista Sykes singled, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ericka Ames came in to pinch hit and drew a walk. Sykes stole third on the walk, and was able to score on an overthrow from the Menlo catcher. After scoring four runs in the fifth, the Urban Knights then took a 7-0 lead.
Urban Knight pitching had kept the Menlo College batters off balance for most of the game, but they fought back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Menlo pushed three runs across to cut the lead almost in half, making it a 7-3 game.
Nicole Palmer came in to pitch in the sixth, after Sierrah Garcia was injured by a line drive in the previous inning. Palmer was able to shut down the Menlo offense, and kept them scoreless for the remainder of the game. But the Academy of Art University tacked on one more run of their own in the top of the seventh, after Nicole Palmer scored. The Urban Knights ended up winning the first game with a final score of 8-3.
Sierrah Garcia started in the circle for the Academy of Art University. She went five innings pitched, giving up five hits, three earned runs and seven strikeouts. Nicole Palmer came in for relief and went two innings pitched. Palmer gave up no hits and no runs, one walk and posted two strikeouts. Garcia got the win for the game.
Nicole Palmer not only had a great day on the mound, but she had an outstanding game at the plate as well. She went 4-4 with a homerun, two runs scored, and one run batted in. Alana Aweau and Shampayne Clay also had good games each going 2-4, with a homerun, two runs scored and two runs batted in. Melissa Coe also went 2-4 with a run batted in.
For Menlo College, Megan Finney went 2-4 with a run scored and Megan Pacchetti went 1-4 with a homerun, a run scored, and three runs batted in.
The Urban Knights scored eight runs on 13 hits, with one error and left five runners on base.
Box Score #2
The second game got off to a much slower start. It would soon prove to be a hitter's duel throughout the game. This time, the Oaks took the early lead by posting a run in the bottom of the first inning. But the Urban Knights came back in the top of the third. With timely hitting, and execution of bunts, the Academy of Art University was able to score a run of their own, making it a 1-1 ballgame.
The Urban Knights took the lead in the top of the fourth, when Crista Sykes hit a solo homerun over the centerfield fence. The Oaks answered right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning, again taking the lead, this time by a score of 3-2. The Academy of Art University was quick to fight back as they pushed two runs across in the top of the sixth. Again Crista Sykes homered to lead the inning off, this time to left. Ericka Ames followed with a single and after advancing on the bases from her teammate's sacrifice hits, she was able to score off Alana Aweau's single. The Urban Knights now had a 4-3 lead.
That seemed like it would be enough of a lead for the Academy of Art University to win the game. But Menlo College rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning to score a run, forcing the game into extra innings, something all too familiar for the Urban Knights.
The Academy of Art University went three up, three down in the top of the eighth. With two outs and no one on in the bottom of the inning, it seemed as though the game would continue into further extra innings. A misplayed fly ball in the outfield, led to a triple for the oaks. The next Menlo batter grounded to short stop, and a throwing error allowed to batter to reach first safely and the runner on third to score. Those errors proved costly, as the Academy of Art University lost the game with a final score of 5-4.
Junior Ericka Ames was on the mound for the Urban Knights. She went 7.2 innings pitched, giving up nine hits, five runs (four which were earned) and one walk. Ames posted two strikeouts in the game.
Academy of Art University's Crista Sykes went 3-4 in the game with two homeruns, two runs scored and two runs batted in.Ericka Ames also did well going 2-3 with a run scored, and Jacqueline Nieves went 2-3 in the game.
Menlo College lead hitters were Megan Finney who went 2-3 with three runs scored; Angela Woerz who went 2-3 with a run, and one run batted in; and Megan Pacchetti who went 2-4 with a run batted in.
The Urban Knights scored four runs on thirteen hits, with two errors and left ten runners on base.
With the split, the Academy of Art University's record is at 10-26 for the season, and Menlo College's record is 8-19 overall. The Urban Knights take action again on Friday, April 10th against Sonoma State University. Game times are set for 1:00 and 3:00pm in Rohnert Park, CA.
