Hilo, HI- The Academy of Art University continued their conference road trip with a double header against Hawaii-Hilo on Tuesday afternoon. The Urban Knights played well but fell in both games to Hilo. AAU took an early lead in the first game, but lost the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning off a Vulcan rally. After being unable to regain the lead, the Urban Knights ended up losing with a final score of 6-1. In game two, the Vulcans of Hilo scored first and took control of the game. They would end up defeating AAU with a score of 4-1.

The Urban Knights came out ready and strong in the first game. They jumped on the board early by scoring one run in the top of the first inning. Nicole Smith scored from second off a single by Shampayne Clay. That one run was enough to hold the Vulcans for most of the game as the Knights' pitching kept their opponents off balance.

Things were looking good for the Urban Knights after five shut-out innings; but in the bottom of the sixth inning the Vulcans' offense came alive. Testing the Urban Knights' defense, Hilo was able to string several hits together and rally to score six runs of their own in the inning. The Urban Knights had several chances in the game to add to their score, but failed to bring any runners in. After being unable to match Hilo's score, AAU fell 6-1.

The Urban Knights out hit the Vulcans 7-6, but had three errors, and left 10 runners on base.

Melissa Coe led the Knights offensively going 2-3 in game one. Nicole Smith did well going 1-3 with one run scored, and Julie Martin went 1-2 with a stolen base. Shampayne Clay came through for her team by going 1-4 with one run batted in.

Sierrah Garcia was in the circle for the Urban Knights. Despite receiving the loss for her team, she pitched a great game. Garcia went six innings pitched giving up six runs, two walks, and had five strikeouts.

For the Vulcans, the lead hitters were Nicole Alconcel who went 1-3 with one run and run RBI, Tessa Truong who went 1-1 with a home run, three runs batted in, and one run scored, and Sarah Weisskopf who went 1-3 with one run batted in.

Amber Waracka earned the win in the game. She pitched seven innings, giving up seven hits, one earned run, three walks, and had five strikeouts.

The Vulcans let their momentum from the first game carry into the second game. They were able to score one run in the bottom of the first to take an Early Lead over the Knights. From there, AAU's pitching and defense came into play and they were able to keep Hilo quiet for the next two innings. But Hilo added to their lead by scoring one run in the fourth and one run in the sixth.

The Knights' made some adjustments at the plate late in the game and they were able to score one run of their own in the top of the sixth. Again Nicole Smith scored, this time from first, off Andrea Hanchey's double to deep center field. However, that would be the only run they would be able to score and would come up short again to the Vulcans; this time with a score of 4-1.

Sierrah Garcia put up big numbers for the Urban Knights offensively going 1-2. Nicole Smith went 1-3 with one run scored, Andrea Hanchey went 1-3 with a double, a stolen base, and one run batted in, and Shampayne Clay also went 1-3 in the game. Smith ended up scoring both runs in the double header.

Kimberly Dauer pitched a good game for AAU. After giving up an early run, she settled down and held the Vulcan offense to a minimum. Dauer went six innings pitched giving up four earned runs, no walks, and posted three strikeouts in the game.

Lead hitters for Hilo were Nicole Alconcel who went 2-3 with a home run, Bryanna Hardy who went 2-3 with one run batted in, and Aisha Sueda went 2-3 with one run, and one run batted in.

Receiving the win for Hilo was Christina Pedroza who went seven innings pitched giving up six hits, one earned run, one walk, and had four strikeouts.

After the losses, the Academy of Art University's record falls to 11-11-1 overall and 2-4 in conference, and Hilo's record improves to 18-5 overall, and 14-4 in PacWest. The Urban Knights will conclude their Hawaiian road trip tomorrow, March 17^th. The Knights are set to play a double header against Hawaii Hilo at 12:00 and 2:00 PM (HST) at Hilo University.