Box Score #1
Box Score #2
Brisbane, CA – The Academy of Art University softball team hosted Dixie State College in their last double header of the 2010 season Sunday afternoon. The women honored the team's first ever senior with a special senior day ceremony before the start of game one. Going on their fifth and sixth games in just three days, the Urban Knights showed no signs of fatigue as they battled a top conference team. Coming off a slow offensive game the day before, the Knights came out attacking in both games. They were able to get things going all around in game one, as three different Urban Knight batters homered in the game. Because of this, the Knights were easily able to defeat the Red Storm with a final score or 12-2 in six innings. Game two was a battle for AAU as they struggled to get offense going unlike the game before. After seven hard fought innings, the women fell short to the Red Storm with a score of 8-1.
The first inning of game one was scoreless as both team's pitchers were hard at work. In the top of the second inning, the Knights made some adjustments and got their offense going. Junior Alana Aweau got her team on the board when she hit a two run home run over the right field fence. The Knights continued things in the top of the third when they loaded the bases with one out. Freshman Nicole Smith came up big yet again for her team when she crushed a home run over the left field fence for a grand slam. But AAU didn't stop there.
The Urban Knights scored on more run in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead. But the Red Storm started making adjustments and were able to score two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning. AAU answered back in the top of the sixth when again they loaded the bases. This time it was senior Shampayne Clay who came through for her team. Clay hit a monstrous home run over the left field fence for the second grand slam of the day. This lifted the Knights to a 12-2 lead going into the bottom of the inning. Strong pitching and defense kept the Dixie batters off balance, and they were able to keep them from scoring any more runs. With the eight run rule in effect, the game was called after the sixth inning giving the Urban Knights the victory.
Several AAU batters had multiple hits and eight different players scored in the game. Junior Ashley Lokey had a tremendous game at the plate as she went 3-4 with two doubles, two runs, and two runs batted in. Smith also did well going 2-3 with a grand slam, one run, and four runs batted in, and freshman Andrea Hanchey also went 2-3 with two runs, and one RBI. Clay stood out going 1-3 with a grand slam, two runs, and four runs batted in, as did Aweau who went 1-3 with a home run, two runs, and two RBIs, and sophomore Sierrah Garcia rounded out the game going 1-3 with one run scored.
The Urban Knights' two pitchers Garcia and freshman Kimberly Dauer teamed up for the victory. Dauer started the game and went a total of four innings pitched giving up two hits, no runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. She received the win in the game. Garcia went two innings pitched giving up two runs, two hits, and no walks.
Lead hitters for the Red Storm were Bailie Hicken who went 1-3, Shantae Hunter who went 1-3 with two runs batted in, Ahsley McFarland who went 1-2 with a double, and Anna Cue who went 1-1 with a double.
Lauren Folta received the loss in the game. She went six innings pitched giving up 10 hits, 12 runs (11 earned), three walks, and had four strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored 12 runs on 10 hits, had one error, and left three runners on base.
AAU struggled with Dixie's pitching in game two. After a scoreless first inning, the Red Storm jumped on the board first when they scored twice in the bottom of the second. They added to their lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third. Dixie later secured their win when they scored one more run in the fifth, and two final runs in the sixth.
The Knights were finally able to score a run of their own in the top of the fourth to prevent the shutout. Lokey led the inning off with a single, and then was bunted over to second by sophomore Melissa Coe. Clay then singled to score Lokey from second. Even with opportunities with runners in scoring position, the Knights were overpowered by Dixie's pitching and they were not able to score any more runs in the game. They dropped the final game of the season with a score of 8-1.
In the final game of Clay's career, she stood out going 1-3 with one run batted in. Lokey also put up good numbers in the game as she went 2-3 with one run scored, and both Smith and Garcia rounded out the day going 1-3.
Again the Urban Knight pitchers combined and worked together in the game. Unfortunately it was not as effective as in the first game. Dauer again started on the mound and went a total of five innings pitched giving up 10 hits, five earned runs, no walks, and had five strikeouts. Garcia threw one inning giving up three hits, and three runs (zero earned). Dauer received the loss in the game.
For the Red Storm, Ashley McFarland did well going 2-4 with a double, and three runs scored, Bailie Hicken went 2-4 with a triple, and one run, Kelsey Mendenhall went 2-4 with one run, and Anna Cue also went 2-4 with a double and two runs batted in. Johnna Brown also did well going 2-3 with two runs batted in, and one run.
Brittnie Whipple was in the circle for Dixie and received the win in the game. She went all seven innings pitched giving up five hits, one earned run, no walks, and had eight strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored one run on five hits, committed three errors, and left four runners on base.
After the season ending split, the Academy of Art University finishes with a 29-23-1 overall record, and a 17-14 PacWest record. Dixie State College's record now stands at 35-12 overall, and 24-6 in conference. After a successful second season of play, and the first official PacWest schedule season, the Knights finished fifth in conference. Be sure to keep up to date with Urban Knights news over the off season by checking out the website at www.academyartathletics.com.
