Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
St. George, UT – The Academy of Art University's softball team concluded their weekend series with the final double-header against Dixie State Sunday afternoon. The Urban Knights came out flat and it quickly showed. Although the team's bats remained hot, they struggled to string many hits together. That, combined with faulty defense, led to the Knights falling twice to the Red Storm. ART U came up short in game one with a score of 5-2, and dropped the nightcap with a final score of 12-2.
In game one the Knights defense immediately slacked. In the bottom of the second inning, the Red Storm scored three runs, then added two more runs the following inning to seemingly take control of things. The Urban Knight batter appeared stumped by the Dixie pitching as the women were scoreless through the majority of the game. Finally in the top of the sixth inning, ART U got some offense going.
Sophomore Julie Martin led the inning off with a walk and was sacrificed over by senior Alana Aweau. Martin scored the next play when freshman Elyse Cordova hit a well placed ball to the short stop forcing a throwing error. Later in the inning freshman Lauren Stover scored from second off a double by junior Genna Allen. Those two runs would be the only runs ART U would be able to muster in the game. The Knights threatened with runners in scoring position in all but one inning, yet they could only capitalize on two of those runners. At the end of the game, the Knights fell 5-2.
Leading ART U offensively in the game was Stover who went 2-3 with one run scored, and a sacrifice hit. Sophomore Andrea Hanchey also led going 2-3 and both Cordova and junior Jayme Stewart went 1-4 in the game. Rounding things out was Aweau who went 1-1 with two walks.
Starting in the circle for the Knights was freshman Katie Brooks. Brooks went two innings allowing six hits, five runs, and had one strikeout. Junior Sierrah Garcia came in for relief and went four innings giving up just four hits, no runs, and had four strikeouts. Brooks received the loss in the game.
For the Red Storm, Anna Cue went 3-3 with one run, Jaelle Judkins went 3-4 with one RBI, and four other batters recorded a hit in the game. Receiving the win was Lauren Folta who went seven innings pitched giving up eight hits, two runs, and had four strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored two runs, on eight hits, committed two errors and left 13 runners on base.
Game two was very similar to the first for the Urban Knights. The team put up double digit hits, but failed to bring in many of their base runners. ART U had several chances to put up runs on the board, but could not capitalize on any opportunities. Defense again came in to play especially in the late innings that proved costly in the end.
Dixie State scored twice in the top of the second inning, and once in the third to take a three run lead. But the Knights would not just roll over and die. They fought back immediately by pushing across two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Senior Alana Aweau led the inning off with an infield single. Freshman Elyse Cordova followed with an infield hit of her own. Freshman Lauren Stover then sacrificed hit both runners into scoring position. Sophomore Andrea Hanchey then singled on a bunt that got through the infield to scored both Aweau and Cordova. That small rally put the Knights to within one.
Unfortunately, those would be the only runs the Knights would manage to score in the game. They were unable to string any of their hits together while the Red Storm added to their lead in nearly every inning to run away with the game. The Urban Knights ended up falling with a final score of 12-2, even though they posted just two fewer hits than their Dixie State opponents.
Offensively ART U was led by Cordova who had an impressive game going 3-4 with one run scored. Aweau also did well going 2-4 with one run scored, and Hanchey stood out going 1-4 with two runs batted in.
Receiving the loss in the game was junior Sierrah Garcia. She went 4.1 innings pitched allowing six hits, eight runs (just four earned), and had one strikeout.
For Dixie State, Anna Cue again did well going 3-4 with a double, two RBI, and three runs scored, Johnna Brown went 2-3 with two RBI, and Breanna Egge went 2-5 with a home run, two runs, and two RBI. Receiving the win was Brittnie Miller who went all seven innings pitched giving up 10 hits, two earned runs, and had five strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored two runs on 10 hits, had four errors, and left nine runners on base.
After the losses, the Academy of Art University's record falls to 20-14 overall, and 10-6 in the PacWest, while Dixie State College's record improves to 22-9 overall, and 13-3 in the PacWest. The Knights have one more road series before they return home. They are next scheduled to face conference members Notre Dame de Namur on Wednesday, April 13th. Game times are set for 2:00 and 4:00pm at Notre Dame High School in Belmont, CA.
