Box Score (ART U vs. Sonoma State)
Box Score (ART U vs. Western Washington)

Las Vegas, NV – For the second consecutive night in the 2012 Montana State-Billings Desert Stinger, the ART U softball team was propelled to victory by the long ball. The Urban Knights prevailed 7-5 over Western Washington thanks in large part to an impressive performance by senior infielder Genna Allen who had two home runs and five runs batted in which both tied single-game records. Up against Sonoma State earlier in the day, Academy of Art sustained a tough 13-2 loss in five innings.

“Genna hit well,” head coach Rachel Sherman said. “She is really seeing the ball and making solid contact. It's great to see her confidence growing more and more.”

Like the previous evening when Allen's blast broke up a tie game, her two shots against Western Washington created and then bolstered a lead for the Urban Knights. In just her third at-bat since the walk-off homer, Allen again went deep to give ART U a 1-0 lead in the first inning versus WWU. Over the third and fourth innings, Academy of Art proceeded to score six more runs as the Knights' leadoff hitter reached base to spark the rallies.

“One of our goals for the season was for the leadoff batter of the inning to make good contact,” Coach Sherman said. “Anytime you can start your inning with a leadoff hit, momentum sways your way and allows a lot of things to follow.”

In the third, it was sophomore outfielder Elyse Cordova who got on with a single up the middle and, after senior outfielder Ashley Lokey also singled, Allen brought both of her teammates home on a two-run single. The fourth inning was more of the same as junior infielder Alyssa Hickey hit a leadoff single and later Lokey knocked two home on a single up the middle. With freshman Haily MacDonald on second, Allen continued her impressive game with another home run to left, clearing the bases.

Freshman pitcher Kristin Valdivia was now given a 7-0 advantage which she would not relinquish. The right-hander kept the Viking bats quiet through the first five innings and did not walk a single batter in the game. Western Washington did not go down without a fight though as the designated visitors plated five runs in the sixth. Two came in on a homer, two on a double, and finally one on a single, but when Valdivia got the double play ball she needed to get out of the inning, ART U still remained ahead 7-5 and would go on to win.

“Late in the game, we did a good job of slowing the pace down and luckily our early lead was large enough to hold off the comeback attempt,” Coach Sherman said.


Earlier in the afternoon against Sonoma State, Academy of Art and the Seawolves exchanged three scoreless innings to start. SSU had threatened in each of the first three innings and they broke through with a 12-run fourth. Two home runs in the inning helped Sonoma take a lead and though the Knights scored in each of the fourth and fifth frames, the Seawolves would hang on to win 13-2 in five innings. MacDonald's first career home run was among the highlights of ART U's offense in the final two innings.

Allen's her five RBIs tied the program's single-game record set by Alana Aweau (vs. Grand Canyon on Apr. 3, 2010) and her two home runs along with the nine total bases also tied the record reached by multiple Urban Knights previously. Allen would finish game two with a line of 3-for-4, two home runs, five RBIs, and two runs scored.

Lokey, MacDonald, Cordova, and Hanchey all contributed multi-hit games Saturday as well. MacDonald was 2-for-3 with a homer, one RBI, and one run scored, and Hanchey was 2-for-3 in the opener. Then Lokey went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored along with Cordova's 2-for-3, two-run performance in game two.

Junior Kimberly Dauer made the start in game one, but wound up taking a tough loss with three earned runs allowed in two-thirds of an inning pitched. MacDonald wound up throwing the majority of the game, but like Dauer, she was the victim of several unearned runs. Valdivia earned her first victory of the season with a complete game performance, going 7.0 innings with five runs allowed on 12 hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

“Kristin threw well today,” Coach Sherman said. “She did a good job of keeping the ball down in the zone and keeping them off balance. I was very happy we got her a big lead to work through things and finish her game.”

The Seawolves had production from throughout the batting order with Kelsi Chinen and Ali Palermo leading the way. Chinen went 1-for-2 with a home run, four RBIs, and two runs scored while Palermo was 1-for-3 with a homer, three RBIs, and one run scored. On the mound, Samantha Lippered captured the win with two runs allowed on five hits and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched. Sonoma State has begun the year 6-0 overall after Saturday's action.

On Western Washington's side, Rachelle Berry went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and one run scored.  Jenna DeRosier fell to 0-3 on the year after allowing five runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings pitched. The Vikings are 2-7 overall this season.

One contest remains for Academy of Art in the Desert Stinger. ART U matches up with Western Oregon tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 PM in Las Vegas, NV.