Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Kaneohe, HI – The Urban Knights united hits in key situations with strong pitching and defense for their third Pacific West Conference win of the season, a 4-3 nail-biter at Hawaii Pacific that came down to a dramatic final play at the plate. ART U would split the day's doubleheader after a 7-2 defeat at the Sea Warriors' hand in the opener, but it was Elise Oldham and Kamyle Glover's offense and Jill Johnson's defense that contributed to a team effort in the series finale victory at Howard A. Okita Field on Sunday.

"We had been hitting the ball hard all series, but couldn't get them to fall in for hits," co-head coach Randy Ward said. "So we just wanted to keep swinging hard and let the game tell us if it was good enough or not. In the second game, they finally got through for hits and it helped get us the win."

The third game of the four-part series began with Hawaii Pacific scoring one in the bottom of the first on a throwing error off an attempted steal. Despite allowing the run, starter Carlee Emerson (1-6) did not surrender a hit in the first two frames, however, the Sea Warriors broke through in the third on a two-run homer by Sharae Esprecion and later a bases-clearing three-run triple by Charisse Tanabe.

Alexa Peters emerged from the bullpen in the third and proceeded to retire four of the first five batters she faced. On the other side, Chandell Dacosin (7-2) was rolling early, but took a hit in the sixth when her team held a 7-0 advantage. ART U's rally got started by singles from Jasmine Dickenson and Glover before Taylor Thurman singled Dickenson home. Then, on an incredible 10-pitch at-bat, Oldham managed an RBI infield single to make it a 7-2 ballgame, but HPU would hold on for the victory.


The Urban Knights wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in game two as a walk to Glover quickly turned into a threat after her steal. Thurman fought through a 10-pitch at-bat to single and set up runners on the corners for Oldham who promptly blasted a two-run double to left.

"Ice [Elise] did a great job of swinging at a pitch she could drive and came through with a frozen rope to the left field fence for two important runs to start us off," Coach Ward said.

Hawaii Pacific, however, responded by tying the game in the bottom of the first on a two-run double of their own off the bat of Dacosin. Johnson and her counterpart, Kristen Caskey (4-10), mirrored one another with a flawless second and getting out of a jam with two on in their respective third innings.

"Jill stays consistent when the pressure is on," co-head coach Sami Strinz said. "She was in control this entire game and, in all honesty, she threw well enough to win yesterday as well. Our defense did a great job behind her which made her job a bit easier."

Jessica West began the fourth with a single down the left field line and reached second on Jessica Marin's sacrifice bunt. With two down, Haily MacDonald also singled and, with the bases soon loaded, Glover stepped into the box. She needed only two pitches to get the one she wanted and delivered a two-run single into center field. That would put Academy of Art up 4-2 heading into the halfway point.

"Kamyle is a tough out because of her speed," Coach Ward said. "She worked the count, got her pitch, and came through for us."

Johnson continued to roll through the fourth, fifth, and sixth, leaving two runners stranded with two of three strikeouts in that sixth inning. ART U took its 4-2 advantage into the bottom of the seventh where a leadoff walk and two singles produced one run for the Sea Warriors who began to smell blood. Batter's interference put two in scoring position with one out and it was a fly ball to right field that led to the decisive finale.

West made the catch and fired the ball towards home plate where pinch-runner Courtney Ahlo was headed after tagging up. Oldham received the throw, managed to apply the tag, and the Knights were finally free to celebrate their dramatic 4-3 win over HPU.

Academy of Art moves to 5-13 overall and 3-5 in PacWest play with the victory which featured a variety of major contributions. Oldham drove in runs in both games, finishing the day 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a double. Glover's game-winner was part of her 3-for-6 twinbill that included two RBIs and two runs scored. Thurman went 3-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored. Peters offered a solid 3.1 relief innings in the opener, allowing just one run on three hits while Johnson had another quality start with one run allowed on six hits through 7.0 innings pitched.

The loss drops HPU to 11-13 overall, 11-11 in conference. Three RBIs came for Tanabe in the opener and Dacosin in the second contest to lead the Sea Warriors. Defensively, Dacosin (7.0 IP, 5 H, ER, 3 K) picked up the win in game one while Caskey (7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER) was dealt her 10th loss in the finale.

The Knights' Hawaii roadtrip next takes them into a doubleheader versus Chaminade which takes place at Central Oahu Regional Park on Tuesday, Mar. 18. First pitch is set for 4:30 PM HST (7:30 PM PST).

"These next four games are going to be really important to solidify our position in the top part of the conference," Coach Strinz said. "We need to control what we can control. When we see our chance, we have to take it and put ourselves in position to put a couple teams away."