KNIGHT WATCH
Through 50 games played, Academy of Art now leads the PacWest in doubles (80) and has officially set the program's new single-season record, surpassing the previous mark of 74 that came last season. Currently third in the PacWest across the board in batting average (.307), runs scored (241), and runs batted in (210), ART U  is nearing the program single-season records in all three categories (.313 BA, 261 R, 227 RBI) as the year draws to a close. Just recently becoming the Urban Knights' career steals leader (59), senior outfielder Haily MacDonald ranks 21st in the country (second in PacWest) and remains among the conference's top-five in batting average (.429). With 47 runs scored on the year (third in PacWest), her next touch of home plate will tie Ashley Lokey's single-season record and five more will give her the program's career record (Elyse Cordova's 136 runs are currently atop the list). MacDonald is the ninth toughest batter to strike out in the entire country and has reached base safely in her last 19 games to lead the team this year. Her next hit will be the 200th in her career and make her only the second ART U player to reach such a milestone.
 
Senior infielder Taylor Thurman comes into Sunday hitting .338 and leads the team with a total of 10 multi-RBI games. She is currently two doubles away from tying Lauren Stover's career record (42), ranks eighth in the PacWest in RBIs (34), and is one sacrifice fly away from setting the program's career record. Fellow senior infielder Kamyle Glover has heated up with a five-game hitting streak, now a .325 batting average, and a team-high 14 doubles (second in PacWest and two from tying Stover's single-season record). She showed her versatility, connecting for her first career home run in the BYUH series while moving closer to the sacrifice hits single-season (13) and career (28) records with 10 on the year and 25 in her four seasons with Academy of Art.

Up to fourth in the PacWest in home runs after another in the BYUH series, junior catcher Elise Oldham has seven long balls in 2015 (nearing Alana Aweau's single-season record of 11) and now 11 in her career as the fourth Urban Knight to achieve double digits to date. She paces the team with 37 runs batted in (fifth in PacWest), after driving in six in her past four games. Oldham's .514 slugging percentage is second to MacDonald's .532 clip. Two more Knights, freshman infielder Samantha Klune and graduate student catcher Nirana Singh, are currently hitting above .300. Klune is tied with Oldham at .324, has 11 doubles (joining Glover, sophomore outfielder Jessica West, and Thurman among the conference's top-11), and drove in four on the first day of the series with the Seasiders. Singh sports a .314 batting average to go with five home runs, nine doubles, and 22 batted in.

Named PacWest Pitcher of the Week after a stellar stretch throwing 18.2 scoreless innings, Brenna Mitchell (18-11) is now tied for the third-most wins by a freshman in all of NCAA Division II (18th overall) and will tie Sierrah Garcia's single-season record (19) with her next victory. She ranks second in the PacWest with 128 strikeouts (fourth in country among freshmen) and has logged 19 complete games (two from tying single-season record). Through the first 186.0 innings of her career (15.0 from tying the single-season record), Mitchell offers a 3.16 ERA, good for eighth in the PacWest.

SHARKS BACK IN THE BAY
Similarly to BYU-Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific did not venture from the islands until Mar. 24, essentially splitting its season into a home half and road half. The Sharks were a close-to-even 11-9 in their first month and a half of competition, winning their first seven games and later splitting with BYUH, California Baptist, and Azusa Pacific. HPU then won three of four in its first trip to the Bay Area, went 2-4 in the Tournament of Champions, and returned to Hawaii to take three of four from Chaminade and split with Hilo. The Sharks split with NDNU on Apr. 16 and will finish the four-game series on Apr. 18 prior to meeting ART U. Kristen Caskey leads the squad with a .377 batting average while Dorian Acierto has been the team's primary source of power, batting .351 with 10 doubles, three triples, six homers, and 27 RBIs. In the circle, Caskey has been HPU's workhorse with a 3.62 ERA across 19 starts and 131.1 innings pitched. Historically, Hawaii Pacific leads the all-time matchup with the Knights 15-3.

ART U, SEASIDERS SPLIT IN SERIES CONCLUSION
Academy of Art Softball exited its four-game Pacific West Conference series with BYU-Hawaii 3-1 after winning the opener on Apr. 15 and falling in the finale. Game one featured back-to-back home runs from Singh and Dickenson as the Urban Knights gained an early advantage and fended off the Seasiders for a 5-4 victory. BYUH came back with two rallies in the first three innings of game two and also outlasted numerous ART U scoring opportunities for the 8-4 win.

LOOKING AHEAD
One gameday remains for Academy of Art in 2015 with "Senior Day" coming Saturday, Apr. 25. Prior to the 12:00 p.m. start of the doubleheader, ART U will honor Haily MacDonald, Kamyle Glover, Jasmine Dickenson, and Taylor Thurman with a special ceremony. Fan Bus details HERE!