SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art University softball closed out its eventful weekend on a dramatic note Sunday at SF State. After falling in six innings of game one 9-1, the Urban Knights rallied for 10 runs in just two innings to come from behind and defeat the Gators 10-8 in the finale. Sophomore Brenna Mitchell crushed the first home run of her collegiate career, a two-run shot, to tie game two in the sixth inning and senior catcher Elise Oldham promptly drove in the go-ahead run on a double to highlight the thrilling victory.

"In game two, the team showed up, they played together, maintained energy, and had success at the plate consistently," said head coach Sonja Garnett. "It was great to see their fight. With a talented team, winning often becomes a decision. I think we decided we wanted to win, committed to our decision, and made it happen at the plate. It was fun to watch and that energy and determination was a bit overdue."

GAME ONE
Two SFSU hits ended up producing one run in the first inning and that score would maintain over the next four innings of a pitchers' duel between Mitchell (3-3) and Lindsey Cassidy (1-0). The Knights got runners into scoring position in the second and fifth innings before breaking out in the sixth.

Freshman infielder Brenna Youngquist started the rally with a double and Oldham added her first run batted in of the year on a follow-up single. Though the game was now tied 1-1, SF State proceeded to push ahead with a continuous rally that ended with eight runs on seven hits and a 9-1 run rule victory in the sixth.

GAME TWO
Riding their game one momentum, San Francisco State went back to work with four runs in the first inning of the second contest. That 4-0 margin held up until the fourth when ART U broke out for its highest-scoring inning of the season. Singles by freshman infielder Juliana Lopez and Oldham set the table for freshman infielder Jennifer Thompson's first collegiate run batted in which came on a double to left center.

With two outs, the Knights weren't finished, scoring one on a bases-loaded walk to freshman infielder Katie Tablada then two more on a single from Youngquist. Mitchell, the next batter, proceeded to break the tie with a two-run double and Academy of Art owned a 6-4 advantage when the dust had settled.

SFSU claimed one run back in the fourth then retook the lead with three in the fifth, forcing Mitchell to return to the pitcher's circle in relief. That 8-6 margin did not last, however, because Mitchell herself blasted a two-run homer in the sixth to tie the game 8-8. After a Lopez walk, Oldham drove her teammate in on a double and later scored as part of a rundown after an attempted double steal of home. Mitchell allowed the first two batters to reach in the sixth, but wrapped up the game two victory with no runs in the final two innings.

Academy of Art is now 3-6-1 overall this season after the season-high in runs scored. Oldham finished Sunday 4-for-6 with RBIs in each contest, a double, and two runs scored. Youngquist was 1-for-3 in each game, driving in two of her team-high eight RBIs this season in game two. Mitchell was 2-for-4 with the home run and a double in game two. She also pitched in both contests, earning her third win of the year with just one hit allowed in three scoreless innings of relief in game two.

"Brenna Mitchell did her job in every regard," said Garnett. "She came in, potentially tired in the sixth game this weekend, and pitched as if she was fresh. She has been having great at-bats and she clutched up for her team. Brenna plays very selflessly and she certainly stepped up for the team today."

SF State becomes 3-2 following the day's results that were highlighted by a big 3-for-7, four-RBI twinbill from Mallory Cleveland. Cassidy earned the opening win with one run allowed on two hits while all 10 game two runs were charged to Megan Clark (1-1) in her 5.2 innings of work.