BRISBANE, Calif. – The Academy of Art University softball bats came alive in game two on Saturday, contributing to an eight-run third inning that tied the program record en route to a split with Pacific West Conference rival Dominican. After a ceremonial first pitch thrown by mayor Cliff Lentz on Brisbane Appreciation Day out at Mission Blue Field, the Penguins won game one 4-2 behind early offense then ART U jumped ahead 10-2 in the first three innings of the finale and held on for an 11-6 victory.

GAME ONE

On another beautiful day out at Mission Blue Field, Dominican scored one run in each of the first three innings, but the Urban Knights responded with one in the second and one in the third. Senior catcher Elise Oldham drove in both runs, leading off the second inning with a solo home run and adding a run batted in on a fielder's choice in the third.

Starting pitcher freshman True Park (3-1) retired the side on just seven pitches in the fourth, but Dominican grew its lead to 4-2 in the fifth on Katelyn Harden's third RBI of the contest. ART U's greatest chance to mount a comeback came in the sixth when the bases were loaded with one out, but Gaby Katafias got a strikeout and groundout to earn the save, preserving the win for Ashlyn Moriarity (3-4).

GAME TWO
Though the Penguins struck first for one in the opening inning of the second contest, Academy of Art took two back in the bottom half on Oldham's second homer of the day. This two-run shot that traveled beyond the centerfield fence was her third in as many games, made the senior tied with Shampayne Clay for the third-most in program history, and most importantly gave the Knights a 2-1 advantage.

Park returned to get two relief outs in the third inning, holding Dominican to just a single run though the visitors threatened for more with the bases loaded. That would set up a 2-2 ballgame in the bottom of the third where ART U unleashed one of its most memorable rallies in eight years of action.

Leadoff hitter freshman infielder Katie Tablada started a string of three consecutive doubles with junior outfielder Jessica West and senior outfielder Andrea Gill joining in. Up 4-2 at that point, freshman infielder Brenna Youngquist then cleared the bases with a two-run homer, her fourth of the year. The hit parade did not stop there, however, as sophomore infielder Samantha Klune doubled and junior outfielder Hallie Curtis singled to set up Park for her first collegiate hit, a RBI single. Curtis later scored on a throwing error, but the Knights still were not done. West came up for the second time in the inning and smacked a two-run triple, the first of her career, down the right field line to bring two more home, capping an eight-run inning.

Dominican did not back down from the 10-2 deficit and plated four runs (two unearned) after a hit and two errors in the fourth. Academy of Art took one back in the bottom half of that inning on Klune's first home run of the season, a solo shot to left. Junior pitcher Hunter Allen (2-3), who had entered in relief the fourth, did not allow a hit the rest of the way, turning in four solid innings with just one hit and the two earned runs allowed.

ART U finishes the month of March with a 13-16-1 overall record and a 9-7 PacWest record, currently sixth in the conference standings. Oldham completed the day 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBIs, and her first career stolen base as well. In game two, Youngquist was 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs while Klune had a 2-for-4 outing with a home run and one RBI.

West remained one of the team's hottest hitters, going 1-for-3 in the first game before nearly hitting for the cycle with a 3-for-4 second game that featured a double, triple, and three RBIs. Park received the decision in both games, allowing three earned runs in 5.1 innings for a loss as the game one starter then throwing 0.2 scoreless innings for the win in game two. Allen totaled 5.2 relief innings with just two earned runs allowed on one hit and four strikeouts.

Dominican ended the day 11-20 overall and 9-11 in conference play. Harden went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in game one and Alexis Chinchilla added her own 3-for-4 performance with two RBIs in game two. Moriarity won the opener with 5.0 innings pitched and two runs allowed, Katafias earned the save with 2.0 scoreless relief innings, and Harden took the loss in the finale, allowing seven runs in 2.1 innings.

Academy of Art now turns its attention to the Tournament of Champions which features six non-conference games in three days in Turlock. Beginning with Sonoma State and Cal State Monterey Bay on Apr. 1, ART U will take on five CCAA opponents including Stanislaus State (Apr. 2), Chico State (Apr. 2), and Cal State Dominguez Hills (Apr. 3) as well as Simon Fraser (Apr. 3) of the GNAC.