TUCSON, Ariz. -- Academy of Art University softball wrapped up the Cactus Classic with a split against University of Mary on Sunday to exit the weekend at .500 overall. Early long ball offense from the Marauders was the difference in their 3-2 victory, but the Urban Knights responded by bouncing back with a 6-1 win in the finale, utilizing multiple run-producing hits from junior infielder Samantha Klune and sophomore catcher Taylor Ah Mook Sang as well as another strong start from freshman pitcher Hannah Rose Balke (4-2).

"Today was about minimizing our mistakes, doing the little things right, and keeping our energy up," said head coach Sonja Garnett. "In game one, we did two out of three of those things and just fell short. In the second game, we executed all three and the result followed."

GAME 1 - Mary 3, ART U 2
After Ah Mook Sang led off the third inning with a double for her first collegiate hit and sophomore Juliana Lopez was hit by a pitch, freshman infielder Gracie Sotomayor and senior outfielder Jessica West delivered both runners on a groundout and a single to center.

Now in a 3-2 game, Balke, who had entered in relief in the second inning, remained successful in the circle with a strikeout in the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh innings. She kept Mary off the scoreboard throughout, but Marauders starter Brieann Backes (1-2) matched her counterpart, getting a big double play ball in the fourth after the Knights had loaded the bases on an error and two singles. Backes saved her best for last, however, striking out two of three batters in the seventh to secure the 3-2 win.

GAME 2 – ART U 6, MARY 1
Balke's success in the first game carried over into the second as she retired 11 of the first 12 batters she faced while Academy of Art had built a 3-0 lead by that point. In the second, Ah Mook Sang singled in the first run of the game and, in the fourth, she delivered once again with a run-scoring double after an error had plated a run in the previous play.

ART U expanded the lead to 5-0 in the fifth when Klune drove in two on a single and, though Mary put an unearned run on the board later in the fifth, Klune matched that with a run-scoring bunt in the seventh. Balke finished off the seventh with three of the six batters she retired to end the 6-1 game.

Academy of art exits the Cactus Classic 6-6 overall. Klune, who hit .364 (8-for-22) with a team-high six runs batted in, finished game two with three RBIs after going 2-for-4 and Ah Mook Sang had a double in each contest, ending the day 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the second game.

"Sam was outstanding at the plate this weekend," said Garnett. "She continues to come through in clutch situations and our team is really feeding off of her success. And Taylor did a great job today. Behind the plate, she was a leader and played great defense. On offense, not only did she get her first collegiate hit, but she came through huge with two doubles in big game situations."