BELMONT, Calif. – It was a memorable day for Academy of Art University softball out at Notre Dame High School on Wednesday as numerous contributions led the Urban Knights to their sweep of Notre Dame de Namur. Junior
Brenna Mitchell belted her first home run of the year as part of a 6-5 triumph in game one, freshman pitcher
Hannah Rose Balke (21-8) became the program's winningest pitcher for a single-season, and a seven-run ART U rally in the day's final inning led to a 9-4 victory.
"Today was a team effort," said head coach
Sonja Garnett. "We had smaller numbers than usual, but everyone stepped up and played as a team. It was fun to watch."
GAME 1 – ART U 6, NDNU 5
Following a scoreless first inning, Academy of Art struck first in the day's opener, gaining a 2-0 advantage on a two-run homer by Mitchell. The long ball came on a 3-1 pitch and followed freshman infielder
Freddie Carrillo's leadoff double.
In the third, ART U pushed the lead to 5-0 with runs batted in by sophomore infielder
Brenna Youngquist and Carrillo plus a run on an error. Although Notre Dame de Namur had put runners on in previous innings, Balke held the home team scoreless through three while senior outfielder
Jessica West helped expand the Knights' margin to 6-0 with a run-scoring double in the fourth.
Pushing two runs across in the fourth and again in the fifth, the Argos began to mount a comeback. They would score one more in the sixth, but Balke held the line by inducing a foul out with the bases loaded. Though a double and an error allowed NDNU to get the tying run to third base in the seventh, a flyout ended the game with Academy of Art on top 6-5.
GAME 2 – ART U 9, NDNU 4
Notre Dame de Namur got started early in the second contest, scoring three times, each with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning. The Knights fought back with two runs in the third, both on an error before three scoreless frames were exchanged.
When NDNU threatened with two on and none out in the sixth, ART U called upon Balke in relief. She promptly struck out two Argos and kept her team within striking distance. And Academy of Art would strike in the seventh for not just the tying run, but much more.
A RBI double by Youngquist started what would be three consecutive run-scoring hits including a Carrillo RBI single and a two-run single by junior infielder
Samantha Klune. The inning was far from over, however, as freshman infielder
Gracie Sotomayor singled one home with the bases loaded, sophomore outfielder
Juliana Lopez did the same, and West drew a walk to make it a seven-run seventh. Though one NDNU run crossed home plate in the bottom of the seventh, the Knights ended up prevailing 9-4.
"The key for us in the last inning was staying aggressive, but being more selective," said Garnett. "We had opportunities all game, but it was great to see the team score the runs when it mattered most."
ART U improves to 24-22 with the pair of victories and is now 16-12 in the PacWest. Balke picked up wins in both contests to become not only the program's second 20-game winner, but the new single-season wins leader with her 21st in the second game. She tossed her 15th complete game in the first contest, added two relief innings in the finale, and struck out seven on the day.
"Hannah has been throwing a lot of innings for us and remains competitive in the circle," said Garnett. "We are very proud of her efforts and that is a big team record for her to achieve."
Offensively, three different Urban Knights had two RBIs in one of the games including Mitchell, Klune, and West. Carrillo upped her current hitting streak to five games while going 4-for-7 with two RBIs in total. She is now hitting .402 on the year. Lopez went 5-for-9 and has moved up to .345 this season.
NDNU falls to 9-32 overall and 8-20 in conference play with the day's results. Tivoli Sisco finished with three RBIs in a 2-for-3 game one performance and Cynthia Ream-Garcia added 3-for-4 effort in the final contest, driving in one.
This week concludes with Academy of Art traveling across the bay to San Rafael on Saturday, Apr. 22 for a noon doubleheader against Dominican.
"Dominican is a talented team and always plays us well," said Garnett. "We have to come out Saturday with energy and play to our ability. It is always a tough series and we are looking forward to it!"
