Games #42 & 43
ART U Urban Knights (29-12, 12-6 PWC) vs. Dominican Penguins (16-28, 7-17 PWC)
Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Noon & 2 p.m.
San Rafael, Calif. – Penguin Field
Live Stats

KNIGHTS MEET PENGUINS IN SAN RAFAEL
With 13 wins in its last 14 games, Academy of Art University Softball enters this week having just matched the program's single-season wins record with a doubleheader sweep of Notre Dame de Namur on Apr. 5. Currently fourth in the Pacific West Conference standings, ART U now faces Dominican, whom they split with back on Feb. 19, in a road rematch this weekend.

FIRST PITCH
Out at Penguin Field in San Rafael, ART U will play a pair of games against Dominican on Saturday, Apr. 14 beginning at noon. Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights on Twitter & Instagram and "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
Currently fifth in NCAA Division II in shutouts (13), 10th in earned run average (1.74), and 18th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.21), Academy of Art continues to dominate defensively. At the plate, ART U ranks third in the PacWest in doubles (58), stolen bases (52), and pitcher strikeouts (241). Six-time PacWest Freshman of the Week and once the PacWest Player of the Week Brooke Larsen has increased her batting average to a team-high .373 on a five-game hit streak that has seen her hit .571 (8-for-14) with five doubles. Her 13 total doubles rank third in the PacWest and she also paces the Knights in virtually every pitching category (see below). After offering game-winning hits in both contests versus NDNU, senior utility Brenna Mitchell is hitting .336 with 22 runs batted in. Freshman infielder Jayda Alaan, still the NCAA Division II leader in hit by pitch (22) by three, comes in hitting .340 with 22 runs scored and a .485 on-base percentage (seventh in PacWest). Should she be hit six more times, Alaan will, in a single season, break the program's career record of 27 currently held by Jasmine Dickenson.

Sophomore infielder Gracie Sotomayor upped her hitting streak to five games with a 3-for-7 day at NDNU that included her team-best 25th RBI. The fourth Urban Knight hitting over .300, Sotomayor starts the week batting .326 with nine extra-base hits. Sophomore outfielder Gabi Hirsch remains the team's top run scorer with 23 touches of home plate thus far and her 20 stolen bases in 24 chances rank fourth in the PacWest (tied for third in program's single-season history). Additionally, she has reached base in 12 consecutive games which is tied for the team's best this season. She ranks third with 19 thefts which ties her for fourth in the program's single-season history.

Two weeks removed from being named Louisville Slugger/NFCA D2 National Pitcher of the Week, Larsen (16-3) has not slowed down, holding on to her spot as the PacWest leader in wins (16, 17th in NCAA DII), complete games (15), and innings pitched (131.0). She also ranks second in shutouts (8, fifth in NCAA DII) and strikeouts (160, 10th in NCAA DII) as well as fourth in earned run average (1.02, 11th in NCAA DII). Larsen comes off a complete game shutout against the Argos in which she faced just 23 total batters after surrendering only one hit and one walk. Fellow freshman Cecilia Lopez (8-4) also won against NDNU, allowing just two earned runs in a complete 7.0 innings. She now sports a 1.95 ERA which ranks 10th in the PacWest.

ACADEMY OF ART SWEEPS NDNU TO TIE SINGLE-SEASON WINS RECORD
With its offense thriving to the tune of 22 hits including two home runs, Academy of Art University Softball completed a doubleheader sweep of its local Pacific West Conference opponent Notre Dame de Namur on Apr. 5. Game one's 5-0 final featured another shutout from PacWest Freshman of the Week Brooke Larsen (16-3) as well as a two-run homer by freshman catcher Lauryn Henderson. The day's finale then saw freshman pitcher Cecilia Lopez (8-4) pick up an 8-3 victory thanks to a timely two-run blast from senior utility Brenna Mitchell. The two wins elevate the Urban Knights' overall record to 29 which ties the program's record set in 2010.

LOOKING AHEAD
Beginning a stretch of eight consecutive home games, ART U next hosts Hawaii Pacific in a four-part series across Apr. 21-22. The first day will feature the Urban Knights' Strikeout Cancer promotion and Apr. 22 will be Dog Day at Mission Blue Field.