SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art softball faced off against local rival SF State Thursday at SFSU Softball Field and, despite sophomore catcher Lauryn Henderson's team-leading eighth home run, the Gators would emerge victorious, winning game one 8-0 in six innings then taking the finale 4-1.

"We executed the small ball well today to move people and put pressure on the defense," said head coach Alex Gomez. "I think we made some good contact."

GAME 1 – SFSU 8, ART U 0 (6)
Gaining momentum from turning a double play then leading off with a triple, SF State quickly got ahead in the opening inning. A sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single made it a 2-0 ballgame and, after dodging a bases-loaded situation in the second, the Gators tacked on one more with a sacrifice fly in their half of the frame.

SF State built its lead to 7-0 with pairs of runs in the third and fourth and though junior utility Dominique Seva'aetasi led off the sixth with a double, the Urban Knights were unable to bring her home and fell victim to the run-rule when the eighth score for the Gators came in the bottom of the sixth.

GAME 2- SFSU 4, ART U 1
Similarly to the first game, the home team scored in the opening inning and was up 3-0 by the conclusion of the second after two run-scoring singles and another run on a groundout.

With two outs in the third, Henderson promptly ended the day's scoring drought with a resounding solo home run to the deepest part of the ballpark beyond the center field fence. That 3-1 score maintained until the fourth when a walk, steal, and single produced one more run for SF State. Sophomore starting pitcher Cecilia Lopez (8-7) and the ART U defense held SFSU scoreless for the final two frames, but the comeback could not be completed and the 4-1 result ended the day.

Academy of Art moves to 14-19 overall this season and was led by Henderson's 2-for-2 game two performance which included her team-leading eighth home run and ninth double of the year. She is now three homers from tying the program's single-season record set by Alana Aweau (11). Junior outfielder Gabi Hirsch had one hit in each game and finished 2-for-6 while Seva'aetasi's 1-for-3 effort in the first contest featured her sixth double of the year.

Following the two wins, SF State rises to 31-16 on the year and was powered by big offensive days from Nina Revoir (4-for-7, two RBIs) and Katelyn Sturm (1-for-5, home run, three RBIs). Defensively, Emily Mitchell (11-10) contributed 5.0 innings of team shutout with three hits allowed, one walk, and two strikeouts while Karla Soto (16-4) picked up the game two victory with one run allowed on four hits plus three walks and a strikeout in a complete 7.0 innings of work.

"The team is taking this weekend off as a chance to reset," said Gomez. "They really want to focus more on how they are playing rather than the outcome of the games. They also want to be more selfless in their play and willing to go above and beyond to make the play offensively or defensively."

With just six games left on the schedule, Academy of Art first rematches with Holy Names at Mission Blue Field on Apr. 26 then opens a home-road four-game series with Dominican on Apr. 27 in what will be Senior Day.