IRVINE, Calif. – Academy of Art softball had its pitching hang tough in Sunday's final day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic and a rally in the seventh inning made for some exciting drama in what ended as a 3-1 win for Cal State San Bernardino out at Great Park.
The teams combined for just one hit through the first four and a half innings as sophomore pitcher
Jolene Rhoades (0-3) dueled with CSUSB's Sofia Gombos (2-2). Sophomore infielder
Katie Humphreys highlighted the second frame with a walk and her first collegiate stolen base, but could not score.
Rhoades dodged a threat in the second and came back to retire the Coyotes in order in the third. However, when the fourth inning began with a single and a double, freshman pitcher
Julia Jordan (0-1) was called upon in relief. She proceeded to impressively strike out the side, but did allow the frame's second run to score on a passed ball.
After breaking up Gombos' no-hitter with a single to lead off the fifth, Humphreys and the Urban Knights got their opposing pitcher out of the game despite remaining back 2-0. A single and eventual wild pitch upped Cal State San Bernardino's advantage to 3-0 in the sixth yet the contest was far from over.
The seventh inning began with junior catcher/utility
Cassandra Mittman being hit by a pitch as a pinch-hitter then Humphreys connecting for her second hit of the day. Following an error, freshman infielder
Carina Sanchez stepped in with the bases loaded and sent the first pitch she saw to right to record her first collegiate run batted in. A groundout concluded the contest with CSUSB on top 3-1, but the day still wrapped up on an uplifting note for ART U.
Academy of Art, 0-5 to start the season, got strong pitching efforts from Rhoades (one earned run allowed in 3.0 innings with three strikeouts) as well as Jordan (one earned run allowed in 3.0 innings with four strikeouts). Offensively, Humphreys finished 2-for-2 with a stolen base and a walk while Sanchez ended 1-for-3 with the aforementioned run batted in.
Cal State San Bernardino becomes 3-2 with the day's result as Bailey Wallace provided the team's lone RBI in a 1-for-2 performance and Gombos picked up the win after tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Natalie Carlos entered to claim her first save of the year with 2.2 innings of work, three strikeouts, and no earned runs allowed.
Another non-conference tournament awaits ART U next week as Tucson, Ariz. will be the site for this year's Montana State Billings Desert Stinger which begins with games against Central Washington and the host Yellowjackets both on Feb. 11.
