KANEHOE, Hawaii – The second and final day of Academy of Art softball's Pacific West Conference series at Hawaii Pacific began with the teams matching one another's hit totals then the Urban Knights led midway through game two, but HPU managed to put up difference-making rallies midway through victories of 3-0 and 10-2 at Howard A. Okita Field on Saturday.

GAME 1 – HPU 3, ART U 0
After senior utility Alyssa Rasmussen singled in the first inning, a pair of singles came off the bats of senior catcher Alyssa Brundage and freshman utility Elle Edeker in the second, but no runners would come home on both occasions. Meanwhile, junior pitcher Haley Arnold-Jolley (1-14) and the Academy of Art defense kept Hawaii Pacific scoreless through the first three frames including an eight-pitch third.

Junior catcher/utility Cassandra Mittman roped a double into the left center gap in the fourth yet the Sharks were the ones to finally break through moments later with four hits producing two runs. A sacrifice fly in the fifth made it 3-0 and, though sophomore outfielder Maddie Sticka's leadoff double and a hit batter set up a prime scoring opportunity in the sixth, HPU managed to hold on for the victory.

GAME 2 – HPU 10, ART U 2 (5)
While Hawaii Pacific struck first in the opening inning of the series finale, Academy of Art came back with a two-out rally in the third. It began with sophomore infielder Haley Randall's double, continued with a bunt single by Rasmussen, and finished with Mittman plating both of her teammates on her second double of the day.

Game two would shift soon after, however, as HPU scored three times in their half of the third to move in front 4-2. A six-run fourth then led to the contest's eventual conclusion in five innings as HPU prevailed 10-2.

The Urban Knights move to 7-36 overall and 4-16 against conference opponents with the day's results. Three ART U student-athletes, Rasmussen, Mittman, and Brundage, had hits in both contests Saturday with Mittman logging two doubles and two runs batted in as part of her 2-for-5 effort.

Hawaii Pacific now stands at 20-26 overall and 13-15 in PacWest action this season. Neva Poulin led the way with a 3-for-6 day that included three RBIs. In game one, Malia Torres (11-12) collected the win with no runs allowed on six hits before Taylor Thompson (11-14) was the game two victor after surrendering two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

When Academy of Art next takes the Howard A. Okita Field, it will be against Chaminade this Monday, Apr. 18 for the start of a four-game series at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. PT).