SEASIDE, Calif. – Non-conference play took Academy of Art softball into Otter Sports Complex on Saturday and, despite holding a lead at the outset of the second game, Cal State Monterey Bay was secured both sides of the twin bill, winning 7-0 and 14-2.
GAME 1 – CSUMB 7, ART U 0
The Otters put together a three-run rally in the day's opening frame, providing support for Cassie Gasper (7-4) whom the Urban Knights notched hits against in the second, third, sixth, and seventh innings, but could not otherwise put together a rally.
In the seventh, junior infielder
Katie Humphreys swung for a one-out single and that was immediately followed by sophomore infielder/pitcher
Elle Edeker's second hit of the contest. Junior utility
Cailee Grayhorse-Pupecki then singled her way aboard to load the bases, but CSUMB managed to induce one final groundout for the 7-0 victory.
GAME 2 – CSUMB 14, ART U 2 (5)
Senior outfielder
Bethany Mitchell opened the second game with an infield single and soon came around to touch home plate as Humphreys singled her in. Humphreys was quickly at third following an error and a steal, setting up freshman infielder
Audrey Allen for the run-scoring single and a 2-0 advantage for Academy of Art.
Though Cal State Monterey Bay was retired in order in the first, the Otters unloaded a 12-run second inning to shift the contest's momentum. Tough pitching limited the Knights offense the rest of the way as the Otters collected their second win of the afternoon.
ART U, now 3-15 overall, saw Mitchell single in both games to push her current hit streak to five games while Humphreys was 2-for-5 with one run batted in, one run scored, and one stolen base on the day. Edeker's 2-for-3 effort in the second contest was her second multi-hit game of the year.
CSUMB rises to 13-8 on the season after Alyssa Burt finished 3-for-5 with four runs batted in, Gasper did not allow a run in her 5.0 innings of work with two hits as well as three strikeouts, and Kassidy Stetler (5-4) won the day's finale with two runs allowed on three hits plus one walk and eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
In its final non-conference twin bill before four consecutive Pacific West Conference series, ART U will host MSU Moorhead this Monday, Mar. 13 at noon.
