TURLOCK, Calif. – Competing for the seventh time in the last four days, Academy of Art softball rallied with multiple hits in the fourth inning and got a solid start from senior pitcher Haley Arnold-Jolley (2-16), but Cal State East Bay wound up earning the 4-1 win in both teams' final game in the Tournament of Champions, presented by the City of Turlock on Sunday.

Though two hit batters and a single from junior infielder Katie Humphreys loaded the bases for ART U in the opening inning, it was a two-run rally by the Pioneers in the bottom of the first that proved to be difference-making as a leadoff double, a steal plus an error, and a home run put the designated home team up 2-0.

Another leadoff double in the second ended up seeing the runner stranded as Arnold-Jolley and the Urban Knights defense managed to retire the side on just six pitches. That sequence began a stretch of 10 consecutive Pioneers retired that lasted into the fifth frame.

Meanwhile, senior catcher/utility Cassandra Mittman connected on a one-out single in the fourth and soon an error brought two runners into scoring position for junior outfielder Maddie Sticka. Two pitches into the at-bat, Sticka cranked a double into the gap in left center, plating one of her teammates and effectively halving the difference at 2-1.

A pair of singles and an error enabled Cal State East Bay to push a 3-1 advantage in the fifth before a run-scoring triple made it 4-1 in the sixth. The score would remain there through the seventh as CSUEB secured its second victory of the Tournament of Champions.

Academy of Art moves to 7-30 overall this season following the conclusion of the tournament. Along with the run batted in, Sticka's 1-for-3 effort marked her third consecutive game with a hit while Humphreys and Mittman were each 1-for-2 in the contest. Arnold-Jolley finished with just two earned runs allowed on five hits with no walks in 4.1 innings while freshman pitcher Kamielle Powell finished off the final 1.2 innings with one run allowed on one hit and three walks plus two strikeouts.

Approaching .500 at 19-20 overall with the win, Cal State East Bay was led by one run batted in, one run scored, and a triple as part of a 2-for-3 performance from Ysabella Cortez. Savannah Barchus (5-3) surrendered one run on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts before Anamaria Beard collected her second save of the year with a scoreless final inning.

Following a five-day break from competition, ART U will return to Pacific West Conference play with a noon doubleheader hosting Holy Names on Apr. 8.