MORAGA, Calif. – Once again back out at Cottrell Field to finish its first Pacific West Conference series of the year versus Biola, Academy of Art softball took the first game of the afternoon 6-4 with a pair of three-run rallies and stingy pitching from sophomore Kamielle Powell (1-1) plus freshman Kayla Vaughan (3-2) before falling 7-0 in the final game of the series on Saturday.

GAME 1 – ART U 6, BU 4
Following special pregame recognition of Cancer Awareness Day that included cancer survivor Jason Glover throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to his daughter sophomore infielder/catcher Olivia Glover, the Urban Knights rode a perfect first two innings by Powell in the circle.

After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the third, Powell surrendered one unearned run in the fourth prior to her team taking that score back while adding two more in the inning's home half. A leadoff double by sophomore infielder Audrey Allen was cashed in on senior infielder Haley Randall's single two batters later then senior infielder Hilary Grullon provided a sacrifice fly and freshman outfielder Lida Wos legged out an infield single that made it 3-1 ART U.

The Eagles came back almost immediately with two runs in the fifth including another unearned and it was not until the sixth when the 3-3 tie would be broken. There, an error plus a single from sophomore utility Marissa "Roo" Menard set up Wos for another infield hit that brought two home followed by senior outfielder Cailee Grayhorse-Pupecki's own infield single to plate Wos for the 6-3 advantage.
 
Working on two straight scoreless frames since relieving Powell in the fifth, Vaughan returned for the seventh inning and managed to withstand BU scoring one on two hits then loading the bases before sealing the 6-4 victory. Vaughan, who combined with Powell to allow just two earned runs on the day, collected her third win of the season after giving up just three hits and two walks while striking out one.

GAME 2 – BU 7, ART U 0
Though Academy of Art had a prime opportunity to strike first in the series finale, loading the bases on a walk by junior utility Alexis Folks, a Grayhorse-Pupecki double, and senior infielder Katie Humphreys' PacWest-leading sixth time being hit by a pitch, it was Biola who put the game's first runs on the board, rallying for five in the second inning.

Singular hits had Knights reach base in the second, third, and fifth, but they would be left stranded on each occasion. The Eagles added on two more runs the rest of the way and an unfortunate double play in the seventh ended the start to a late rally as BU prevailed 7-0 on the way out.

Exiting its first conference series of the year at 3-1 in PacWest play as well as 7-6 overall, Academy of Art saw Wos, who was 3-for-3 with three runs batted in plus one scored and two stolen bases in the first game, add her conference-leading eighth steal in the second contest. Folks ended with a hit in all four games of the series after going 3-for-7 on Saturday and Randall highlighted reaching base in each of the contests with a 2-for-3 game three that included one RBI and one run scored.
 
Biola departs the Bay Area at 3-6 overall and 1-3 versus conference opponents after Alexa Medley went 3-for-4 in the first game and Mikala Huskey added her own 3-for-3 second contest that included two driven in and two scored. DJ Symons (1-1) took the loss in the day's opener with three runs allowed on five hits and one strikeout in 2.0 innings of relief while Raylene Roybal (2-2) picked up the game two shutout victory with five hits and three walks allowed to eight strikeouts in a complete 7.0 innings of work.
 
The Urban Knights continue their homestand this Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 27-28, with four games versus No. 23 Concordia.