HAYWARD, Calif. – The final two games of Academy of Art softball's Pacific West Conference series hosting No. 24 Concordia from Pioneer Field saw the Urban Knights once again score multiple runs against one of the top defensive teams in the country, but Wednesday's end result was two wins, 6-2 and 9-3, for the Golden Eagles.

GAME 1 – #24 CUI 6, ART U 2
Sophomore pitcher Kamielle Powell (1-2) retired Concordia in order to begin the day, but the Golden Eagles managed to scrape across two runs (one unearned) for a lead in the second. Academy of Art took one back in the bottom half of the frame, however, as senior infielder Katie Humphreys and junior catcher Liberty Herrera each sent doubles into right center, making it a 2-1 ballgame.

Powell and the ART U defense would hold CUI for the two innings that followed until two more crossed home plate in the fifth on a pair of walks with the bases loaded. A 6-1 contest by the sixth, the Knights used three consecutive singles from sophomore infielder Audrey Allen, senior infielder Haley Randall, and Humphreys to make it 6-2 later in that frame. One-out hits by junior utility Alexis Folks and freshman outfielder Lida Wos set up an eventual bases-loaded situation with the potential tying run at the plate, but Concordia managed to escape with the 6-2 victory.

GAME 2 – #24 CUI 9, ART U 3
Back-to-back two-run rallies began the series finale with CUI ahead 4-0, but freshman pitcher Kayla Vaughan (3-3) entered and proceeded to post three scoreless frames thereafter. Academy of Art got a runner to third in the second though it was not until the sixth that the home team reached the scoreboard in what was then an 8-0 game. Allen's leadoff walk turned into a run-scoring groundout from Randall, extending the contest to the seventh.

Though Concordia added another in their half, the Knights rallied to load the bases for Allen who singled not far from home plate as a collision between CUI players caused no play to be made and two runs to score. With daylight dwindling, the Golden Eagles managed to end the game with one final groundout, securing a 9-3 win.

ART U moves to 7-10 overall and 3-5 in PacWest play as Humphreys ended the day 3-for-6 with a double, one run batted in, and a run scored. Allen was 2-for-6 with two driven in and one scored while Herrera and Randall each registered one RBI apiece.
 
Concordia, now 15-4 overall and 8-0 in conference action, were led by Missy Nemeth's 3-for-7 afternoon that featured three RBIs. Like Tuesday, Katlin Entrup (6-3) and Cortney Koelmans (7-1) each earned victories with 5.0 innings pitched apiece and one run allowed on five hits as well as one walk plus nine strikeouts all between them.
 
Academy of Art next briefly departs conference play to face Cal State Monterey Bay this Saturday, Mar. 2 in a noon doubleheader from Seaside.