Beaumont, Calif. -- Finishing a five game road trip in Southern California, the Academy of Art University's softball team won its final two games at the Cal State San Bernardino tournament on Sunday afternoon. Facing two of the three teams they played the previous day, the Urban Knights came out in full force and showed no signs of slowing throughout the day. The Urban Knights defeated Adams State 2-0 and finished the day with a 7-6 win against Colorado School of Mines in a game that ended in extra innings.
Box Score #1
The Urban Knights started the second day of the tournament against Adams State and came out strong wanting to take two from the Grizzlies. Tough defense, timely hitting, and another great pitching performance helped lead the Academy of Art to another victory over Adams State.
The Urban Knights grabbed an early lead and never looked back after scoring first in the fourth inning. The Academy of Art University started off a little slow but finally got things going in the late innings of the game. In the fourth inning, junior Nicole Palmer hit a deep home run well over the fence in right center field. That home run would hold the lead for the Urban Knights until the sixth inning. Alana Aweau tripled to lead off the sixth. Shampayne Clay hit a deep sacrifice fly, scoring Aweau from third. This second insurance run for the Urban Knights was enough to hold the Grizzly team, as the Urban Knights won the game 2-0.
Freshman Sierrah Garcia was in the pitching circle for the Academy of Art. She pitched a complete game shutout, giving up two hits, no runs and two walks. She had an impressive ten strikeouts and had a huge part in the win for the Urban Knights.
Academy of Art batters also had a good game. Junior Ashley Roy went 2-3 and freshman Crista Sykes went 1-1. Junior Shampayne Clay went 1-2 with a double and an RBI while Nicole Palmer went 1-3 with a home run, a run scored and an RBI. Aweau went 1-3 with a triple and a run scored. The Urban Knights left five runners on base in the game.
With the win, Sierrah Garcia's record improves to 3-4 on the season.
Box Score #2
The fifth and final game of the tournament for the Urban Knights came against Colorado School of Mines. Coming off a loss to the Orediggers the day before, the Urban Knights came out attacking, wanting to even the score.
The Orediggers came out strong and were able to score early, pushing a run across in the first inning. Although the Urban Knights were able to get some base hits in the early innings, they were unable to score any runs of their own, and were kept scoreless until late. The Orediggers added to their lead with two runs in the fourth, and after the Urban Knights answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, the Orediggers tacked on three more runs in the fifth. The Orediggers seemed to have control of the game, up 6-1.
The Academy of Art's offense came alive in the sixth inning. They scored two runs and cut the lead to two. With one inning left to play in regulation, the Urban Knights came out attacking more than ever. Keeping their bats alive, they scored two more runs. Freshman Crista Sykes singled and Ashley Petty came in to pinch run for her. Jayme Stewart then doubled and Petty was able to score. Jacqueline Nieves singled, scoring Stewart from second base, tying the game at 6-6. The tie pushed the game into extra innings, which put the international tie breaker rule into affect. The international tie breaker rule allows the last out in the previous inning to start at second base in the new inning.
The Academy of Art was able to keep the Orediggers from scoring in the eight, and it was up to the Urban Knights to take advantage of their situation. The Urban Knights were unable to advance their runner any further than second for the first two outs of the eighth inning. When things looked glum for the Urban Knights, they pulled together to get the job done. With sophomore Carissa Nichole Perales at second base and two outs, junior Shampayne Clay hit a hard line drive right back to the pitcher. It bounced off her leg and past first base. Perales was running with contact, and was able to score from second on the hit. The run was all they needed and the Urban Knights took the game 7-6.
It was a team effort for the win in which offense, defense, and pitching came together and each had an equally important role in the game. Junior Ericka Ames started the game pitching for the Urban Knights. She pitched three innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs. She had two walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Sierrah Garcia came in for relief for Ames. Garcia pitched five innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs. She also gave up two walks and had four strikeouts. Garcia got the win for the game, improving her record to 4-4 on the season.
The Academy of Art's offense came up big during the game. Junior Ashley Roy went 2-4 in the game, while Jaqueline Nieves also went 2-4 with a run scored and a RBI. Crista Sykes went 3-4 with a triple and a run scored and Alana Aweau went 1-4 with a RBI. Freshman Jayme Stewart went 1-3 with a RBI, two runs scored and a double and junior Nicole Palmer went 1-4 with a double and a RBI. Carissa Nichole Perales and Ashley Petty each had a run in the game. Shampayne Clay came up big for her team going 2-5 with a run scored and the game winning RBI. The Urban Knights left eleven runners on base.
Colorado School of Mines players Jennifer Newman went 2-4, Dani Murphy went 3-4, and Taylor Cayou went 2-3 in the game. Together, they had three runs scored and five RBI's. The Orediggers stranded ten runners on base.
With the win the Academy of Art improves to 5-7 overall. Up next for the Urban Knights is Point Loma Nazarene on February 20, in San Diego, Calif. Game times are set for 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
