Arcata, CA—The Academy of Art University's softball team finished a two day four game series against Humboldt State University Sunday afternoon. Coming off a win from the day before, the Urban Knights came out eager to take two from the Lumberjacks. But poor defense and quiet bats kept the Urban Knights from victory as they lost both games to Humboldt State with scores of 4-1 and 12-3.
Box Score #1
The Urban Knights came out flat compared to their two games the day before. The Lumberjack's pitching was strong and kept the Academy of Art University offense off balance for the first half of the game. The Lumberjacks scored first taking a one run lead off a solo homerun in the bottom of the first inning. They added to their lead by pushing across three more runs in the bottom of the third, taking a four run lead.
The Academy of Art University answered back in the top of the fourth, when sophomore Alana Aweau hit a deep homerun well over the fence in right field. That single run would be all the Urban Knights could produce against the Humboldt State pitcher. Despite the Urban Knight's own pitching settling down after the third inning, the team was not able to give much run support and ended up losing the game with a final score of 4-1.
Junior pitcher Ericka Ames started the game for the Academy of Art University. Ames pitched only two innings giving up five hits, four earned runs and two walks. She also gave up three homeruns. Freshman Sierrah Garcia came in to relieve Ames in the third inning. Garcia ended up pitching four innings giving up one hit, no runs, two walks and posted two strikeouts.
Humboldt state University's leading hitters in the game were Natalie Galletly who went 2-3, with two runs and three RBI's, Marissa Slattery who went 2-3 with one run, and one run batted in, and Lindsay Warren who went 1-2 with one run scored.
Academy of Art University sophomore Alana Aweau had a great game going 2-3 with a homerun. Carissa Nichole Perales and Ashley Petty each went 1-3 in the game.
The Urban Knights had one run on four hits and no errors.
Box Score #2
The second game started out much like the first. Again, Lumberjack pitching was key, and kept the Urban Knight offense quiet for most of the game. Humboldt State took an early lead with a leadoff homerun in the bottom of the first. But the Lumberjacks didn't stop there.
Humboldt State hitters took advantage of the tight strike zone and struggling Urban Knight pitching. The Lumberjacks added to their lead by pushing across three more runs in the second inning, three more runs in the third, and three more runs in the fourth.
Errors were costly for the Academy of Art University in the second game. They had four errors in four innings, resulting in runs scored. With little defense behind the Academy of Art University pitching, the Lumberjacks had control of the game with a 10 run lead going into the fifth inning.
In the top of the fifth, the Urban Knight offense finally got something going. Freshman Jayme Stewart was able to get on board from a fielder's choice and advance to second on an error by the shortstop. Nicole Palmer then hit a hard ground ball to the short stop causing an error and allowing herself to reach first safely and Stewart to advance to third. Sophomore Alana Aweau then launched the ball clear over the fence in center field for her second homerun of the day. Those three runs would be all the Urban Knights would manage to score, but they had cut the lead to seven going into the fifth.
Humboldt State came right back with a two run home run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game by the eight run mercy rule. They ended up winning the game with a final score of 12-3. The Lumberjack's leading hitters were Nikki Ketteringham who went 3-3 with three runs scored and three RBI's, and Natalie Galletly who went 2-2 with one run and one RBI.
For the Academy of Art University, sophomore Alana Aweau stepped up big again for her team. Aweau went 1-3 with one run scored and three runs batted in. Melissa Coe also had a good game going 2-2 with a double, and Carissa Nichole Perales went 2-3 in the game.
Sierrah Garcia was in the circle for the Urban Knights. She pitched 4.1 innings giving up 12 hits, twelve runs (seven which were earned) and three homeruns. Garcia also gave up two walks and had two strikeouts.
The Urban Knights managed three runs on seven hits and had four errors in the game.
With the losses, the Academy of Art University's record drops to 6-16 overall and Humboldt State University's record improves to 12-4. The Urban Knights return to the Bay to take on San Francisco State University on Wednesday March 11th. Game times are set for 1:00 and 3:00pm at SFSU.
