Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
Hayward, CA – The Academy of Art University's softball team came off a five day game break to face Patten University on Saturday afternoon. The women came out ready to play, but were soon stumped by the Lions' pitching. However, the powerful Urban Knight offense would not be kept quiet for long, and eventually the women broke through. ART U came away with a big victory in game one winning 14-4, tying their season high in runs scored. In game two Patten put up a little more of a fight, but the Knights were able to prevail in a 9-6 victory, sweeping the Lions in a non-conference match-up.
ART U actually got off to a slow start on the day. The Patten batters were challenging the usually solid ART U pitching, and the Knights' defense was nowhere near their usual perfection. However, the Urban Knights' offense was stellar again, which helped propel them in game one.
The Knights got things going in the top of the second inning when sophomore Nicole Smith scored on a passed ball. But the Lions answered right back with a run of their own in the bottom of the second. The Urban Knights then re-gained the lead in the top of the third when they scored again. This time the run came off an RBI from sophomore Andrea Hanchey that scored freshman Lauren Clark-Lewis who was pinch running for sophomore Jayme Stewart. An inning later, Patten rallied and was able to push across two runs to take the lead heading into the late innings of the game.
ART U's offense was silent during the fifth, but after a pitching change in the top of the sixth, the women were able to get things going once again. The women pushed across seven runs in the inning to take control of the game. They then added five more runs in the top of the seventh to secure their lead. Patten was able to score on more final run in the bottom of the seventh, but they could not overcome the damage the Knights had done. At the end of the slugfest, ART U came away with a big 14-4 win.
“In game one it took us a few innings to adjust, but once we did it was contagious,” said Head Coach Rachel Sherman. “We were hitting line drives to all fields and were aggressive on the bases giving our pitchers lots of run support.”
All nine Urban Knight batters recorded a hit in the game, and eight batters recorded a run. The team was led by Stewart who went 3-5 with a double, a home run, two runs, and four runs batted in. “Jayme has been seeing the ball really well and I think her confidence in the box gives everyone else confidence. When our fast runners get on, Jayme will get them in and everyone has confidence in that,” added Sherman.
Freshman Lauren Stover also had a great day going 3-5 with two runs and three RBI. Sophomore Julie Martin stood out going 2-3 with a stolen base and two runs scored, and Smith also did well going 2-4 with a stolen base and one run.
Junior Sierrah Garcia started the game on the mound for ART U. She went three innings pitched giving up four hits, three runs (just one earned), and had three strikeouts. Sophomore Kim Dauer came in for relief and went four innings pitched. She gave up four hits, one run (no earned), and posted four strikeouts. Dauer receives the win in the game.
For the Lions, Olivia Rocha did well going 2-4 with a double, Ashley Sponsor went 1-4 with two runs scored, and Jarica Blakely went 1-2 with two runs batted in. Receiving the loss in the game was Tawni Barttels who went three innings pitched giving up nine hits, 12 runs (seven earned), and posted no strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored 14 runs on 15 hits, committed four errors, and left six runners on base.
Game two started much different for the Knights. They seemed to re-group during the break, and came out ready for another win. The women got things going right away by scoring in the top of the first inning. Freshman Elyse Cordova singled then immediately stole second, and third. Sophomore Andrea Hanchey then singled to short-stop, which scored Cordova from third. But just like in game one, Patten came back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie things up.
ART U, however, was not ready to stop there, and again their offense exploded. In the top of the second the women posted five runs to seemingly run away with the game. Patten would quickly fight back though, making the Knights work for the victory. After ART U added one run in the top of the fifth, the Lions came to within one run when they scored five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.
But the Urban Knights' offense was relentless and they tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a three run cushion heading into the seventh. The ART U pitching staff was able to shut-down the Lions' offense after the fifth inning, and helped lead their team to the 9-6 victory.
The Knights' offense was again led by sophomore Jayme Stewart who went 3-4 with a homerun, two runs, and two RBI. Cordova also did very well going 3-4 with a double, three stolen bases, three runs, and two runs batted in. Sophomore Melissa Coe stood out going 2-3 with one run scored, and freshman Lauren Stover rounded things out going 2-4 with a double, one run, and one RBI.
“Elyse finds a way to get on base. She has been doing a great job using all aspects of her ability. When she is successful it just fuels our team and gets everyone pumped,” said Coach Rachel Sherman.
Freshman Katie Brooks started in the circle for ART U and receives the win in the game. She went 4.1 innings pitched giving up five hits, four earned runs, and posted one strikeout. Junior Sierrah Garcia came in for relief going 2.2 innings allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), and recorded six strikeouts. Garcia received the save in the game.
For Patten, Ashley Sponsler led going 2-4 with one run and three RBI. Olivia Rocha also did well going 2-4 with one run and one RBI, and Brittany Hampton and Valorie Miller both went 1-3 with one run scored. Receiving the loss was Tierney Estampa who went seven innings giving up 13 hits, nine earned runs, and had four strikeouts.
The Urban Knights scored nine runs on 13 hits, had two errors, and left six runners on base.
After the sweep, the Academy of Art University's record improves to 19-9 overall, while Patten University's record falls to 7-13 overall. The Knights play next on Wednesday, April 6th when they travel north to play Humboldt State University. Game times are scheduled for 10:00 am and 12:00 pm (subject to change) in Arcata, CA.
