Box Scores: SSU 2, AAU 0 / AAU 4, SSU 1

BRISBANE, Calif- Samantha Lipperd continued to dominate in the pitching circle, tossing seven shutout innings and allowing just two hits while striking out ten, helping Sonoma State to a 2-0 win in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader at Academy of Art in Brisbane. The Seawolves were forced to split the twinbill, though, losing the nightcap, 4-1.

With the win and loss, Sonoma State, which is receiving votes in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll, moves to 16-7 overall. Academy of Art, a member of the Pacific West Conference, goes to 10-4.

Sonoma State 2, Academy of Art 0

It was all Lipperd in the opener, allowing zero runs and just two hits in the contest. While she allowed six runners on base, not one advanced beyond second base. Lipperd struckout ten of the 27 Urban Knights she faced, improving to 9-3 this season.

Meanwhile, it took a while for the Seawolf offense to give her some run support, as the game remained scoreless after four complete innings. In the top of the fifth, Brittany Martinez reached on a one-out single through the right side. Tatiana Pizarro pinch ran for B. Martinez and stole second. Jesse Talaugon then singled, moving Pizarro to third, before Talaugon stole second to put runners on second and third. Danielle D'Eccliss then singled, scoring Pizarro. With Talaugon moving to third and D'Eccliss on first, D'Eccliss stole second and on the ensuing throw, Talaugon swiped home to give Sonoma State the 2-0 lead and eventual victory.

D'Eccliss, Kayla Ledford, B. Martinez and Talaugon accounted for the four SSU hits in the game.

For Academy of Art, Julie Martin and Andrea Hanchey got the two hits for the home team, while starting pitcher Sierrah Garcia (5-2) was tagged with the loss, giving up the four hits, two runs and one walk. She struckout four.

Academy of Art 4, Sonoma State 1

In Wednesday's nightcap, Academy of Art finally plated a run in the second inning after being shutout in game one. It was a RBI single by Nicole Smith, scoring Jayme Stewart.

The Urban Knights got two more runs in the fourth after SSU starting pitcher Julianne Martinez walked Lauren Clark-Lewis with the bases loaded, putting AAU up 2-0. The second run of the inning to give the hosts a 3-0 advantage was a RBI groundout by Melissa Coe, again with the bases jammed.

In the sixth, Clark-Lewis delivered again, bringing home Alana Aweau on a single deep in the hole at shortstop, putting Academy of Art up 4-0.

With just three outs remaining for the Seawolves, Rachel Gaber was walked and Talaugon was hit by the pitch, putting two runners on, but with two outs. Ali Palermo then reached base on a throwing error by AAU shortstop Genna Allen, allowing Brittanie Verissimo to score. It would be the final run SSU would get, though, as Urban Knights pitcher Katie Brooks forced Vanessa Currie to groundout to her to end the game.

The Seawolves managed just four hits against Brooks -- Ledford, Vanyi, B. Martinez and Currie had one hit each. J. Martinez (6-3) was tagged with the loss, tossing six innings, giving up seven hits, four runs (three earned), while walking two and striking out five.

For Academy of Art, Aweau led the way with two of the seven hits for the hosts. Brooks (4-1) went the distance, scattering four hits and giving up just the one run (which was unearned). She walked two and struckout four.

Sonoma State will return to CCAA competition on Friday and Saturday when it travels to Turlock to face Cal State Stanislaus in a four-game series. Game one of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.