BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 BOX SCORES:  SSU 5, ART U 3 | SSU 8, ART U 3
Archived Audio Broadcast (Game Two Only)

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. --  Freshman Ancia Purdy had five hits to pace a solid offensive effort as Sonoma State rolled to a doubleheader sweep of the Academy of Art in their season opener on Saturday afternoon at Seawolf Field in Rohnert Park.  The Seawolves came from behind in both games, winning the opener, 5-3, and the nightcap, 8-3.  The wins push the Seawolves' record to 2-0 on the season.  The Urban Knights fall to 0-4.

Game One: Sonoma State 5, Academy of Art 3

It was a slow start for the Seawolves and starting pitcher Ciara Becerril, as the Urban Knights posted three runs in the top of the first inning on a couple of hits and a double steal with runners on first and third.  However, Purdy led off the bottom of the first with her first collegiate single -- her first of what would turn out to be five on the day -- followed by a stolen base.  She eventually scored when Vanessa Currie reached on a throwing error.  It would be the only run SSU would get, though, and would trail by two at 3-1.

After a scoreless top of the second for the Urban Knights, the Seawolves again plated a run in their half of the second, which started with a double by Samantha Beauchamp and a single by Jayme Tickemyer.  Purdy came up big again, bringing Beauchamp home on an infield single to close the gap to one run at 3-2.  Neither team would score again until the Sonoma State fifth when Megan Konieczka and Purdy both scored on a three-base throwing error to give the Seawolves the 4-3 lead.  Shannon Kehr added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly of her own to score Danielle D'Eccliss.

It would prove to be more than enough as Becerril closed out the game retiring the next six batters she faced to earn her (and the team's) first victory of 2012.  After giving up three runs on two hits in the first, Becerril settled down, allowing just two more hits in the final six innings.  Purdy finished with a 3 for 4 outing, scoring a pair of runs and batting in a run.

Game Two: Sonoma State 8, Academy of Art 3

Just like in game one, the Urban Knights was the first to score, but this time, only plated one run in the top of the second on Samantha Lipperd, the starter of game two.  It would be the only run they would get that inning, before the Seawolves came up and posted four runs, thanks to RBIs from Beauchamp, Purdy and two from D'Eccliss. 

Sonoma State would tack on an extra run in the third on a RBI single by Konieczka that scored Skylynn Myers and the Seawolves would lead 5-1.  The Academy of Art wouldn't go down without a fight, though, adding a pair of runs in its half of the fifth.  It could have been more, as the Urban Knights, after scoring said runs, had runners on first and third with no outs.  Lipperd wasn't phased, pitching herself out of the jam, forcing a pop up, a line out and a strikeout -- one of seven on the day.

In the Seawolf sixth, Currie put the game out of reach with a bases-clearing triple to right center field, scoring D'Eccliss, Konieczka and Purdy, putting Sonoma up 8-3.  In the top of the seventh, Lipperd would allow two more hits, but held on tight to strike out the final batter, giving the Seawolves two wins on opening day.  She would allow 11 hits, but only three ART U players crossed the plate, and she struckout seven.

Purdy had another monsterous game, going 2 for 3 with a RBI and a run scored.  Konieczka also with 2 for 3 with a RBI and a run scored.

Sonoma State will head to Las Vegas, Nev. next weekend to participate in the MSUB Desert Stinger, facing Central Washington, Augustana, Academy of Art, Metro State and Western Washington in the three-day tournament on Feb. 10-12.  The Seawolves will then return home on Feb. 17-18 to host Cal State Monterey Bay in the first CCAA series of the season.