BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 GAME 1:  Sonoma State 9, Academy of Art 0 (5 innings) – Box Score
GAME 2:  Sonoma State 5, Academy of Art 2 – Box Score

BRISBANE, Calif. – Megan Konieczka went 5 for 6 with two doubles, a home run and six runs batted in while Holli Brown and Hayley Condon hit their first home runs of the season, helping the Sonoma State softball team to a convincing doubleheader sweep (9-0 and 5-2) of host Academy of Art on Wednesday at Mission Blue Field in Brisbane.  The Seawolves improve to 7-3 this season and the Urban Knights fall to 1-5.

Sonoma State will jump back into conference play on Friday when it travels south to take on Cal State San Bernardino in a four-game series.

GAME 1

It didn't take Sonoma State long at all to begin its assault on the Academy of Art in the opener.  In fact, on the very first pitch of the day, Hayley Condon was hit by the pitch, then stole second moments later.  After a walk to Ashley Long, Konieczka doubled to right center field and the Seawolves led 2-0 just eight pitches into the ballgame.  Five tosses later, Holli Brown gave SSU the 3-0 lead with an RBI single to left field, plating Konieczka.

Another run came across the plate in the second inning on an Urban Knight throwing error, scoring Alison Strycula.  After the Seawolves were held scoreless in the third, Condon, Long and Konieczka recorded back-to-back-to-back RBI base hits to put the visitors up big, 7-0.

In the fifth, Brown smashed her first home run of the season over the left field fence to lead off the frame before Aubrie Tolliver brought home Ancia Purdy from second base on a sacrifice bunt that was placed perfectly up the third base line for the 9-0 advantage and eventual final score.

Meanwhile, Amanda Llerena improved to 4-2 this season, allowing just one hit in four innings of work; she walked four, hit one and struck out five batters in the 18 that she faced before giving way to Katy Bihl, who put the Urban Knights down in order in the fifth to induce the eight-run mercy rule.

Both Konieczka and Brown went 2 for 3 with a run scored; Konieczka added a double and three RBI while Brown brought in two runs, including the solo home run in the fifth.  In all, the Seawolves totaled nine hits off of Academy of Art starter Carlee Emerson (0-3), who pitched the first three and two-thirds innings, and reliever Alexa Peters.  The only Urban Knight hit came off the bat of Elyse Cordova in the bottom of the fourth.

GAME 2

While it took eight pitches for Sonoma State to score its first runs in the opener, it took half as many for Condon to put a run across the plate in game two.  Facing a 1-2 count, she ripped the ball up and over the left field fence to put SSU up 1-0.  It would become 2-0 soon thereafter when Long scored on an RBI single by Konieczka.

When it looked as if the Seawolves were going to cruise to another blowout win, the Urban Knights took advantage of a throwing error by game two starter Melissa Smith.  It was a ground ball that was hit right back at her with a runner already on base.  Two runs eventually came in to score during the inning – on a wild pitch by Smith and a double steal by the Academy of Art – but that's all the hosts would get.

The score remained knotted at 2-2 until Konieczka hit her second home run of the season in the top of the fifth inning, it was a two-run shot that also scored Long for the 4-2 lead.  The Seawolves added more cushion in their next at bat on a two-out RBI single by pinch hitter Amanda Rossetta, scoring Olivia Lucchese, who recorded a pinch-hit double several pitches earlier.

With a 5-2 lead in the sixth, Bihl, who relieved Smith to start the fifth, ran into a bit of trouble, putting runners on second and third with one out, but she induced a groundout and a popout, both to Long at shortstop, to keep a three-run SSU lead in tact.  It would hold up to be the final score as Sonoma State earned the doubleheader sweep.

Konieczka wrapped up a huge day at the plate, going a perfect 3 for 3 with a double, a home run and three RBI in the nightcap.  Condon went 2 for 4 with the aforementioned home run to lead off the contest.  In the circle, Smith got the victory, improving to 2-0.  She went four innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits, two walks and one hit by pitch with two strikeouts.  Katy Bihl earned her third save of the season after working the final three innings, allowing just three hits.