Box Score

Pomona, Calif. (4/19/09) -- Leading 8-6 in the eighth inning, the Urban Knights surrendered seven runs to Cal Poly Pomona in the bottom half and would go on to lose 13-8 on Sunday afternoon at Scolinos Field. All but one AAU starter had a hit in the game as sophomore third baseman Chris Vargas continued to wield a hot bat with his sixth home run of the season and a 2-for-5 day with two RBIs and one run scored.

The contest was a back-and-forth battle throughout with the Broncos getting on the board first after a quick first inning for the Knights. With the bases loaded and no outs in the opening inning, CPP hit two sacrifice flies to take an early 2-0 lead.

That advantage would not last long, however, because junior first baseman Mike Gutierrez kicked off the second inning with a single and freshman right fielder Brandon Kistler followed that up with a double. Then, with the two runners on, freshman left fielder Alex Rosenthal came up with a big single to score both of his teammates.

The squads now tied 2-2, Pomona used a double, a single, and another sacrifice fly to push two more across in its half of the second inning. In the third, Vargas made it all the way to third base because a variety of miscues by the Broncos, but Academy of Art University could not get him home after the final two batters each struck out looking.

The teams exchanged a scoreless fourth inning before AAU got it going again in the fifth. Freshman shortstop Ryan Worley singled and promptly stole second to put himself in scoring position for Vargas who launched a two-run home run out of the park and put the Urban Knights on top 6-5. The inning continued as senior catcher Florentino Ubungen was hit by a pitch and Gutierrez hit a double, putting runners on second and third with only one out. Rosenthal was later hit by a pitch as well to load the bases for sophomore second baseman Van Hanson who drove two home on a single and extended AAU's lead to three runs.

Neither team would score in the sixth, but Cal Poly Pomona managed to get one run back in the seventh despite solid pitching by sophomore right-hander Darnell Quinney (0-7) in the inning. Quinney walked Frank Klopp, but proceeded to strike out the next two batters and then a RBI double by Erik Ridel scored Klopp. Two walks followed which loaded the bases for the Broncos, but Quinney got himself out of the jam on a lineout to end the inning.

The eighth inning was the turning point in the game for both teams. A new pitcher, right-hander Graham Bills, came on for Cal Poly Pomona and promptly hit Hanson to start things off. Quinney got aboard with a fielder's choice and stolen base before reaching third base on Worley's flyout. Freshman centerfielder Martin Layton-Santos drove Quinney home on a two-out single and the heart of the Knights' order continued to hit. Vargas singled to center field and Ubungen singled to left to score Layton-Santos, putting AAU up 8-6.

In the bottom half of the eighth, the Broncos wasted no time in regaining the lead after Nick Tanos homered with two men on and the next batter doubled to left. Rosenthal (0-4), who had relieved Quinney in the seventh, was removed for junior righty Danny Couser (0-5) at this point, but it did not slow Cal Poly Pomona. Three RBI singles later, Couser issued a bases-loaded walk before getting the final out of the inning. The damage had been done though as the scoreboard now read 13-8 and Academy of Art University had three consecutive outs in the top of the ninth.

Behind Vargas' strong day at the plate, Rosenthal was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, Hanson was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, and Gutierrez as well as Kistler each had two hits in the game. AAU matched the Broncos with 11 hits, but simply could not close out the contest and get a victory.

Quinney kept his team in the game and wound up with a no-decision after throwing six innings while giving up six runs (four earned) on five hits with seven walks and three strikeouts. Rosenthal got the loss after allowing four runs on three hits in his 1.1 innings of work. Couser, who came on after much of the damage had been done, was tagged for three more runs on three hits with three walks in 0.2 innings.

Tanos was the hero for Cal Poly Pomona after his 1-for-3 performance which included the big three-run homer and a total of five RBIs on the day. For the second consecutive day, Riedel was dangerous at the plate and he finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Right-handed pitcher Casey McCarthy (2-0) started for CPP, but got a no-decision and only went three innings and allowed two runs on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Righty Keith Powers (3-1), the Broncos' fifth and final pitcher of the contest, got the win and did not allow a hit or a run in his 1.1 innings of work.

With the tough loss, the Urban Knights fall to 0-29 overall while the Broncos improve to 24-17 overall.

Academy of Art University's season finale takes place this Tuesday, Apr. 21 against Division II powerhouse Chico State. The game is set to begin at 6:00 PM at Nettleton Stadium.