Box Score #1
Box Score #2
San Jose, CA --- On a day when four different Urban Knights hit home runs, Academy of Art University (6-33) split a doubleheader with Bethany University (12-25) at PAL Stadium. The Bruins defeated AAU 8-2 in the first game, but the Knights responded with an incredible 23-7 win in the second contest. Sophomore third baseman Jared DePatto and freshman first baseman Spencer Roland combined for eight of the 18 hits by Academy of Art in that game while sophomore pitcher/outfielder Alex Rosenthal and freshman shortstop Stefen Henderson each hit a home run.
Game one was an uphill challenge early on after Bethany rallied for four runs in the first. Rosenthal (1-8), the starting pitcher for the Knights, then bounced back from that tough opening inning and shut out the Bruins for the next two frames.
In the top of the fourth, AAU got on the board by way of the second career home run from junior third baseman Darnell Quinney. Bethany pushed its advantage to 6-1 with a pair of runs scored in their bottom half, but the Urban Knights would not give up. When sophomore centerfielder Johnathan Robbins reached on an error to lead off the sixth and Quinney walked, Academy of Art had a chance to rally. Senior right fielder Mike Gutierrez did single home Robbins only Bethany exited the inning with no further damage.
After seven innings were in the books, the Bruins may have had an 8-2 victory, but they were not ready for what would happen in game two. Rosenthal was assigned the loss after allowing eight runs (five earned) on nine hits with two strikeouts in 5.0 innings on the mound.
Head Coach Brian Guinn talked about the potential for Academy of Art to unleash its offense at any time and Bethany found that out the hard way in the nine-inning affair that followed game one. The Knights went up 1-0 in the first and plated three in the second on RBI singles by Roland and Gutierrez along with an RBI triple by Robbins.
Four more runs came across in the third highlighted by a two-run double from junior second baseman Ryan Worley who later scored in the inning. The Bruins did get back three runs over the next two innings and yet AAU was far from finished. Each team scored one run in the fifth so heading into the sixth, the Knights led 9-4.
The sixth inning was when the storm hit. Three hits led to seven runs including a leadoff home run launched off the bat of DePatto. Academy of Art kept the flood gates open through the seventh where the visitors put a six on the scoreboard. In that inning, two were on for Henderson who proceeded to blast a three-run shot beyond the confines of PAL Stadium. Roland also added his second RBI single of the day as the Urban Knights grew their lead to 16 runs.
Rosenthal also got a bit of revenge himself when he smacked the first home run of his career, a solo shot, out of the park in the ninth. The 23 runs were the most ever by AAU in its two-year history and the 18 hits just edged out the 17 Academy of Art achieved in against Menlo last season on Apr. 14, 2009.
In 6.0 strong innings of work, Quinney (1-9) topped the Academy of Art strikeout record which he had previously set against Grand Canyon on Apr. 10. The junior righty sat down nine Bruins in his start and earned the first victory of his career. Quinney allowed four runs (one earned) on two hits in the start. Sophomore lefty Zach Mexicano came in to pick up the fourth save by an AAU pitcher this season with 3.0 innings on the mound and five strikeouts to match his career-high.
The Academy of Art bats were red hot in game two, led by four-hit outings from DePatto and Roland. DePatto set new season-highs with his 4-for-5 day, four runs scored, and his second home run of 2010. Roland, who had been used primarily as a pitcher this year, also had a season-high four hits with three runs scored and two RBIs. Rosenthal's home run was the first of his career and the left fielder ended the day 2-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBIs.
The big three-run homer for Henderson helped him finish game two 1-for-4 with a season-high four RBIs and one run scored. And while they each had just one hit apiece in the contest, Worley and Robbins both crossed home plate three times in the second game.
Bethany spread the offense around in both games as four different Bruins finished the day with two RBIs apiece. Left fielder Brandon Bittle came away with a 2-for-7 outing, two RBIs, and three runs scored. The winning pitcher in game one was Adrian DeMar who threw all 7.0 innings, allowed two runs (one earned), and struck out nine. The loss in the second game was charged to Jordan Bryson.
Tomorrow night, Academy of Art faces Patten University for the second time in three days. This game road game for the Urban Knights is scheduled to take place at San Leandro Ball Park (http://tinyurl.com/y576b98) with first pitch set for 7:00 PM.
