PacWest Release

Phoenix, AZ – During a 2-2 week in which Academy of Art baseball split with Pacific West Conference opponent Grand Canyon, three Urban Knights were recognized on the PacWest Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll. Junior left-handed pitcher Zach Mexicano (3-7) along with juniors Niko Leite and Kenny Rollins, Jr. all made major contributions thoughout the four-game home series. The honors were announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ, on Monday, Apr. 25 for games contested on Apr. 11-17.

Mexicano sparkled in his start against Grand Canyon on Apr. 15. The junior lefty earned a victory with a complete game performance that featured 13 retired batters out of the first 17 he faced. Though one run did score against him in the 2-1 ART U win, that run was unearned as it came after an error in the inning. Nonetheless, Mexicano was dominant that afternoon and never needed more than 16 pitches to exit any one of his 7.0 innings.

The final line for Mexicano included zero earned runs allowed on seven hits in 7.0 innings of work. The Scotts Valley, CA native also struck out two 'Lopes in the start and continues to lead the entire PacWest Conference in complete games this season with five.

After heating up offensively at the end of the Patten series a week prior, Leite had at least one hit in each game against GCU and raised his batting average over 30 points in that span. Leite went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the series opener on Apr. 15 as both of the Knights' rallies in the game centered around him reaching base. He added two walks and two stolen bases in that contest. Leite then singled and stole a base in the second game that day and put up a 3-for-5 performance in the Apr. 16 doubleheader that followed. Leite had a hand in ART U's nine-run explosion on Apr. 16 with a sacrifice fly that gave him a run batted in.

In four starts that week, Leite batted .600 (6-for-10) with two runs scored, one double, one RBI, and two walks. He also posted a .700 slugging percentage and .615 on-base mark. In addition, the junior outfielder was a perfect 4-of-4 in stolen base attempts. Leite has now stolen six of his nine bases in the month of April alone.

Highlighted by the eighth four-hit game in Academy of Art baseball history, Rollins, Jr. excelled in the Knights' split versus Grand Canyon. The Ayer, MA native reached base five times and stole two bases in the Apr. 15 doubleheader to start the series. He was 1-for-1 with two walks in the first contest and then added a 2-for-3 game two. Rollins, Jr.'s breakout day came on Apr. 16, however, when he unleashed a 4-for-5 outing with three RBIs and two runs scored in ART U's 11-6 victory. The four hits and three RBIs were both career-highs for the junior and impressively, he was 2-for-2 with both runs scored in the sixth inning alone.

Rollins, Jr. was 7-for-12 (.583) that week with three RBIs, two runs scored, one double, two walks, and two stolen bases. The infielder finished with a .667 slugging percentage and a .677 on-base average. His .314 batting average currently leads the team.

Rollins, Jr. earns his third career PacWest Weekly Top 10 honor and his third this season. Mexicano and Leite both take home their second selections this season and also the second in their respective ART U careers.