Box Score

Chico, CA - The Urban Knights continued to get their offensive game going, but the high-powered offense of No. 10/13 Chico State, which is averaging over eight runs per game, pulled away from Academy of Art in the series finale and finished off the sweep with a score of 13-5. Devin Mason was 3-for-4 for the Knights, and Zach Babitt continued his strong start to the season, but the Wildcat bats proved too much, scoring in every inning except the fourth to earn the victory.

The game started off very promising for the Knights, who have scored more runs in the first inning this year (17) than in any other inning. Getting off to a good start usually means that the top of the lineup is both fast and gets on base, and any pitcher can attest to the fact that pitching with an early lead makes things a lot easier. And with a noticeable surplus of speed, small-ball is the name of the game for ART U.

That's how Sunday's game started off for the Urban Knights (0-19), as Zach Babitt led off the game with a bunt single. Myles Babitt worked a walk, and Niko Leite sacrificed them both a base over. Jared DePatto then had an infield hit to score the elder Babitt, with Myles moving over to third. Catcher James Singzon followed that with a bunt single before Kenny Rollins, Jr. struck out swinging, but the Urban Knights neatly manufactured a two-run lead.

Unfortunately, the Wildcats (17-5), whose offense has been tough for every opponent so far this year, answered in the bottom of the first with three runs. Starter Wade Broadstreet (0-5) hit TJ Yasuhara to lead off the inning, and he scored as the next batter singled but the ball was mishandled by Bryce Hutchings in center. Cody Foster doubled, and then scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Cody Webber to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead after one inning.

The Urban Knights came right back at the home team in the top of the second, going station to station once more against Chico State starter Nick Baker (2-0). Mason got his first hit of the day, an infield hit to second base. Spencer Roland had a sacrifice bunt, and Hutchings grounded out, advancing Mason to third. Zach Babitt singled to center to score him, and then Myles Babitt followed with a double, poising the Knights for a big two-out rally. But Baker got Leite to strike out to end the threat, and it was still a tie game.

The Wildcats scored two more in the bottom of the second, and two more in the bottom of the third to take a 7-3 lead, but the Knights came up in the fifth ready to get back in the game. Chico State went to Morgan Yee in relief, and with one out, he walked DePatto. Singzon doubled to left center to put runners on second and third with one out. Rollins had an RBI groundout, and then Mason had his second hit of the day, a single to right field to score Singzon. Roland then reached on a fielders choice, with Mason going to third base on an errant throw, but Hutchings struck out to end the threat, with the Knights down 7-5 and very much still in the game.

But Broadstreet couldn't keep the Wildcats off the bases, or off the scoreboard, as they scored three in the bottom of the inning to make it 10-5, and then added one more in the sixth, seventh, and eighth to get to the final score of 13-5. Roger Boulden had three hits and four RBIs for Chico, and Boulden and Eric Angerer each had three runs for the Wildcats.

Despite the loss, it was another step in the right direction for the Knights, who have had great defense, solid pitching, and a station-to-station offense that has the potential to score a lot of runs. Unfortunately, they have been unable to put all three of those elements together in the same game. The Knights will have a week to recover before heading to Grand Canyon on Friday for back-to-back doubleheaders against the 'Lopes in Phoenix.