Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

Oakland, CA -- The Academy of Art baseball team hasn't had many breaks go their way here in 2012, but in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against Hawaii Pacific, the clutch hits fell at exactly the right times for the Knights to earn a split with the visiting Sea Warriors. The first game was a forgettable 10-0 loss for ART U, but the nightcap was one to remember, as Kallen Fletcher's six strong innings were backed up by two rallies by the Knights offense and Ryan Donahoe's first save of the year as ART U came out with the 5-2 victory. 

"We've been hitting the ball hard, and it feels like a lot of things just haven't really gone our way out there," said head coach Brian Guinn. "It felt real good in that second game to finally have some hits fall in at the right times. We're looking to finish these 10 games strong."

Having thrown their three usual starters (Zach Mexicano, Nate Gercken, and Wade Broadstreet) and their long man and spot starter Spencer Roland in the fourth game of the weekend series, head coach Brian Guinn was faced with some decisions in order to assure his staff their regular rest. In the first game, Guinn sent out Niko Leite, who has pitched for the Knights before and has played every position this year except for shortstop and first base.

Leite (0-2) managed the game well, getting into trouble but mostly getting out of it, forcing the Sea Warriors to leave 10 runners on base over five innings. Unfortunately, they did score six runs in those innings, getting one across in the first and two in the second, another single run in the fourth and two more in the fifth against Leite. He also walked seven and gave up eight hits. Leite switched positions with left-fielder Myles Babitt in the sixth, and though the freshman was roughed up in his first inning, giving up four runs on four hits and an error, he settled down after that, working three scoreless frames to end the game.

On the other side of the ball, Hawaii Pacific had their ace on the mound, and he was dealing. Michael Murray (8-2) held the Knights hitless in the first game through the fourth inning, but that ended when Myles Babitt beat out a  bunt single to put two runners on with nobody out. Johnathan Robbins sacrificed the Babitts over a base, but Stefen Henderson struck out swinging, and two batters later Broadstreet also went down on an inside fastball to end the threat, and the Knights were still down 4-0 at that point.

The Knights didn't get another hit until the seventh, when the Bay Area sun took its first stab at the Sea Warriors defense. First-baseman Justin Winters had his sunglasses on, and ventured into foul territory, but the ball eventually landed about halfway between first base and the pitcher's mound in fair territory, with no one around it. Meanwhile, Henderson was sprinting the whole way, and made it to second base without a throw for a rare infield double. Kenny Rollins, Jr. grounded out, moving Henderson over, but then Broadstreet grounded into a fielder's choice, with Henderson being tagged out at home. The Knights got one more hit when Zach Babitt lined a double in the ninth, but the damage was done as they dropped the first game 10-0. 

Guinn went to his bullpen again for the second game against the Sea Warriors, sending the senior Kallen Fletcher to the mound in his second start of the year. Fletcher, whose unique over-the-top delivery was causing fits for the HPU hitters all night, responded with his best outing of his career, going six innings and allowing only two runs, both unearned to earn the first win of his career as an Urban Knight. 

"Honestly, I couldn't have done it without my team," said Fletcher. "I'm not that strikeout pitcher, and without my defense we wouldn't have been able to get the W out there. Our pitching staff is a true pitching staff. You get that ball in your hands, and you're in control, and that's what I had to do today."

Fletcher kept the Sea Warriors off-balance, and every time it looked like they were about to break through, he shut them down time and time again. After giving up a leadoff double to start the game, Fletcher coaxed a popup, a groundout, and a fly ball to right to end the first inning. In the third inning, two walks led to a situation with runners on second and third with two outs, Keanu Kapana flied out to Michael Reyes in right to let Fletcher escape unscathed. Again in the fourth, Fletcher hit Troy Ajer, who advanced to second on a balk. But then there was a foul out to short, and a foul out to the left fielder. Raymond Salazar walked, and then Wade Tamaru reached on a bunt to load the bases with two outs, but Derek Nakasato grounded out to second base to end the inning.

"Kallen was around the plate," said Coach Guinn. "We emphasize guys staying around the plate, and the hitters will get themselves out. The wind was blowing in, and he got a lot of fly balls, and as a result, he got a lot of outs."

Leading off the bottom of the fourth, Stefen Henderson lifted another high pop fly on the infield. This one was in between the shortstop and the third baseman, who both looked at each other when the ball split the difference between the two fielders, with Henderson taking second base on his second infield double of the day. DePatto followed with the intent of laying down a sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher John Albert (5-6) threw to third base almost before Henderson thought about advancing, getting two runners on with nobody out. Reyes then did get the sacrifice down, and Henderson then scored on a wild pitch, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead. Broadstreet followed that with a perfect squeeze play, putting the bunt just out of reach of the catcher as DePatto scampered home to make it 2-0. 

The Sea Warriors answered with two runs in the top of the fifth, starting with an error by Leite, who started the second game at third base. Amaral doubled, and Kapana and Ajer both followed with sacrifice flies to tie the game at 2-2. The Knights went quietly in the bottom of the fifth, and Fletcher finished strong with an eight-pitch sixth inning.

The bottom of the sixth was the turning point for the Knights, who started off with a DePatto double down the right-field line. Reyes laid down his second sacrifice bunt of the game, and Chris Holmes took a pitch off his forearm to put two runners on. Then, on a 2-1 pitch, Bryce Hutchings slammed a double off the left-field wall to bring DePatto home and give the Urban Knights a 3-2 lead. Zach Babitt then shot a single up the middle to add two more insurance runs, and the Knights had a 5-2 lead, with the rally coming with two outs.

"Today my coaches told me the pitchers are going to bust you away, bust you away, and then try to bust you inside so just look for the outside pitch and take it that way," said Hutchings. "So all of today I was working on opposite field and before I went up to the plate, every pitch I was telling myself, 'Go the opposite way.' And he threw the outside pitch and I just went with it off the wall to get the run in."

Hutchings' hit set the table for the Knights to give junior transfer Ryan Donahoe the perfect opportunity that he's been waiting for to showcase his stuff. Donahoe, who has been injured for a majority of 2012, has been raring to go all season long, and quickly showed why the ART U coaching staff has been so high on him. Donahoe came in and immediately offered a stark contrast to Fletcher's eephus-type delivery, establishing a fastball in the high 80s, and touching 91 MPH at his peak. Donahoe got Max Newman to ground out to first, and then took the next one, a comebacker, all the way to first to get the second out. Kapana singled to center field, but then Donahoe got ahead of Ajer and induced a game-ending line drive to Hutchings for the save.

"I can't take credit for this because Kallen did a great job today. He threw six amazing innings and I'm just happy I could get him the win and get the save for the team," said Donahoe. "I've been dying to get out on the field and throw. Sitting in the dugout and watching the team play the whole time, I've just been itching to play. When I did get out there, my adrenaline was pumping more than ever and my heart was racing. It felt great and I was super happy that we pulled off the win.”

The Urban Knights continued a trend for Hawaii Pacific, who have now made it four doubleheaders in a row that have been started with a victory and ended in defeat. In the second game, Hutchings was 2-for-3 with a run scored and the big go-ahead RBI. DePatto was 1-for-3, scoring twice, and Zach Babitt was also 1-for-3, adding the insurance with 2 RBIs. Academy of Art will have another crack at the Sea Warriors tomorrow at 4:00 PM. In between the two games of the doubleheader, the Knights will also honor their eight seniors in an on-field ceremony. It's not too late to sign up! Head to Fan Bus Central right here.