ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — A solid team effort by the Academy of Art University baseball team's pitching staff and an early lead wasn't enough to hold off a determined Sonoma State team Tuesday, as the Seawolves took the lead late and held off the Urban Knights for a 3-2 non-conference win at Seawolf Diamond.
 
Academy of Art (5-16) saw three pitchers combine to throw a total of five scoreless innings, but Sonoma State (13-12) chipped away at a 2-0 ART U lead that the Urban Knights grabbed in the second inning with single runs in the fourth, sixth and eighth to emerge victorious.
 
Senior starting pitcher Nate Gercken started the game for ART U with three scoreless, hitless frames, lowering his season ERA to 1.37. He had one strikeout and no walks and left the game with a 2-0 lead, giving way to fellow senior Yoshi Uemura.
 
Senior first baseman Daniel Skinner put the Urban Knights on the board in the second with a one-out RBI double down the right field line, scoring senior catcher Chucky Cavestany, who reached on a hit-by-pitch, and junior third baseman Brett Adami, who singled to set up Skinner's at-bat.
 
The Seawolves loaded the bases against Uemura in the fourth and got their first run on a hit-by-pitch, but the double play was once again the Urban Knights' best friend, as Uemura induced a 5-4-3 double play from SSU's Hayden Hibberd to end the threat and keeping it at 2-1. ART U turned three double plays Tuesday for the fourth time this season.
 
It would happen again in the fifth when Sonoma State loaded the bases again against Uemura. This time junior relief pitcher Jacob Green entered and got the double play, throwing home to prevent a run and getting an out at first. He'd end the inning with an infield popup to strand Sonoma State runners on second and third and hold a 2-1 lead.
 
Green stretched his scoreless innings streak to six innings as he got out of the fifth for the Urban Knights. Before the Seawolves scored in the sixth, Green was looking at extending his scoreless outings streak to six games. But SSU tied the game by getting three of its first four batters in the sixth on base, capped by an RBI double from Devin Alexander.
 
Sonoma State would take the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth after a base hit to right field was misplayed by ART U, allowing Brandon Baranzini to reach third on a triple. Spencer Neve followed with an eventual game-winning sacrifice fly. Gerald Jamerson threw just six pitches in the top of the ninth to earn the save.
 
Academy of Art returns to Pacific West Conference play at home with a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Friday versus Point Loma.