GAME #26 & #27
Academy of Art (5-20, 3-9 PacWest) at Dixie State (16-8, 11-1 PacWest)
Wednesday, March 27, 2015 – 4 p.m. & 7p.m. MDT
St. George, Utah – Bruce Hurst Field
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
GAME #28 & #29
Academy of Art (5-20) at Dixie State (16-8, 11-1 PacWest)
Friday, March 28, 2015 – 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. MDT
St. George, Utah – Bruce Hurst Field
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
SAN FRANCISCO — The Academy of Art University baseball team is set to take the field this weekend against the Pacific West Conference's top team, the Dixie State Red Storm (16-8) in St. George, Utah.
 
The Urban Knights (5-20, 3-9 PacWest) were competitive last weekend against the Point Loma Sea Lions, though PLNU came away with the four-game sweep. ART U was led by senior catcher Chucky Cavestany, who went 3-for-5 with a home run, walk and two RBIs on Saturday.
 
The series will consist of two doubleheaders over the course of two days.
 
ABOUT DIXIE STATE
The Red Storm (16-8) has been running through the PacWest going 11-1 to start conference play. They've won four straight and 16 of their last 17 games dating back to Feb. 15. Dixie State currently holds a three-game lead over the second place California Baptist Lancers. 
 
DSU currently boasts one of the best slugging percentages in the league (.381), led by 2014 All-PacWest designated hitter Kevin Kline (.631). Red Storm pitching has also been on the rise as starting pitcher Aaron Pope has become one of the conference leaders in ERA (2.73) and has a 2-1 record. Sunday, Pope was able to win the first game of Dixie State's sweep of Holy Names University.
 
DUEL OF AWARD WINNERS
Junior infielder Tanner Morache, winner of this week's PacWest Newcomer of the Week, is slated to match up against ART U senior starting pitcher Nate Gercken, named the PacWest Pitcher of the Week late last month. Morache went 8-for-16 with eight runs and three RBIs during last weekend's series against Holy Names. He currently sits fourth in the conference in hits (38) and batting average (.392). Gercken, meanwhile, is 3-4 with a 1.67 ERA in his eight starts this season. It'll be a clash of power, as Morache – a left-handed batter – brings a .904 OPS (on-base plus slugging) against Gercken's .241 opponents' batting average versus lefties.
 
TRIPLES KING
Currently junior outfielder Joey Marchini sits tied for second in the conference in triples with three. Marchini has been dynamic out of the leadoff spot, hitting .304 with 28 hits, a home run, six RBIs and a .435 slugging percentage. His three triples are tied for the single-season Urban Knights record and his four career three-baggers are tied for third all-time at ART U. He is chasing Hawaii Pacific's Derek Nakasato and Fresno Pacific's Preston Scott for the league lead.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Urban Knights come home for Senior Night on April 3 as they host Holy Names. Academy of Art will finish out the season with four straight series on the road.