Game One Box Score
 
Game Two Box Score
 
CHICO, Calif. – The Urban Knights split a double header with the Chico State Wildcats on Saturday, capturing their first series win of the season.
 
Game One: Urban Knights-3 Wildcats-8
 
The Wildcats were off to a quick start in game one, scoring in the first inning off of an RBI groundout to make it 1-0. Chico would strike again in the second, but this time, ART U returned the favor with a run of their own in the top of the third: senior right fielder Cody Edmunds was the first of three Knights to reach base in succession, lacing a double to left centerfield. Two batters later, senior left fielder Greg Ivory would send an RBI single through the left side which would mark the beginning of what would become an offensively lucrative day for the Sacramento State transfer.
 
After cutting the deficit in half to 2-1, the WildCats would respond with three more runs of their own in the bottom of the third and fifth innings to extend their lead to 8-1.  Although ART U would add two more runs to their line in the sixth inning, it was not enough to overcome Chico State with a final score of 8-3.
 
Despite the loss, Ivory tied the program record with four hits, knocked in a run, and scored one himself. The freshman designated hitter Daniel Farfan was also credited with a run batted in during his 1-for-4 performance at the plate in the first contest.
 
Freshman right hander Roman Martinez was the team's most dominant pitcher, tossing 3.0 innings while only allowing one hit and issuing just one walk while striking out the only Wildcat of the game.
 
"We came out battling hard," said head coach Dan McDermott. "We had some good at bats which rolled into the second game and gave us momentum from there."
 
Game Two: Urban Knights-9 Wildcats-7
 
Game two's rubber match had a different narrative for Academy of Art as the Knights scored early and often to come away with a 9-7 victory. ART U tallied 13 hits on the night which is the most hits in a single game during McDermott's tenure at ART U and the highest total since April 14, 2014 vs. St Katherine (14, 11 innings).
 
Junior right hander Josh Lopez started the game on the hill for the Urban Knights and earned the win after tossing 5.2 innings while only allowing 6 hits on four walks with one strikeout and one earned run.
 
Lopez was given a lead before he threw his first pitch as Ivory yet again proved to be an offensive staple for Academy of Art. The senior knocked in junior shortstop Payton Milone with a single in the first to give ART U a 1-0 lead.
 
Academy of Art scored four more times in the fourth, highlighted by redshirt junior second baseman Erick Luna's two-run triple (his first three-bagger of the season). ART U then added two runs in the sixth and single runs in both the seventh and ninth innings.
 
Although the team headed into the bottom of the eighth with an 8-1 lead, the Wildcats refused go quietly. Farfan came in to pitch with two outs in the sixth inning and allowed seven hits in 2.2 innings pitched with six earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts. Chico's rally for six runs in the final two frames was finally cut short when junior right hander Cody Ball recorded the final two outs in the ninth with the tying runs on base.
 
There were several Urban Knights who put together a solid game two at the plate including: Ivory (2-for-4, 2 RBI, and a walk), Farfan, (2-for-4, two runs), Luna (3-for-5, 3 RBI), and Edmunds (2-for-3 with a walk).
 
"This was a big win for the program to understand that they are a good team," McDermott remarked. "It made me really proud how the guys held it together and got it done."
 
ART U has two days off from competition before heading to Sonoma State to play the Seawolves in Rohnert Park. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.