HAYWARD, Calif. – As the series switched over to Hayward, both Academy of Art and Cal State East Bay were tied with one win each in the series. However, the Pioneers were able to take home the two-game sweep on Saturday despite the Urban Knights mounting a comeback in each contest.
 
Game One: CSUEB 11-4 ART U
 
Senior left-hander Alexander Kuisel made his 2017 debut in game one, but was only able to get through 2.1 innings before senior right-hander Josh Lopez took over in the third. At that point, East Bay had already taken a 4-0 lead.
 
However, in the top of the fourth, Brennan Mauchline, who was in the midst of his first start as an Urban Knight, stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. The Oakland, Calif. native erased the deficit with one swing of the bat, sending a grand slam over the left-field fence and tying the game 4-4.
 
The Pioneers were quick to respond however, scoring seven more runs including two in the fourth and fifth innings, one in the sixth, and two in the eighth.
 
Junior catcher Marciano Reichel had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Mauchline's big fly highlighted the first game for ART U as it was the first of the season for Academy of Art and it gave the Advertising major his first four runs batted in as an Urban Knight.
 
Game Two: CSUEB 7-4 ART U
 
After making an appearance in ART U's first two games of the season, junior right-hander Luke Lacy was given the nod to start game two of Saturday's double header. The Valencia, Calif. native only made it through 1.0 innings however, giving up four runs (three earned) during that time. Sophomore right-hander Mason Verhees took over in the second and posted a solid outing, going 5.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits while allowing seven walks and striking out four.
 
Down 5-0 entering the fourth, the Urban Knights propelled themselves back into contention with a three-run frame and added another in the sixth. Mauchline got the scoring started with a double to collect his fifth run batted in on the day and junior catcher Tyler Harry ended the frame with a sacrifice fly to center field. Junior infielder Mike Maleski drove in the run for ART U in the sixth with a single to right field that plated sophomore outfielder Taj Dawson.
 
The deficit was now at one run (5-4), but Cal State Easy Bay delivered the final blow with a two-run bottom of the sixth. Unable to make a comeback with their final three outs in the seventh, the Urban Knights fell to the Pioneers 7-4.
 
With the two losses, Academy of Art falls to 1-3 on the season, but will have a chance to redeem themselves on February 7. Then, they will play host to NAIA, Menlow College at Noon.