FRESNO, Calif. – After dropping the series opener on Thursday, Academy of Art came back in a big way, sweeping Friday's doubleheader which included a 10-inning, back-and-forth affair in game two.
 
GAME ONE: ART U 7, FPU 3
 
Fresno Pacific was the first to put a dent in the scoreboard, pushing across a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to quickly take a 2-0 lead. However, the Urban Knights denied a shutdown inning in the top of second by scoring a run of their own, courtesy of sophomore infielder Robert "Gio" Villanueva's sacrifice fly to center field.
 
Two innings later, ART U capitalized on an error and a wild pitch to score two runs and take a 3-2 lead. The Knights continued to add on in the following frame, scoring on a sacrifice from junior infielder Taylor Martin.
 
In the bottom of the inning, the Sunbirds cut into Academy of Art's 4-1 advantage with sac fly of their own, but their come-from-behind attempt would not come to fruition as ART U went on to score three insurance runs in the eighth, taking a 7-3 lead. In that inning, the Urban Knights sent eight batters to the plate and received RBI from senior infielder Erick Luna's single and back-to-back doubles from junior outfielder Izac Bauer and junior catcher Marciano Reichel.
 
Making his 10th start of the season, junior right-hander Luke Lacy earned his team-leading, fifth win of the season after tossing 7.0 IP. The Valenica, Calif. native allowed just seven hits, three runs (earned) while walking three and striking out five. Lacy has now produced five quality starts this season and has pitched seven or more innings on four different occasions. Senior lefty Jacob Green made his 18th appearance in the eighth and pitched a near-perfect two innings, allowing just one hit and one walk to seal the game-one victory.
 
Luna had a strong offensive performance in the first game, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI while both Reichel and junior outfielder Evan Ray each produced a pair of hits and one RBI apiece.
 
GAME TWO: ART U 7, FPU 6 (10IN)
 
Academy of Art starting things off on a strong note in the second game of Friday's doubleheader, pushing two runs across in the opening frame: after two outs were already recorded, Luna notched the first of three-consecutive hits in the inning, culminating with a double from junior infielder Taylor Martin, giving the Knights a 2-0 advantage.
 
FPU was quick to return the favor however, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second to pull even, 2-2. In the following half-inning, ART U jumped out in front once again with another two-run inning with RBI from Martin and junior catcher Tyler Harry.
 
The Urban Knights held a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the third, but the Sunbirds put together yet another come-from-behind rally to score two runs and knot things up at four runs apiece.
 
In the bottom of the sixth of the scheduled seven-inning game, Fresno delivered what looked to be a knockout blow, a two-run home run, giving the Sunbirds a 6-4 lead heading into the seventh.
 
Facing a two-run deficit, ART U refused to go down without a fight. The Urban Knights loaded the bases with no outs which set up an infield single from Martin, driving in Maleski from third to make it a one-run affair. Three pitches later, Ray came through, reaching on a fielder's choice which allowed Luna to cross the plate and tie the game 6-6. ART U now had runners at the corners with one out, but the following batter grounded into a double play on the first pitch to end the inning.
 
FPU led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left-center, but junior right-hander Sal Johnson who had entered the game the sixth, was able to induce three quick outs to send the game into extra innings.
 
Over the next two frames, things remained quiet until the top of the 10th when senior outfielder Cameron Jones led off the inning by beating out an infield single. Jones was moved over in the next at-bat thanks to a sacrifice bunt and eventually scored what proved to be the winning run, thanks to Maleski's single to right field.
 
The Sunbirds threatened in their final at-bats, getting runners to first and second with two outs. However, after a seven-pitch battle, Johnson struck out the final batter to seal the 7-6 win for Academy of Art.
 
Johnson's 4.2 innings pitched was the longest outing of his career and his efforts were rewarded with his first win as an Urban Knight. The Communication and Media Technologies major was dominant throughout the evening, only allowing three hits and did not allow a run for his fifth-consecutive appearance (8.2 innings during that time).
 
Maleski had a big game two at the plate, receiving his career-first, four-hit game after going 4-for-6. Harry was also strong at the plate, going 3-for-3 which was also a career-high for the transfer from Cabrillo College. Altogether, ART U put together a season-high, 17 hits in game two which is their highest total as a Division II team and their most since March 12, 2011 when they totaled 18 knocks against Grand Canyon University.
 
Looking to take the series, Academy of Art will return to FPU Diamond on Saturday for the final game which will begin at noon.