OAKLAND, Calif. – Academy of Art headed into the weekend to face Simpson University, an opponent from Redding, Calif. which the program had yet to face in its 10-year history. In game one, ART U tied their season-high with 12 hits, but was unable to withstand a comeback from the Redhawks in extra innings. The big story awaited in game two however, as the Urban Knights' starter (Ben Kaser) was nearly perfect, producing the first no-hitter in program history.
 
GAME ONE: SU 5, ART U 4 (10 IN)
 
The majority of game one's action came in the opening two innings as the contest saw scoring in three consecutive frames. Academy of Art got on the board first in the first inning when senior infielder Taylor Martin sent a sacrifice fly into right field to give ART U a 1-0 lead. The Red Hawks returned the favor in the top of the second however, as a pair of unearned runs came home on a fielding error.

 
In the bottom of the frame, the Knights went back at it, starting with senior outfielder Izac Bauer who led off the inning with his first home run of the season. The Seattle native sent a 3-2 pitch over the left-field wall and the solo shot was the fifth homer of his career at ART U. Two batters later, senior outfielder Jackson Murphy laced a triple to left center which was followed by a walk and a stolen base by junior infielder Elijah Smith. Then, with two outs, junior infielder Josh Carlin sent the second pitch he saw into left field, scoring both runners and topping off a three-run, bottom of the third.
 
Senior right-hander Luke Lacy shut down SU over the next two innings, but the Red Hawks got back on the board in the fifth, plating a pair of runs to make it a 4-4 ballgame. At that point, junior righty Gonzo Rios entered the fray and produced five shutdown innings which was the longest of his three outings so far this season. Rios also compiled a career-high, eight strikeouts and he now leads all ART U pitchers with 12 over just 8.0 total innings pitched.
 
The Urban Knights looked to go ahead, but they a left total of eight runners on base in the fifth through ninth innings. Simpson finally managed to break the deadlock in the 10th-inning when they manufactured a run with no outs. Now, with two runners on base, ART U managed to get out of the jam without allowing another run to cross home plate, but they were unable to respond in the bottom of the inning, giving SU the 5-4 win.
 
There were five Urban Knights who produced two-hit games including Smith, Murphy, Carlin, and senior outfielders Evan Ray, and Izac Bauer. Carlin had the most lucrative day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two runs batted in.
 
 GAME TWO: ART U 1, SU 0
 
In game two, history was made and records were felled. Making just his second start in an ART U uniform, Kaser took to the mound in a contest which will always be remembered in ART U baseball lore.
 
The Van Nuys native was perfect from the start, getting out of the first inning with three groundouts while using just five pitches. In the second frame, he was just as efficient, only needing six pitches to record three outs. As a result, he only used 11 pitches to get through his first two innings of work.
 
Kaser recorded his first strikeout of the contest in the top of the third, setting down the leadoff batter swinging on five pitches. Six pitches later, he was headed to the dugout to make way for his teammates who took the lead in the bottom of the frame: junior outfielder Taj Dawson led off the inning with an infield single deep into the left side of the diamond. After advancing on a passed ball, he eventually made it to third when Smith executed a precise sacrifice bunt. In the next at-bat, Carlin grounded out to the second baseman, allowing Dawson to score on the play. Now with two outs, ART U managed to load the bases. However, they were unable to score as Murphy flew out to center field to end the inning.
 
One run was all Kaser needed moving forward as he continued to looks lights out. In the fourth through sixth innings, the transfer from LA Mission College continued to be perfect, setting down the next nine batters faced in order. In fact, it was not until the top of the seventh that his bid for a perfect game ended as an inside fastball leaked off of the plate too much, hitting the leadoff batter. Getting into the stretch for the first time in the game, Kaser was unfazed, catching a bunt popped up to him on the next pitch and inducing a game-ending double play three pitches later. After recording the final out, all of his teammates stormed the mound to greet their comrade who had performed a feat that no other pitcher in ART U history had completed before: a no-hitter.
 
Kaser only used an unprecedented, 57 pitches in his seven innings of work while striking out five and facing the minimum number of batters (21). On the offensive end, ART U produced a total of six hits with Dawson leading the way, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Now even at 1-1 in the series, Academy of Art is 3-4 overall and they will look for a doubleheader-sweep on Sunday to record the series victory. First pitch will take place at Cal State East Bay at noon.