OAKLAND, Calif. – Academy of Art started the day hoping to capture their first conference victory of the year. Junior right-hander Angel Mora's career-first complete game, coupled with clutch hitting propelled the Urban Knights to this goal in game two of the doubleheader.
 
Game One: FPU 8, ART U 2
 
Despite Alex Fernandez striking out the side, FPU would strike first in the top half of the second to take the lead 1-0. ART U matched the Sunbirds when, in the bottom of the inning, Evan Ray led off with a walk. Ray made his way around the bases, stealing second, advancing to third on a dribbler in front of the catcher, and ultimately scoring on a wild pitch. FPU would add another pair of runs in the third on three hits including a ball that was lost in the sun and dropped for a double.
 
The Urban Knights would be shut out the next two innings, but would add their final run of the game in the sixth on a shot down the right field line by junior infielder Elijah Smith. ART U would have multiple opportunities with runners in scoring position with less than two outs, but struggled hitting with clutch-hitting. Academy of Art's pitching would have a tough time containing the relentless Sunbirds offense who tacked on two more runs in the seventh and eighth to put the score out of reach at 8-2, which would become the final score. 

           
Game Two: ART U 3, FPU 2
 
Determined to record their first conference victory of the year, the Urban Knights would deny the series sweep. Mora led the Urban Knights in this endeavor, allowing just two runs on only three hits. He also logged his first career complete game and his second win of the season, boosting his record to a team-leading, 2-0.
 
It comes as no surprise that junior catcher Marciano Reichel, currently batting .444, would be the offensive spark for ART U. Reichel hammered the Urban Knights' first hit of the game into left field on a 0-1 count for a single in the second. Reichel would be put out after the next batter on a fielders choice, but ART U would manage to get on the board when redshirt junior Robert "Gio" Villanueva singled down the right field line to bring home senior outfielder Izac Bauer. The Urban Knights were not finished however: Taj Dawson knocked in Villanueva with a line-drive single to left field for his first run batted in of the season to take a 2-1 lead.
 
After a couple of scoreless frames, the Sunbirds would strike again in the top half of the fifth for a single run. The game would go into the bottom of sixth tied 2-2. The Urban Knights showcased their patience in their half of the sixth, loading the bases on two walks and a base hit by Bauer. Then, with one out and three on, Villanueva doubled in his two RBI on the day, stroking a ball through the left side to bring across the go ahead, and the eventual winning run. Mora would wrap up the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, solidifying ART U's first conference victory in a dramatic, late-inning fashion.
 
Academy of Art will now continue their PacWest conference play, squaring off against Concordia for their first road trip of the season. Game one is set for Thursday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m.