ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The 7-0 Urban Knights completed the series sweep of Holy Names on Sunday and continued to improve on by far their best start in program history.

ART U played their closest game yet, but came out on top thanks to sterling pitching performances from senior pitcher Mason Verhees and junior pitcher Galen Manhard. Verhees went 6.1 innings, surrendered only one unearned run, fanned five without walking a batter, and ended with a microscopic .66 WHIP. Manhard closed the game with two strikeouts and notched his third save to tie the all-time career saves record in just his fourth outing as an Urban Knight.

Sophomore utility Noah Daubin had a momentous day by collecting his first career win on the mound and home run at the plate in the same game in an Ohtani-esque performance. This is the first time since the inception of ART U Athletics the incredible feat has been accomplished. Junior outfielder Thomas Delgadillo extended his hitting streak to seven and had his fourth multi-hit game to bring his batting average to an outrageous, PacWest leading, jaw dropping .552.

Game 1: ART U 8, HNU 4

Daubin put ART U on the board in the top of the second with his first career home run, a two run shot he drove over the right center fence. The Urban Knights added one run in the third on a junior shortstop Justin Summers bases loaded walk scoring senior first baseman Josh Carlin.

The Hawks first runs came from a single in the third that scored two. In the next half inning ART U loaded the bases and got one run back on a Delgadillo sac fly to score junior outfielder Daniel Curiel. HNU matched the run in the bottom half of the fourth with a sac fly of their own to put them down 4-3.

The Hawks tied the game in the seventh, but the 4-4 score did not last long as the Urban Knights came right back to score two in each the eighth and ninth to take a 8-4 lead into the final half inning. From there, Daubin shutdown the Hawks with a 1-2-3 ninth and earned his first collegiate win. All Daubin did, besides throw four solid innings with only one hit and four strikeouts, was go 2-5 at the plate with a home run and three runs batted in.

Senior pitcher Angel Mora had another quality start, throwing five innings with zero earned runs and five strikeouts. Delgadillo had his fourth straight multi-hit game, scored a run, and knocked one in and senior catcher Zak May scored two runs and drove another in.

Game 2: ART U 2, HNU 1 (7IN)
A pitcher's duel is the only accurate way to describe game two. Verhees took the mound for the first time in 2019 and the 6'6 senior came onto the scene in a big way. After working out of a threatening first with a well timed double play ball, the San Diego native only allowed two hits the remainder of his outing.

HNU matched his pitching performance for six innings and would not budge for a single run, until, in the seventh the Urban Knights loaded the bases for Summers. The junior shortstop worked an 2-0 count then knocked a single to score Daubin and junior outfielder Alex Golembiewski. Golembiewski had a pair of singles, one of them being his first career hit for ART U, to lead the team in hits in game two.

Verhees went out for the seventh but found himself in a jam after a walk and a single. Manhard came in for relief but walked the first batter and let a runner score on a wild pitch. With the tying run 90 feet away Manhard showcased his clutch closer savvy and struck out back to back batters to strand two runners and complete the sweep of the Hawks. In 4.2 innings pitched Manhard has yet to allow a single run and is averaging an astronomical 17.3 K/9.

After the four-game sweep of Holy Names, Academy of Art improves to 7-0 to start the season. The Urban Knights will look to continue their most successful start in program history on Feb. 22-23 when they take on Northwest Nazarene in back to back doubleheaders at Laney College.