Game #13
ART U Urban Knights (4-8) vs. FPU Sunbirds (7-7)
Friday, Feb. 27, 2020 at 6 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. – FPU Diamond
Live Stats and Video

Game #14 & 15
ART U Urban Knights (4-8) vs. FPU Sunbirds (7-7)
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2020 at 2 & 5:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. – FPU Diamond
Live Stats and Video

Game #16
ART U Urban Knights (4-8) vs. FPU Sunbirds (7-7)
Sunday, Feb. 29, 2020 at noon
Fresno, Calif. – FPU Diamond
Live Stats and Video

OPEN ROAD
The Urban Knights hit the road for the first time this season after hosting their first 12 contests, and are looking to improve on their 4-8 record in the early part of the 2020 campaign. The road trip won't be too far, as ART U makes the drive to Fresno to battle conference foe Fresno Pacific in non-conference action.  

FIRST PITCH
Action will get underway at 6 p.m. on Thursday, followed by the twin bill on Friday at 2 and 5:30 p.m. The series finale will take place on Saturday at noon. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
The first of four against Saint Martin's took extra innings to decide, going into the 11th inning where the Saints scored twice off senior pitcher Matthew Sanchez to squeak out the 8-7 victory. Junior starting pitcher Cannon Secrist took a no decision, allowing four earned runs on eight hits over seven innings with a season-high 13 strikeouts. Combined, the two teams struck out a whopping 32 batters, 18 of which belonged to ART U. The Urban Knights would take game two behind the bat from sophomore catcher Ryan Gamboa, as he was 2-for-5 with two runs, three RBIs and a home run. The win would go to junior starting pitcher Collin Carriger, who allowed five earned runs over seven innings with five strikeouts. Despite the split in games one and two, the Saints would take the final two of the series, edging out ART U 7-3 (7 innings) in game three of the series before taking the finale, 7-1.
 
Senior infielder Thomas Delgadillo recorded a hit in every game of the series, going a combined 7-for-16 (.438) with five runs scored and three RBIs. He now has a reached base streak of 30 games dating back to last season, having reached base in all 12 games this season and the final 18 of last year. Also collecting a hit in every game was junior outfielder Ty Conrad, who went a combined 8-for-14 (.571) with four runs, two doubles, four RBIs and three stolen bases. Conrad now has a hit in every game he has played for ART U, collecting an eight-game hitting streak, the longest by an Urban Knight this season. Junior utility man Cannon Secrist also picked up five base knocks in the series, going 5-for-13 (.385) with a run, a double, and two RBIs.
 
Since joining the team, Conrad has the highest batting average, as he is batting .400 on the season with a .986 OPS a .500 slugging percentage. His 12 hits are tied for third-most on the squad and he is tied for the team lead I doubles with three. For those who qualify (2 plate appearances per game and 75 percent of games played), Gamboa still boasts the top average at .388 with a team-leading 13 RBIs. Delgadillo is just behind Gamboa in both average (.364) and RBIs (nine), and leads the team in OBP at .509. On the mound, four Urban Knights have recorded a victory, while senior Jayson Summers leads the staff with a 1.80 ERA (minimum three appearances). Of the ART U starters, Secrist holds the lowest ERA (3.00) and WHIP (1.24), and he also leads the entire pitching staff in strikeouts with 25.
 
SINKING THE SUNBIRDS
The Sunbirds are coming off a non-conference series win against conference foe Holy Names, winning the first three, including game three by a final of 11-4, before dropping the series finale 5-4 in extra innings. Overall, they are 2-1-1 in their four series in this early part of the 2020 campaign, having split a series with Western Washington just prior to facing Holy Names. Leading the way for FPU is Andrue Lackey, batting .340 with a team leading two home runs and 11 RBIs in 14 games. Just behind him is Michael Warkentin, who is on a nine-game hitting streak and is batting .333 for the season with a team-high two triples and 25 total bases. On the bump, Tyler Rumbaugh is 3-0 in six appearances with a 3.72 ERA in 9.2 innings pitched. Justin Fuson is tied with Rumbaugh in victories, compiling a 3-1 record in 20.1 innings. The lowest ERA (minimum three innings pitched) on the team belongs to Nic Boatman, sitting at 1.84 with a 1.06 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 14.2 innings.

BLUE SUNDAY FOR ART U IN SERIES FINALE
The Academy of Art baseball team was under pressure throughout their game on Sunday, with Saint Martin's taking the series finale by a final of 7-1. Three Saints pitchers combined to allow just the one run, with the win credited to Justice Yamashita. His line of one run on four hits over five innings would lead him to his first victory of the season. It was a three-hit day for senior Fabian Barcena, as he ended his day 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Junior outfielder Ty Conrad also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4.