KENTFIELD, Calif. –The Academy of Art baseball team had the bats working on opening day of the 2020 season, as they scored 12 runs in a doubleheader split with Central Washington. Timely hitting complemented a starting pitching effort that combined for 16 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched while walking just four batters. Sophomore catcher Ryan Gamboa collected four hits on the day, including a home run with three RBIs. 
 
GAME 1 – ART U 8, CWU 2
Starting game one was junior pitcher Cannon Secrist, as he tossed a quality start by lasting six innings, striking out nine batters and allowing just two earned runs. The Urban Knights (1-1) provided early run support, scoring four runs in the second inning to take their first lead of the year. Gamboa was responsible for driving in the first two runs with a bases loaded single into right center field, with the other two coming after a pair of errors in the inning by the Wildcats (1-4). 
 
Central Washington's only two runs of the game would come on a two-run single of their own, as Luke Smith hit a one out single up the middle to score them. ART U would answer in the fifth, getting both runs back to make the score 6-2. Senior third baseman Thomas Delgadillo singled home a run with a ball that deflected off of the pitcher, followed by junior first baseman Vincent Lontz driving Delgadillo home with a single into right center field. The last runs of the game would come from the bat of senior second baseman Fabian Barcena, as he delivered a bases loaded single into left field. 
 
Taking over for Secrist in the top of the seventh was senior pitcher Jayson Summers, closing the door by allowing zero hits while striking out three for the rare three-inning save. Summers faced the minimum of nine batters and threw just 42 pitches. 

 
GAME 2 – CWU 5, ART U 4 (8 INNINGS)
Game two was set for seven innings, but would need an extra frame to decide a winner. Scoring in the second inning again was the Urban Knights, this time plating three runners thanks to three straight bases loaded walks. Central Washington cut into the deficit with a run in the fifth off an RBI groundout from Jason Hill, and then would go on to take the lead 4-3 after a three-run sixth. Adam Fahsel drove in a pair of runs on a double from a 3-1 pitch, followed by a Trevor Tripoli bases loaded single that scored one. The run to put the Wildcats ahead ran across on a Mitch Lesmeister fielder's choice.
 
Faced with their last opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, Gamboa stepped to the plate and unloaded on the first pitch and sent it over the left field wall. The tie ballgame wouldn't last longer than one inning, as Central Washington got a single down the line from Lesmeister to score the eventual winning run. 
 
Junior starting pitcher Collin Carriger did not factor into the decision, allowing four earned runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts. Taking the loss was senior pticher Galen Manhard, as he gave up the single to Lesmeister in the eighth. Earning the win for the Wildcats was JJ Asinas, allowing one earned run on three hits over four innings.
 
Game three of this four-game series is set for a first pitch time of 6 p.m. at Laney College tomorrow.