ALAMEDA, Calif. – Needing clutch at-bats in the closing innings of game two of Monday's Pacific West Conference doubleheader, Academy of Art baseball was able to force extra baseball with a run in the bottom of the seventh before walking off winners in the eighth inning of game two by a final of 3-2 over Fresno Pacific. While it was just a split of the day's doubleheader, it earned ART U the series win by taking three of four games to open the 2020-21 season.

"I was really pleased with our pitching this series," said ART U Head Coach Dan McDermott. "The guys got in there and challenged a very, very good Fresno Pacific team. [Matthew] Sanchez, [Jayson] Summers, and [Cannon] Secrist turned in outstanding starts that provided the opportunity for our hitters to settle in. Veterans Ty Conrad and Ryan Gamboa showed great leadership while contributing consistent at-bats throughout the series"

The Sunbirds (5-3, 1-2 PacWest) swung hot bats in game one, scoring in every inning except the first en route to scoring 14 runs. It took until the seventh inning for the Urban Knights (3-1, 3-1 PacWest) to get on the scoreboard, but they put up crooked numbers in each of the last three innings before dropping game one, 14-7. Game two had a much different flow, as both starting pitchers went deep into the ballgame and gave their squad every opportunity for the win. ART U junior pitcher Cannon Secrist was dealing, allowing two unearned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. While Secrist did not factor into the decision, his performance allowed the Knights the chance to knot the game in the seventh frame before an RBI single from graduate student outfielder Andrew Shebloski sent the home squad home happy in the bottom of the eighth. Along with Shebloski, graduate student catcher Ryan Gamboa and junior first baseman Vincent Lontz collected three hits each, with all three driving in a pair of runs. 

"Newcomers [Andrew] Shebloski, [Dominic] Ruggiero, [Adam] Inouye, and [Hayato] Niki really added a new dimension to our offense," McDermott said. "In all three of the wins, these four guys were crucial to our success. Also, lefties Vincent Lontz and Noah Daubin were consistent contriubtors of quality at-bats."
GAME ONE – FPU 14, ART U 7
ART U right-handed senior pitcher Noah Daubin started the first strong, but would run into trouble in the second when he walked in the first run of the game. The next two runs were well earned by the Sunbirds, as Jared Aguilar lined a single into center before a two-run homer by Andrue Lackey made the game 3-0. A walk followed by a passed ball would put a runner in scoring position for Jack Foote to drive in, with FPU building a 4-0 lead in just the fourth inning. 

Fresno Pacific would double the lead in the fifth inning with another four runs, starting off the inning with a single up the middle before Lackey would collect his third RBI of the day by driving in another run. All other runs would come with two outs, scoring one on a bases loaded sacrifice fly before Michael Warkentin brought home the other two with a triple into right-center field. It was one more run for FPU in the sixth, as Aguilar drove the first pitch he saw in the inning over the left field wall for a 9-0 lead. 

The two teams would match each other in the seventh and eighth innings, with each team plating two runs. It was Aguilar yet again for FPU, driving home his third and fourth RBI of the game on a two-out double into left center in the top half of the seventh. With their turn at the plate, ART U had a pair of back-to-back doubles from Lontz and Gamboa, scoring their first run of the game. After a pop up, a single from sophomore outfielder Hayato Niki moved Gamboa to third, and Shebloski would drive him in with a single into center field to make the game 11-2 after seven. A hit by pitch and a walk would bring in the next two runs for FPU, while three straight hits, including a pair of RBI doubles from Lontz followed by Gamboa, helped ART U match the Sunbirds.  

Adding one more insurance run, FPU received a towering home run from Chase Pinheiro, bringing home the final FPU run of the game. ART U would not go away quietly despite the large deficit, with the first run of the inning come from the bat of a pinch hit RBI single from junior third baseman Austin LaBarber, while the other two scored on a walk and a fielding error from the Sunbirds. 

Earning the win for Fresno Pacific was starter Nic Boatman, lasting 6.0 innings with only two hits allowed and seven strikeouts, while Daubin took the loss for the Urban Knights after allowing four runs, only three earned, in 3.1 innings pitched. Nine different Urban Knights recorded hits, with Lontz, Gamboa and Shebloski all picking up two. The top hitter in game one was FPU's Aguilar, going 4-for-6 with four runs scored and three RBI.

GAME TWO – ART U 3, FPU 2 (8 INNINGS)
Both teams opened the game with a run in the first inning, though the run for FPU was unearned after a run scored on a fielding error. In the next half inning ART U would return the favor, plating one run of their own after a throwing error by the Sunbirds' shortstop. The tie game wouldn't last long, as designated hitter Matt McGrady sent a pitch through the right side to score yet another unearned run. 

A walk was what tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, as ART U loaded the bases with one out before graduate student second baseman Justin Summers earned the RBI. That set the stage for the late-game heroics by Shebloski, who swung at the first pitch he saw and bounced it over the head of the Sunbirds' third baseman down the left field line to score Inouye for the thrilling win.

Coming on in relief of Secrist and pitching a perfect 1-2-3 eighth inning was junior right-hander Ryan Skillman who he would be credited with his first win of the season. Taking the loss was Michael Barker, who appeared in relief and surrendered one run while lasting just two-thirds of an inning. At the dish, Ruggiero would collect a pair of hits by going 2-for-4 with a run, while three different Sunbirds each collected two hits. 

ART U returns to the diamond on Friday, Mar. 12 when they face Holy Names for a PacWest doubleheader from College of Alameda beginning at 2 p.m.