TURLOCK, Calif. – A three-run fifth inning highlighted the 2022 Academy of Art season opener against Stanislaus State, led by a pair of hits including an RBI triple and run scored from senior shortstop Dominic Ruggiero, but it was not enough to overcome an early Stan State lead as they captured the first victory of the season, 5-3.

After both teams were retired relatively easy in the first frame, the Urban Knights (0-1) put players in scoring position in both the top of the second and third innings, but unfortunately could not capitalize and stranded a total of four runners in the two innings.That allowed the Warriors (1-0) to strike first as they put up a five-spot in the bottom of the third, chasing ART U senior starter Cannon Secrist with three consecutive two-out hits. 

The Academy of Art response all came in the fifth inning, as graduate student outfielder Travis Turney led things off with a walk while a subsequent Ruggiero triple into the left-center gap would bring Turney all the way around from first, followed next by an RBI groundout from senior outfielder Ty Conrad that would score Ruggiero. Scoring a run in his Urban Knights debut was junior outfielder Charles Morgan, who initially reached on a hit-by-pitch before moving to third on a single from senior first baseman Vincent Lontz, finally scoring on an RBI single from junior third baseman Robbie Brue. 

Tossing strong in relief was right-handed senior Collin Carriger, who would shut down the Warriors bats over 5.0 scoreless innings pitched while allowing just two hits and striking out seven, a mark he reached just twice last season. Making his ART U debut to record the final out in the bottom of the eighth was right-handed sophomore Dallen Turner, who saw runners reach second and third with two outs before inducing a flyout to end the inning. 

Unfortunately the Urban Knights would run into Tony Jacob out of the Stanislaus State bullpen, who picked up his first save of the season by tossing four scoreless innings and striking out five while facing just the minimum number of 12 batters. Earning the win for the Warriros was Maxwell Pappas with three earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings pitched, while Secrist was tagged with the loss. 

Academy of Art will not return to the diamond until Friday, Feb. 4 when the Urban Knights travel to the Hayward to take on Cal State East Bay for the beginning of a three-game series at 2 p.m.