OAKLAND, Calif. – Pitching was the theme on Saturday during a Pacific West Conference doubleheader between Academy of Art baseball and Holy Names, as both halves of the day saw incredible pitching duels and while a pair of runs in the final inning helped HNU take the day's first 2-0, ART U was able to split the day after they walked off as winners in eight innings with a 4-3 victory in game two. 

"Today's games were defined by outstanding pitching for both teams," said ART U Head Coach Dan McDermott. "[Cannon] Secrist and [Brian] Kraft gave us quality starts today in what usually would have resulted in two wins. We have good hitters, who were stymied by the HNU staff. We will continue to work on pitch recognition and situational hitting."

Action was fast and furious in game one, lasting just one hour and 36 minutes, with both pitchers going the distance in a seven-inning contest and neither side scoring a run until the top of the seventh when the Hawks (12-6, 2-1 PacWest) pushed a pair across. Following a nearly identical template in the shortened second game, the contest was flying by with neither team hitting the scoreboard until the sixth when both sides put up a trio of runs. Needing an extra frame, the Urban Knights (8-9, 1-2 PacWest) were able to put runners and force pressure on the HNU defense, leading to an error that scored the game-winning run. 

GAME ONE – HNU 3, ART U 0 (7 INNINGS)
ART U senior right-handed starter Cannon Secrist and HNU starter Eddie Curley were in a groove from the first pitch thrown, as there was just one base runner through the first three innings which was a two-out walk in the second by Secrist. Both pitchers were extremely efficient, as Secrist tossed just seven pitches in the opening inning while Curley was nine up, nine down. 

Each team singled in the fourth frame, with the difference being that the Urban Knights got their runner just 90 feet from home plate as freshman shortstop Gabe Henderson was sacrificed up to second before stealing third base, but both teams left their runners stranded. That pattern was nearly repeated in the fifth though Holy Names loaded the bases with two outs while Academy of Art had a runner at second, but again both starters were able to get out of danger. 

Just when it looked as if the Hawks may have a big inning on the horizon in the sixth after a leadoff walk and single, Secrist was able to induce a groundball double play before a later flyout ended the inning. However, ART U was unable to capitalize on the momentum as they were retired in order during the home half. 

That left room for HNU in the seventh, as they opened the frame with a leadoff single before sacrificing bunting the runner into scoring position. A walk and strikeout saw a pair of runners on with two outs, and this time it was a clutch single from Jaime Garcia that drove in the game's first run while Jesus Hernandez immediately followed with one of his own before Secrist was able to get out of the inning.

Looking for the complete game, Curley was able to retire the Knights in order once again to improve his record to 4-1 as he ended the day with just two hits allowed while striking out seven and walking none. Meanwhile, Secrist took the tough-luck loss despite a quality start, allowing the two runs on six hits with six punchouts and four walks. 

Neither team recorded an extra-base hit in the contest, as all combined eight hits were singles. Collecting the two for ART U were Henderson and redshirt junior catcher Liam Rizzo, as they each ended the contest 1-for-3. 

GAME TWO – ART U 4, HNU 3 (8 INNINGS)
Pitching continued much in the same fashion as the first half of the day's games, though there was a bit more offense in the game from both sides. Holy Names thought they had the first run of the game in the top of the second, but Niko Capsiliaris was thrown out at the plate after trying to score from first by right fielder Landon Levine who notched his second outfield assist of the series.

ART U put their own runners on in each of the first two innings, including graduate student outfielder Travis Turney stealing second and third after he opened the inning with a single, but was left at third as the inning ended. Both sides were retired in order in both the third and fourth frames before putting a runner on in the fifth, but again the pitchers were able to get out of any trouble without allowing a run.

Both teams exploded for three in the sixth inning, starting with the Hawks as they used a pair of singles and an error to score the game's first run, then used a double and an RBI groundout to push the game to 3-0. Academy of Art's response all came with two outs after a pair of flyouts to begin the frame, as senior outfielder Hayato Niki reached with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error on the play, scoring just one batter later when he was driven in on a single from ART U's RBI leader Levine (22nd of the season). Turney then singled yet again to put a pair of runners on, and both scored in the subsequent at-bat thanks to a double into the left-center gap from Rizzo that tied the ballgame. 

Holy Names did their best to repeat their first-game magic as they loaded the bases with only one out in the away half of the seventh, but ART U junior righty reliever Fernando Dueñas was able to induce a 4-6-3 groundball double play to get out of the inning. Academy of Art then had it's own game-winning run just 90 feet from home plate with two outs, but newly entered HNU reliever Casey Candiotti was able to get a strikeout to end the frame. 

In the extra frame, the Hawks again started hot with a leadoff double before moving the runner up to third, but ran themselves out of the inning when they hit into a double play where Levine threw out Holy Names' Garcia as he tried tagging up from third. For Levine, he has three outfield assists in the three games with HNU. 

Riding the momentum of the previous half inning, a one-out walk and single preceded a wild pitch where both runners moved into scoring position, really putting the pressure on the Holy Names defense. Following a strikeout for the second out of the inning, freshman first baseman Michael Wiborn was able to put a ball in play to the shortstop but a wide throw pulled the first baseman from the bag as the winning run crossed the plate. 

Dueñas earned his second win of the season with his relief appearance, tossing a scoreless 2.2 innings while allowing four hits with one walk and one punch out. Nearly getting a quality start was sophomore lefty starter Brian Kraft, who went 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits while fanning four and walking just one. Taking the loss was Candiotti, who allowed one earned run on one hit but did walk a pair in addition to two strikeouts (and two wild pitches). 

Going 3-for-4 at the dish was Turney, who also scored a run while Rizzo produced the only ART U extra base hit with a double while going 1-for-4 with his two game-tying RBI. Also picking up a multi-hit game was Niki who was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Levine was 1-for-3 but scored twice while driving one in. 

"Travis Turney continues to be our offensive rock as he grinds out quality at-bats, coming up with clutch hits while having an outstanding on-base percentage," McDermott said. "Dueñas has been outstanding out of the pen, as this past week alone he has three saves and a win. Tomorrow's game will be intense as we will be looking to even the series. Hopefully the weather will cooperate as there is nothing better than a Sunday afternoon game at Laney College."

Academy of Art will look to even the series in the finale with the Hawks tomorrow, which will see the first pitched tossed at 1 p.m. from Laney College.