IRVINE, Calif. – Academy of Art baseball was able to get back into the win column during its Pacific West Conference series-opening doubleheader against Concordia on Friday, riding stellar pitching performances combined a few timely hits for a 5-2 win in game one before the Eagles even the series with a 6-1 victory in the shortened second game. 

While the Golden Eagles (12-12, 7-6 PacWest) struck first in the home half of the third, the Urban Knights (11-17, 4-10 PacWest) scored four unanswered runs while the pitching duo of graduate student right-hander Cannon Secrist and junior righty Fernando Dueñas limited the CUI bats to just two runs though they did surrender 11 hits. Meanwhile, Concordia flipped the script in the seven-inning second contest, building a 6-0 lead that largely consisted of a four-run inning during the third before Academy of Art scored their only run in the latter stages of the game. 

Hot at the dish on the day for ART U was senior outfielder Hayato Niki as he was a combined 4-for-8 with three doubles which now ties him for the team-high on the campaign along with graduate student outfielder Travis Turney (one double on the day). Additionally, Niki also scored once while driving another run in. Meanwhile, redshirt junior catcher Liam Rizzo officially entered the ART U single-season top-10 list for RBI in a season, as his 1-for-3 effort with a run driven in during the second game now ties him for eighth-most in a single Urban Knights campaign. 

GAME ONE – ART U 5, CUI 2
Both teams had base runners in the opening two innings but failed to scored, with each squad's starter flirting with danger before finally getting out of the inning without any runs. Even more, both sides had runners just 90 feet away from home but left them stranded, starting in the game's opening frame when Niki doubled down the left field line and advanced to third before an inning-ending strikeout. Concordia threatened in the home half of the third with a runner at third an no outs, but Secrist dodged danger with a punch out, flyout and foul out.

Moving into the third, the Golden Eagles posted the game's first shutdown inning by retiring the side in order and rode the momentum into the game's first run in their trip to the plate. After a quick pair of outs, Concordia produced in the clutch with three consecutive two-out singles to grab the early advantage. Responding quickly, Academy of Art answered in the top of the next inning with their own two-out rally, using a single and wild pitch to put pressure on the CUI defense before capitalizing on Golden Eagles errors that occurred on consecutive plays, putting the Knights out in front 2-1. 

Academy of Art grew its lead in the top of the sixth inning by one, again coming through when it mattered with a two-out rally that consisted of a walk sandwiched by a pair of singles. The first of the two knocks came from graduate student outfielder Landon Levine, who later scored the run on an RBI single from sophomore first baseman Ryne Lina. They added yet another in the top fo the eighth after Turney's leadoff walk allowed him to move up to third on a base hit by Rizzo, ultimately scoring in the next at-bat on a wild pitch. 

Concordia finally answered and nearly used the exact same recipe as the previous ART U run, putting a pair of runners on the corners thanks to a walk and single before a wild pitch moved the runner at first into scoring position. With two runners on and no outs, Concordia was able to lift a flyball for a sacrifice fly that cut the lead to 4-2. Again the ART U response was swift by getting the run back in the top of the ninth, putting two runners on first and second after a hit by pitch and a single to set the stage for Niki's second two-bagger of the game to drive in ART U's final run in the 5-2 win. 

Exiting after six innings and earning his second win of the season (2-3) with his third quality start of the season was Academy of Art's ERA leader Secrist, allowing nine hits but just the one earned run over 6.0 innings while fanning nine and walking none. Entering was Dueñas, who kept the Golden Eagles to just one earned run on two hits over three innings of work for his team-leading fifth save of the year. Josh Pugh was charged with the loss for CUI after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits in 5.2 innings pitched. 

A trio of Urban Knights had multi-hit games, as Niki, Levine and redshirt sophomore designated hitter Patrick Morgan all had two hits with Levine among the most productive by going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Morgan was not far behind by ending the game 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk, while Niki was 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run driven in. 

GAME TWO – CUI 6, ART U 1
Much like in game one, Academy of Art was able to threaten in the early goings with a pair of runners in scoring position and only one out thank to a single from Niki and double from Turney. However, a fielder's choice in the subsequent at-bat saw Niki thrown out at home plate before one last fielder's choice put an end to the inning. Unfortunately for the Knights, that would be their last base runner and runner in scoring position until the top of the fifth.

In that span, Concordia was able to break the game open thanks to a run in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI single from Hayden Winters before then putting up a four-spot in the home half of the fourth. That inning started with a double and had three total two-baggers, and half of the damage came on a two-out, two-RBI single from Jordan Bolden. Just an inning later the Golden Eagles scored their final run of the game, loading the bases thanks to a single, double and intentional walk that allowed Nick Hansen to collect an RBI on a bases loaded walk. 

Fighting until the end, Academy of Art broke through onto the scoreboard in the top of the sixth after Niki's third double of the day (only double in game two) put himself in scoring position, crossing the plate only two batters later on a single from Rizzo. 

Going the distance for the Golden Eagles was starter Brett Finnel, who allowed just the one earned run on five hits with eight strikeouts and two walks for his fourth victory of the season. Charged with the loss was Academy of Art junior righty starter Koh Maeda, dropping his record to 3-3. 

Only Niki was able to tally another multi-hit effort, producing two of the five ART U hits with one of the two extra-base hits (and scored the only run). Today's effort now gives him 11 multi-hit games on the campaign, which is a team best. Outside of Rizzo's 1-for-3 effort with an RBI, both Turney and sophomore second baseman Larry Fonseca were 1-for-2. 

This four-game set between ART U and CUI concludes tomorrow in doubleheader format with first pitch times set for noon and 3:30 p.m.