OAKLAND, Calif. – Though the Academy of Art bats combined for 16 runs on 21 hits during their doubleheader with Hawaii Pacific on Monday, including 13 hits in game one to tie their season-high mark, it was not enough to take down HPU as the Sharks swept the day's twin bill with an 18-12 victory in game one and a 9-4 win in game two (seven innings). 

Offense was easy to come by for both teams during the series opener, demonstrated by a six-spot from the Urban Knights (14-22, 7-15 PacWest) in the home half of the second inning. Unfortunately, it was a seven-run frame for the Sharks (15-22, 10-15 PacWest) that turned the tides and swung game one in their favor during the the latter third of the contest. Hawaii Pacific then raced out to a lead early in game two, swelling their advantage in the third thanks to a five-run inning before ultimately cruising to victory. 

GAME ONE – HPU 18, ART U 12
Action started from the opening batter, as the Sharks led 3-0 after the top of the second before Academy fo Art hit the scoreboard. ART U broke through in a big way as a response in their half of the frame, loading the bases with a pair of walks and a single from graduate student outfielder Landon Levine in front of sophomore third baseman Emil Jellinek, who delivered the clutch two-RBI double down the left field line. Two more scored in the next at-bat on an a junior second baseman Larry Fonseca single combined with an HPU error, and the final two runs crossed later in the frame on a sacrifice fly and HPU error. 

Hawaii Pacific continued its scoring streak by cutting into the deficit with one run in each of the third and fourth innings, but a three-run ART U fourth pushed the lead back to 9-5 that all started on a towering leadoff blast over the left field fence by Jellinek on a 1-0 pitch. Three more singles and a stolen base produced two more runs in the frame, both of which scored on a two-RBI base knock through the right side by graduate student outfielder Travis Turney. 

Four runs by the Sharks in the top of the sixth knotted the ballgame, but it did not stay that way for long as the Urban Knights came up with a pair of runs in their turn at the dish thanks to a run-scoring groundout from Turney and RBI single from Levine. Continuing the back-and-forth nature, Hawaii Pacific seized the game's control with their seven-run inning to flip the score to 16-11. A pair of singles and a wild pitch saw the Knights reach their 12th run of the game, but the Sharks again scored in the top of the eighth to secure the victory, 18-12.

For their relief appearances, Mac Leisher earned his second win of the year though he allowed five earned runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings, and Markus Ramos collected a nine-out save (second of the season) and allowed just one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts. Taking the loss was ART U junior righty Fernando Dueñas, dropping his record to 2-5. 

Eight different Urban Knights combined to match ART U's season high in hits with 13 (two other times), and tops among them was the 3-for-5 with a double, homer, two runs scored and three RBI performance from Jellinek. Three others had a multi-hit performance, as Niki was 2-for-4 with a double, one run driven in and three runs scored, while freshman shortstop Gabe Henderson was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Rounding out that trio was Fonseca, who was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one driven in. 

GAME TWO – HPU 9, ART U 4 (7 INNINGS)
Though the game started with a double that stayed fair by mere inches down the left field line and later reaching third, ART U was able to escape danger without a run allowed. They were unable to capitalize on the momentum in the bottom of the first despite a single from Niki, then saw the Sharks take the game's first lead after they scored a pair of runs thanks in part to a pair of ART U errors. 

The Hawaii Pacific lead increased in the top of the third, stringing together an inning consisting of five runs on four hits and ART U error. Among the hits was a triple that hooked down the right field line, as well as a pair of RBI singles. Again they scored in the third, scraping together a run thanks to a pair of errors to make the game 8-0.

Academy of Art finally was able to create some offense in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with only out thanks to three consecutive hits, but all three runners were left stranded as the Sharks dodged the damage. However, HPU could not do that all game as the Urban Knights used consecutive hits from Turney and Levine to drive in their first run, with Turney doubling down the left field line before moving to third on an Hawaii Pacific throwing error, though in any case he scored when Levine laced an RBI single into right field to drive him. 

Down but not out, the Urban Knights threatened a comeback in the home half of the seventh after they put each of the first two runners on with a walk and single, with both runners promptly scoring on an RBI triple into the right-center gap from sophomore designated hitter Tony Diaz. A wild pitch in the very next at-bat allowed Diaz to score, but then Hawaii Pacific was able to shut the door for the 8-4 victory. 

Hawaii Pacific starter D.J. Stephens picked up his third win of the year after he kept the Knights off the scoreboard and yielded just four hits in 5.0 innings with seven strikeouts. Taking the loss was ART U graduate student right-hander Cannon Secrist, though he did fan four in his outing and is just four strikeouts away from tying ART U's career strikeout record of 196 held by current ART U pitching coach Nate Gercken ('15).

The eight ART U hits were recorded by seven different Urban Knights, though Diaz's triple was their only extra base hit of the contest. Turney ended 2-for-3 with a run scored, Diaz went 1-for-4 with a his two-RBI triple and run scored, and Levine was 1-for-3 with an RBI. With his two combined RBI on the day, Levine once again holds the team lead at 29 for the season which is fourth-most in a single ART U season. Should he drive in one more run this season, it would be just the fourth ever 30-RBI season by an Urban Knight (also: Zak May, Ty Conrad, and current ART U assistant coach Elijah Smith ('19)).

This series will conclude with a doubleheader tomorrow from Laney College at 1 and 4 p.m., and will take place following a senior ceremony to honor the careers of three Urban Knights playing in their final home game in Travis Turney, Hayato Niki and Cannon Secrist.