San Francisco, Calif. (3/22/09) -- In its first two home games of the season, the Academy of Art University baseball team fell 9-2 and 11-3 to the visiting University of Hawaii – Hilo Vulcans. With the losses, AAU stands at 0-15 on the season while UHH moves to 10-9 overall. It was different Urban Knights accounting for the offensive production in each game, but sophomore outfielder Darnell Quinney had arguably the strongest day at the plate with 3-for-5 performance, one run scored and one walk. Freshman third baseman Brandon Kistler went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI.
Box Score #1
The opening game began with a rough first inning for junior right-handed pitcher Matthew Ko (0-5) who gave up three runs and issued three walks to three of the first four batters. In the bottom of the second inning, freshman utility Alex Rosenthal walked, Quinney singled and then Rosenthal came home on an error by the Vulcans' second baseman. Sophomore second baseman Van Hanson would later bat in another run with his bunt single.
The teams exchanged a scoreless inning, but UHH then got a run in the fourth and fifth innings to put them ahead 5-2. Ko lasted until the sixth inning, but in his relief, freshman lefty Zach Mexicano allowed four more runs in the seventh and AAU would eventually fall 9-2. Ko's final line read six runs (four earned) on six hits with seven walks and five strikeouts.
Box Score #2
University of Hawaii – Hilo got on the board again early in game two with one run in the first inning and then tacked on two more with a small rally to begin the third inning. Academy of Art University answered back with a run on a series of walks in the third as well, but the Vulcans then responded with two consecutive three-run innings against Quinney (0-5). Quinney finished the day with nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits with nine walks and three strikeouts.
AAU did get one run in the fifth inning on a RBI single by sophomore shortstop Camryn Hernandez and another on a RBI from sophomore first baseman Chris Vargas in the sixth.
The Urban Knights suit up for another pair of home games against the Vulcans tomorrow (3/23/09), but these contests will be held at Menlo College's Cartan Field in Atherton, CA. The first pitch of the opening game is set for 12:00 PM.
