Phoenix, AZ – Saturday's doubleheader between Academy of Art and Grand Canyon saw a little bit of everything. The Urban Knights set a new school record with a nine-run sixth inning in an incredible 25-17 opening game that ended up favoring GCU when completed. The contest that followed was close late as ART U attempted a comeback in the final inning, falling just short 7-5 to the Antelopes. Junior infielder Zach Babitt and sophomore infielder Stefen Henderson each had four runs batted in during the Knights' historic game one.

“It just seemed like with every pitch that was made, each team put the ball in play hard somewhere,” Head Coach Brian Guinn said about the first game. “It's an indication of how the game of baseball is; you just never know what will happen. We would get hits and score some runs, then they would. We have to do better job of decreasing our number of walks because that will cut down the runs scored. But you just have to give credit to all the hitters; they were swinging the bats well.”

Although Grand Canyon got off to a strong start in the first three innings of the opener, the Academy of Art offense would fight back. In the fourth, ART U began with three consecutive hits with the final serving as a RBI single for Henderson. The inning would end, but the Urban Knights had only offered a small glimpse of what they would do in the next two frames.

ART U continued to wield hot bats in the fifth when the top of the Academy of Art batting order set up a lengthy rally. Senior outfielders Johnathan Robbins and Ryan Worley each hit singles before Babitt drove in Robbins on a single of his own. Senior infielder Darnell Quinney, who had already continued his seven-game hit streak, then doubled to score Worley. The four-run burst was finished off by a two-run single from freshman infielder Wade Broadstreet as ART U showed its never-say-die spirit.

For all the offense the Knights offered in the previous innings, they would set a new school record with nine runs in the sixth. Surpassing the previous mark of seven which came last season against Bethany (Apr. 17, 2010), Academy of Art University's nine on Saturday began with consecutive singles by freshmen Michael Reyes and James Singzon as well as junior outfielder Niko Leite. Robbins then coaxed a walk with the bases loaded and Worley knocked home two on a single. Babitt followed with a RBI single, but the two hits that inflicted the most damage came at the end. Henderson brought three home on a bases-clearing double and Reyes, up for the second time in the inning, had a two-run single to cap the barrage.

The 'Lopes were still putting runs up consistently in response, but they were finally quieted in the eighth. Academy of Art scored three more times in the ninth inning, highlighted by Babitt's two-run double and though the Knights fell to GCU 25-17 in the end, they had again shown what their bats are capable of this season.


Worley displayed his quickness early in game two, helping ART U to an early 1-0 advantage with a single and a pair of stolen bases. Babitt then brought his teammate home on a groundout and the Knights were on the board first. The next two innings went very quickly as both starting pitchers found their respective grooves. Broadstreet (0-2), who made his first start of the year, retired four consecutive 'Lopes in that span.

GCU broke through in the fourth with a four-run rally, then scored once more in the fifth to assume a 6-1 advantage. Similarly to yesterday's doubleheader, however, Academy of Art would save its best in the final contest on Saturday.

Babitt started the seventh off with a single and then ART U strung together four consecutive hits, highlighted by a RBI knock for Singzon and a two-run single by junior infielder Jared DePatto. The rally brought the Knights to within two runs, but Grand Canyon would go to record the final two outs and escape a potential comeback. In the end, the 'Lopes hung on for the 7-5 victory.

“We have the philosophy to never say die until final out made,” Coach Guinn said. “That was shown in this game. Down 7-1, we strung together hits here and there, then we had runners on second and third with two outs and Grand Canyon made some good defensive plays which gave them the win, but we continued to battle."

For the second consecutive doubleheader, Babitt and Henderson each had impressive days at the plate. Babitt contributed a 4-for-6 performance with four RBIs, four runs scored, and a double in the game one offensive explosion while Henderson was 2-for-4 in the contest. Henderson also had four RBIs in that game while scoring one run and stealing a base. The 18 total hits for Academy of Art in the opener tied the school's all-time record also originally set against Bethany on Apr. 17, 2010, as four other Knights notched two RBIs apiece.

DePatto's big hit in game two earned him two RBIs to lead all ART U players for that contest. Also in the second game, Broadstreet went a complete 6.0 innings with three earned runs allowed and one strikeout. ART U moves to 2-16 overall, 2-10 in PacWest competition.

Grand Canyon was led by infielder Jackie Samora who was 2-for-2 with six RBIs and four runs scored in the opener. In that first contest, starter David Wydeven (1-1) notched a win after going 5.0 innings on the mound and allowing five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. Despite allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in game two, starter Cody Repenning (2-1) earned the victory. GCU is now 10-12 overall this season, 6-6 in the PacWest.

After completing this trip to Grand Canyon, Academy of Art will return to the Bay Area for its next matchup with Hawaii Pacific. The teams play a five-part series which begins with a 12:00 PM doubleheader on Sunday, Mar. 20 at Laney College.