GAME #13 & 14
ART U Urban Knights (2-10, 2-6 PWC) vs. GCU Antelopes (6-12, 2-6 PWC)
Friday, Mar. 11, 2011 at 1:00 PM MST (12:00 PM PST)
Phoenix, AZ - Brazell Stadium
Live Stats
GAMES #15 & 16
ART U Urban Knights (2-10, 2-6 PWC) vs. GCU Antelopes (6-12, 2-6 PWC)
Saturday, Mar. 12, 2011 at 12:00 PM MST (11:00 AM PST)
Phoenix, AZ - Brazell Stadium
Live Stats
Game Notes
KNIGHTS FACE GCU FOR FIRST TIME THIS SEASON
The Academy of Art University baseball team scored 24 runs against Dixie State, #8 in the West Region, while earning another Pacific West Conference victory in the process last week. A roadtrip to Grand Canyon, the team whom ART U defeated for its first PacWest win in 2010, is up next.
FIRST PITCH
Academy of Art will commence its road series at Grand Canyon on Friday, Mar. 11 with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for 1:00 PM MST (12:00 PM PST). A second doubleheader follows on Saturday, Mar. 12 starting at 12:00 PM MST (11:00 AM PST). All contests are scheduled to be held at Brazell Stadium in Phoenix, AZ. Live Stats and live score updates on the Academy of Art University Athletics Twitter will be available for all games in this series.
KNIGHT WATCH
Junior infielder Kenny Rollins, Jr. had another strong weekend series and now offers the highest batting average of any Urban Knight. His average rose to .323 after going 4-for-10 with two doubles, three runs scored, and two stolen bases at Dixie. With two victories to his credit thus far, junior left-handed pitcher Zach Mexicano (2-2) currently leads the starting rotation with 16 strikeouts in 24.1 innings pitched. Blasting two home runs for ART U this past weekend was sophomore infielder Stefen Henderson who now has seven extra-base hits this season. He and senior infielder Darnell Quinney have combined for 22 runs batted in.
SCOUTING THE ANTELOPES
With an identical PacWest record to Academy of Art, Grand Canyon enters Friday's contest coming off its only trip to Hawaii this season. Highlights of GCU's non-conference season included two victories over Arizona Christian to start the year and later a 17-9 win against Cal State Los Angeles. On the islands, the 'Lopes fell in series against Hawaii-Hilo and Hawaii Pacific, but did bring home three victories from the trip. Over 17 games played, outfielder R.J. Etchebarren paces the squad with a .439 batting average and 33 total bases. Outfielder Tyler Bair, arguably the team's top slugger, has seven extra-base hits including one home run and a team-best 15 RBIs. In the starting rotation, Brady Wager (1-3) and David Wydeven (0-1) lead the way, combining for 39 strikeouts in 56.0 innings pitched.
ART U TAKES ANOTHER WIN FROM #8 DIXIE OVER THE WEEKEND
Continuing their stretch of eight games against the #8 team in the West Region, Academy of Art University managed to oust Dixie State once more in St. George, UT. After the Red Storm took game one 12-3 on Mar. 4, the Urban Knights got ahead early in game two and kept DSC at bay for an 11-9 victory.
Senior outfielder Johnathan Robbins helped ART U capitalize on errors by Dixie and scored the first of two runs in the opening inning. The lead was strengthened by a four-run third in which the Knights offered three consecutive hits by Quinney, senior outfielder Ryan Worley, and Henderson.
Pushing the margin to 10 runs with rallies in the fourth and fifth innings, Academy of Art was well in front, but the Red Storm would climb back with seven runs in the fifth. Freshman reliever Wade Broadstreet then picked up his first save of the year with a strong 2.1 innings on the mound to preserve the 11-9 victory.
Day two of the series featured lots of offense as Dixie earned a 13-9 win in the opener and then managed an extra-inning comeback to win 6-5 in game two.
LOOKING AHEAD
After staying on the road for its last eight games, Academy of Art will return home to the Bay Area for a five-game series versus Hawaii Pacific over three days. The teams begin with a noon doubleheader on Sunday, Mar. 20.
