GAMES #36 & 37
ART U Urban Knights (4-31, 4-16 PWC) vs. GCU Antelopes (18-18, 13-11 PWC)
Friday, Apr. 15, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Oakland, CA - Laney College
Live Stats
GAMES #38 & 39 *Senior Day*
ART U Urban Knights (4-31, 4-16 PWC) vs. GCU Antelopes (18-18, 13-11 PWC)
Saturday, Apr. 16, 2011 at 5:15 PM
Oakland, CA - Laney College
Live Stats
Game Notes
LAST HOME SERIES PAIRS ART U AND GCU
Urban Knights baseball is set to play its final games in the Bay Area this week with Grand Canyon in town. A total of 11 contests still remain for ART U in 2011 as this rematch with GCU marks Academy of Art University's resumption of Pacific West Conference play.
FIRST PITCH
ART U opens up its four-game stint against the Antelopes on Friday, Apr. 15 with a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 AM. The teams return for a second pair of games on Saturday, Apr. 16 which are scheduled to start at 5:15 PM. All contests are scheduled to be held at Laney College in Oakland, CA. 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
Senior Alex Rosenthal picked up a PacWest Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll selection last week for his strong relief innings pitched and his maintenance of a PacWest-leading .667 batting average. Freshman James Singzon has also wielded a hot bat of late and is riding a team-best 10-game hitting streak. With an on-base percentage that ranks fifth in the PacWest (.442), junior Zach Babitt has a team-best 22 walks thus far. On the mound, junior lefty Zach Mexicano (2-7) currently leads the entire PacWest in innings pitched (56.1), complete games (4), and ranks seventh overall in total strikeouts (34).
SCOUTING THE ANTELOPES
Grand Canyon began 2011 PacWest Conference play with a tough roadtrip in Hawaii, but rebounded by winning five of its first six after returning home. When ART U and the 'Lopes met in Arizona earlier this season, two of the games were decided by just two runs and one had the teams combine to score 42 times alone. Just prior to GCU's recent three-game losing streak which now has them just over .500 in conference, the team had won seven in a row. Outfielder Tyler Kamtz is among the PacWest leaders in batting average (.421) for a Grand Canyon squad that sports the conference's top offense. Right-hander Cody Repenning (4-1) is the team's top pitcher and has contributed in a variety of ways thus far. His 2.22 ERA is good for #1 in the PacWest and while he has turned in complete games in all three of his starts thus far, he has also earned a save as well. Righty Brady Wager (4-4) leads the 'Lopes in strikeouts and is tied for the team lead in starts (9).
KNIGHTS NEVER GIVE UP IN NON-PACWEST SERIES WITH PATTEN
Academy of Art remained within striking distance all throughout a non-conference matchup with Patten this past weekend. On day one of the three-game stretch, Apr. 8, an early 4-0 Lions lead in the opener became a close 4-3 ballgame midway through. Junior infielder Kenny Rollins, Jr. had a two-run double to highlight the comeback. Patten, however, would hold on and win game one, 6-3. The Knights were then up 1-0 for much of the second contest, but a four-run rally by the Lions led to the 4-1 final score.
The series concluded on Apr. 10 with another back-and-forth battle. Tied 1-1 through the first three innings, Patten created some separation and took a 6-1 lead into the sixth. However, ART U would fight back with a four-run surge in that same inning, highlighted by a two-run knock for junior outfielder Niko Leite. Up 10-5 in the ninth, Patten looked to have everything wrapped up, but the Academy of Art offense was reignited by back-to-back walks for Rosenthal and sophomore infielder Stefen Henderson. ART U scored three runs in the rally before PU was able to record the last out and hold on 10-8.
LOOKING AHEAD
Though the Urban Knights will play no more home contests in 2011, there are still 11 games left this season. ART U concludes the non-conference portion of its schedule on Apr. 22-23 with a two-game series at #21 UC San Diego.
