Box Score #1
Box Score #2

Oakland, CA – Behind masterful pitching from junior lefty Zach Mexicano (3-7), Academy of Art University earned a 2-1 game two victory in a doubleheader against Grand Canyon at Laney College on Friday afternoon. Though the Antelopes took the opener 7-2, ART U showed determination and a will to win in the second installment. Freshman catcher James Singzon also kept his hitting streak alive with knocks in both contests and now has notched a hit in a program-record 12 consecutive games.

“Zach threw a heck of a ballgame,” Head Coach Brian Guinn said. “Had command of his pitches and kept the hitters off balance. Every ball they hit was right to someone which is what we try to do. He added strikeouts here and there with a good changeup and fastball. He did a great job.”

Freshman righty Wade Broadstreet (0-6), the Urban Knights' game one starter, also pitched well in his outing. He and the ART U defense kept the 'Lopes scoreless through the first five innings, highlighted by a fourth inning where Broadstreet needed just seven pitches to retire the side.

Academy of Art was able to put at least one runner into scoring position in the second through eighth innings and as such, the home team captured a 1-0 lead after the third inning was completed. The Knights' score in that inning was created by a single and a steal from junior outfielder Niko Leite followed by Singzon's first run batted in of the afternoon. ART U plated another in the fifth much in the same way with Leite singling and stealing his way to second base. This time, senior outfielder Johnathan Robbins cashed in his teammate and Academy of Art was up 2-0.

Grand Canyon responded with a three-run burst in the sixth which included a close play at home plate on a strong throw from Robbins in the outfield. Though the Knights had scoring opportunities in the innings that followed, GCU was able to build upon its lead and ride the momentum of its previous rally en route to a 7-2 victory.

“The first game was a winnable one,” Coach Guinn said. “Wade did a great job as well. There was a close play at the plate that went the other way. [Grand Canyon] then scored four more runs right after and we just couldn't hold them. We have to do a better job holding teams in the late innings, but the starters have been doing well.”


Following up Broadstreet's success as a starting pitcher, Mexicano proceeded to dominate game two. He did not allow a single earned run in the ballgame and opened up by no-hitting the Antelopes through the first two innings.

Neither team scored in the first three innings and it was ART U who pushed across the first run of the contest. In the fourth, junior infielder Zach Babitt started things off with a single and after he was later on third, a RBI single by sophomore catcher Chris Holmes brought him home.

Similarly to the first game, Grand Canyon responded in the very next inning with a run aided by an error to tie the game, 1-1. The tie was short-lived, however, because Singzon doubled home Broadstreet in the Knights' half of the fifth to make it a 2-1 Academy of Art advantage. Once again pitching with the lead, Mexicano stayed strong and finished off an extremely close ballgame by getting the outs he needed.

Mexicano took home a win along with a complete game, his fifth of the year. Impressively, the lefty never needed more than 16 pitches to finish any one of his 7.0 innings on the mound. Mexicano struck out three and allowed just a single unearned run in the victory.

Singzon, who had the game-changing hit in ART U's victory, completed the pair of games on Friday going 4-for-7 with two RBIs. Throughout the course of his active 12-game hit streak, Singzon has raised his batting average nearly 30 points. The streak surpasses Academy of Art's previous record of 11 games held by Mike Gutierrez from during the 2009 season.

“Looking at James, he's having good at bats,” Coach Guinn said. “He's putting the ball in play hard and he's really using the entire field right now.”

Junior infielder Kenny Rollins, Jr. reached base five times in the pair of games after a 3-for-4 performance which included two walks and two stolen bases. The Urban Knights also stole seven bases collectively in Friday's doubleheader. Leite, who scored both of ART U's runs in the opener, finished with three steals on the day.

“Being able to steal bases puts a lot of pressure on teams to throw ball,” Coach Guinn said. “We were more successful stealing bases today and the guys were doing better. Those do go hand and hand because when they're stealing, the team is more successful. I just want the kids to be solid and consistent and they'll come out on top.”

Leading the way for the 'Lopes was infielder Ernesto Ortiz who finished the day 5-for-8 with a RBI, three doubles, and a run scored. Brady Wager (5-4) earned a complete game victory in the opener with two runs allowed on seven hits and 11 strikeouts. Despite a complete 6.0 innings on the mound, Cody Repenning (4-2) was dealt the loss in game two after allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts. Patten improves to 20-19 overall.

The ART U-GCU series will conclude tomorrow, Saturday, Apr. 16 with another doubleheader beginning at a new start time of 4:00 PM at Laney College. Academy of Art's senior class will be honored prior to the first pitch of game one.