Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Tylar Springer & Walter Washington)

Oakland, CA -- For the Urban Knights, both games of Sunday's doubleheader seemed to have all the ingredients for victory except for that most vital ingredient: the game-winning hit. Both games featured great pitching, exciting rallies, and fantastic plays in the field at Laney College. But Hawaii Hilo seem to be just a step ahead of the Knights as they swept the twinbill in two more close contests, 3–1, 4–3. 

"Both games were pitched well," said head coach Brian Guinn "We got great pitching out of [Zach] Mexicano and Wade [Broadstreet], but we just have to start getting those key hits and they'll get some wins."

Zach Mexicano started the afternoon game, and his wildness in the first inning gave the Vulcans the chance to draw first blood, and they did. Mexicano hit John Abreu to start the game, and he advanced to second on the ensuing wild pitch. Joshua Wong hit a fly ball to center that was deep enough to get Abreu to third, and he ended up scoring on a sacrifice fly by Johnathan James, putting Hilo up 1-0.

The Knights answered right back in the bottom of the first, when Zach Babitt ripped a one-out triple to right-center off of Hilo starter Tyler Simao. Myles Babitt then lifted a fly ball to left that was deep enough to score his older brother, and the Knights had it all tied up 1-1.

But Mexicano and the Knights ran into trouble again in the middle innings. Abreu caused trouble again, doubling down the left-field line in the third, advancing on a wild pitch, and then scoring on a single to right center by Wong. In the fourth, an error on a fly ball in right field allowed Steven Riddle to get on base. Austin Cusack sacrificed him to second, and with two outs, Tyson Goo singled up the middle to put the Vulcans back on top.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Knights mounted a rally, loading the bases after Bryce Hutchings was hit bya pitch, but were unable to get that big hit. Academy of Art got the tying run to the plate again in the sixth inning, when Niko Leite singled and got to second, but Kenny Rollins grounded out to end the threat. Mexicano stifled a rally in the top of the seventh, and the Knights got another hit with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Zach Babitt grounded out to end the game.

Mexicano went the full seven innings, giving up only one earned run and scattering five hits, but was saddled with the loss. Zach Babitt was 2-for-4 with a run, and Leite was 2-for-3. Leite spent another game behind the plate, where he has seen seeing a lot of time over the past couple series.

"Niko's dad is a catcher, and I know he has good instincts," Guinn said. "[James] Singzon's knees have been bothering him a little bit, and we didn't want to be down to only one catcher. He's been doing a great job back there."


The night game started out with a bang, as Abreu continued his strong day by blasting a homerun to left field to lead off against Wade Broadstreet. In the top of the second, Tyson Goo jumped on the first pitch he saw and sent it over the left-field fence to give the Vulcans a 2-0 lead on two solo shots. Hilo got one more in the top of the fourth inning after Cusack doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch, scoring on a single by Johnathan James to give them a 3-0 lead.

But the Knights weren't done yet, putting together a rally in the bottom of the fourth. Niko Leite reached on an error by the right fielder, taking second while the ball was being retrieved. Zach Babitt then singled to left, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. Myles Babitt got another RBI on the day, beating out a slow roller to shortstop and driving in Leite. The Knights were still threatening, but Stefen Henderson struck out, Jared DePatto grounded out, and James Singzon grounded out to strand the Babitt brothers in scoring position. 
"We just weren't able to get the key hits," Guinn said. "Hilo was able to get the key hits, and we were able to get people on base, but couldn't get that hit when we needed it most. You've got to tip your cap to them, but we've also got to get better."

The Vulcans added another lone run in the top of the fifth when Wong singled in Abreu for the leadoff hitter's second run of the game and fourth of the day. But the Knights got another rally going in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rollins walked, and Devin Mason sacrificed him to second with a bunt, but the first-baseman threw the ball into left field after Rollins, and he took third base with one out.

That's when the Knights went to work on testing Hilo's bunt defense. Hutchings laid down a bunt, beating it out and scoring Rollins from third. Leite bunted, with Hutchings advancing all the way to third on the play. Zach Babitt bunted, and almost beat it out, but another run scored and Leite was in scoring position. Myles Babitt walked, prompting the Hilo coach to pull his starter, but then Stefen Henderson struck out swinging to end the inning with the Knights only down a run.

Broadstreet shut down Hilo in the sixth and the seventh, and the Knights had one last chance to pull off the comeback. Mason struck out swinging, but Hutchings drew a full count walk. Leite reached on a fielder's choice, beating out a double play ball, and it was up to Zach Babitt again. The senior fouled off the first pitch, and then took a ball, but Patrick Fletcher was able to get Babitt to ground one to the second-baseman to end the game.

"They never give up and that's a good thing," said Guinn. "They play until the last out. From that standpoint things actually look pretty good. They're battling until the end and that can't always be said for a team."

Zach Babitt was 4-for-8 on the day after going 2-for-4 in both games, scoring a run in the first game and driving in a run in the second. Hutchings was 1-for-2 in the second game with an RBI and a run scored. Broadstreet (0-7) went the distance again, giving up four earned runs and striking out four to get the loss.

"All of our pitchers are throwing well right now," said Coach Guinn. "We feel comfortable putting it in anyone's hands, really. They're all throwing well and once we start scoring some runs they'll get to feel better by getting some W's."

The Knights will have a chance to salvage a game in the series tomorrow night at 6:00 PM in the final game of this series.