Box Score Riverside, CA -- Despite a late charge that put pressure on PacWest foe California Baptist University, the Academy of Art University baseball team couldn't crack the Lancers pitching in the opening game of a four-game series, falling 8-0. The Urban Knights loaded the bases to start off the ninth inning, but the Lancers escaped with the victory.
CBU struck first against ART U starter
Maclane Brady (1-3), notching a run in the first inning after a double and two sacrifice flies and then another in the second inning on another leadoff double and a single from catcher Mark Sanchez. Meanwhile, the Knights didn't get their first hit until the fourth when their batting leader
Chucky Cavestany guided a two-strike single through the right side against CBU starter Trevor Oaks (9-0).
In the fourth inning, Brady got the first out, but gave up back-to-back singles and then threw a wild pitch to score a run. After a smart fielder's choice by
Cody Edmunds at second to cut down a runner at the plate, the Lancers were able to score another on a single from Andy Crowley and would eventually load the bases before Brady got Stephen Lohr to strike out to end the inning.
The Lancers got four more runs off of three pitchers in the sixth inning, as both
Nick Giotta and
Yoshi Uemura were unable to record an out. But
Brandon Poulson came in and settled things down, putting together his best outing of the year out of the bullpen for ART U. He would finish off the game for Academy of Art, throwing 31 pitches in three innings, striking out three and most importantly, not walking any.
The Urban Knights put together a rally in the top of the ninth against Cody Wetherbee, as
Daniel Robertson and Kalani Brackenridge hit back-to-back singles.
Joseph Marchini walked to load the bases with no outs, but Cavestany struck out and
Daniel Skinner had a ground ball up the middle snagged by the shortstop and turned into a game-ending double play.
The Knights and Lancers will play a doubleheader tomorrow before finishing the series with a single game on Saturday.
