OAKLAND, Calif. – Both games of Sunday's twinbill between Academy of Art baseball and Holy Names were close battles for the majority of the contest, but the difference maker was the long ball as ART U crushed four home runs on the day, powering them to a doubleheader sweep over HNU with finals of 4-3 and 7-3 (seven innings) to earn a split of this four-game set. 

Much like they have done in each of their first two series of the season, the Urban Knights (4-7) were able to win game three of the series, this time in an exciting walk-off fashion from junior outfielder Hayato Niki after the Hawks (7-6) had tied the game in the top of the sixth. That victory was followed by an ART U power surge in the shortened second game, launching a total of three dingers in game two with two of those coming from junior outfielder Charles Morgan, as he became just the fifth Urban Knight in history to have a multi-homer game (last: Noah Daubin; 5/21/21). 

Stellar pitching was crucial for ART U in their winning efforts but came in two distinctly different styles, as game one was pitched to induce contact and rely on the defense, while game two featured power pitching looking for a swing and a miss. Clutch in game one was senior right-hander Morgan Edwards, who went a career-high 6.0 innings pitched and allowed just one unearned run, while right-handed senior Cannon Secrist went the distance in game two with a season-best 10 strikeouts. That mark tops the previous season high of eight that he has set just last time out against Sonoma State, and ties the most in a single game by an Urban Knight that fellow right-handed senior Collin Carriger set only yesterday. 

GAME ONE – ART U 4, HNU 3
A one-out double got things going for Holy Names in the first before a single put runners on the corners, with the game's first run scoring on a pick off play executed well for the Hawks. The response from the Knights was swift, putting up a three-spot in the home half of the first with all three runs scoring with two outs. Graduate student outfielder Travis Turney singled and stole second, ultimately advancing to third after redshirt sophomore designated hitter Liam Rizzo reached on an error. That set the stage for graduate student catcher Ryan Gamboa to clear the bases on the first pitch he saw, blasting one over the wall in straightaway left field to put ART U up 3-1. 

Just as the Knights responded quickly, so too did the Hawks by answering with a run in their half of the second inning, as a one-out walk would come all the way around from first to score on a double from Calvin Reed. 

Pitching would settle in as neither side would score from the bottom of the second until the top of the sixth, as ART U freshman righty Joseph Anderson was lifted to start the fourth in favor of the experienced Edwards, who induced 12 flyouts and four groundouts without striking out a single batter en route to ultimately earning his first victory of the season. 

Just as the game seemed it would be going into extra innings, Academy of Art would string together one final push in the home half of the ninth which was started when junior infielder Adam Inouye reached base on an error. A walk would put two runners on, with both moving into scoring position on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat. That set the stage for Niki to play the hero, who lined a base hit over the jumping head of the shortstop to send the home crowd home happy. 

Collecting the only multi-hit game was Gamboa, as he ended 3-for-4 with the big fly, a run scored and three RBI. While it was just the first home run of the season, it was the sixth of his career which ties him for sixth most in program history. Meanwhile, four other Urban Knights would add one hit apiece including Turney and Niki's game winner.

GAME TWO – ART U 7, HNU 3 (7)
Things started with yet another bang as Morgan McIntosh hit a leadoff home run and immediately put the Hawks on top 1-0, but ART U starter Secrist was unfazed as he punched out the next batter on just three pitched. Though he would retire the rest of the side, Secrist would run into a bit of trouble with a pair on, surrendering a two-out hit that would score another run and double the ART U lead. 

Academy of Art hit the scoreboard for the first time in game two when freshman infielder Emil Jellinek slapped the first triple of his career into the left center gap, scoring senior first baseman Vincent Lontz on the play who had reached earlier in the inning on a fielder's choice. Returning the favor, ART U would score in back-to-back innings after Morgan teed off on the first of his two home runs, driving a solo shot to straight away left field and making it 2-0.

Both teams would have a quiet fourth inning, but for ART U it was the calm before the storm as they put up a four-spot in the bottom of the fifth. A walk and a hit-by-pitch would put a pair on before moving up 90 feet each on a fielder's choice, with Inouye scoring on a an RBI single from Turney to retake the lead. Returning to the ways of the long ball, Rizzo deposited an 0-2 pitch over the left center field fence for what proved to be the eventual game-winning run. 

The second leadoff double of the game from HNU would allow them to play small ball and manufacture a run, but that would be all that they could muster as Secrist would finish off his solid outing. This is just the second time that Secrist has tallied double-digit strikeouts, as the 10 are the most since he struck out 13 against St. Martins on Feb. 21, 2020. He has now won three consecutive wins after being tagged with the loss in the season opener. 

Morgan had much of the production in game two, as he was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI, while Turney was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. With identical stat lines at the dish, both Turney and Jellinek were each 1-for-3 with an RBI. 

Next weekend is when Pacific West Conference play begins, as the Urban Knights play host to Concordia on Feb. 26 at 11 a.m.