Fresno, Calif. (2/4/09) -- On Tuesday, Urban Knights baseball traveled to Fresno, California, where they dropped a pair of contests to #16 Fresno Pacific University, 8-1 and 7-0. Despite being 0-3 overall two days into the season, this trip was an excellent opportunity to get some strong Division II competition under the AAU belts. Junior right fielder Mike Guiterrez notched his second RBI (and the second in Academy of Art University history) in the first game and two pitchers, freshman left-hander Zach Mexicano and junior right-hander Matthew Ko, each received their first starts on the mound.

The first game began with an early advantage for Fresno Pacific (2-0). The Sunbirds got on the board in the first inning with a dangerous bases-loaded situation and a fielder's choice followed by a two-run double from Joey Norwood. The three-run lead would turn into five in the third inning when stolen bases and a wild pitch allowed a pair of runners to score.

A second three-run inning came in the fifth where AAU errors resulted in two unearned runs. Freshman right-handed pitcher Alex Rosenthal came in to relieve Mexicano, but struggled after three errors were committed by the infield.

Academy of Art University then put a run on the board after consecutive singles by freshman second baseman Chase Dodgion and sophomore shortstop Camryn Hernandez put two men on. Guiterrez stepped to the plate and promptly reached base on a fielding error which earned him his second RBI in as many days.

On the hill for AAU, Mexicano allowed seven runs (six earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out two. He falls to 0-1 on the season.

Game two followed a similar early offense style by FPU. This time, the Sunbirds used a triple, double and single to put two runs on the board in the first inning. One more came in the second off a RBI single before Fresno Pacific scored four times in the fourth. A big three-run home run by Joe Halderman was the driving force in that inning.

Hernandez and sophomore centerfielder Ryan Worley each recorded hits in the game, but the Knights' bats were silent otherwise. Ko threw four innings and yielded seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out two. He now also holds a 0-1 record.

Over the span of the two games, the Sunbirds' Anthony Lowell was 2-for-4 with three runs scored while Halderman had the day's only home run and three RBI to go with it. Both starting pitchers for FPU, David Hawes and Danny Mora, were very strong combining to allow no runs and two hits through 10 innings pitched.

Up next for the Urban Knights is a Southern California clash with UC San Diego beginning with a doubleheader against the Tritons on Feb. 7. The first pitch of Game #1 is set for 12:00 PM. The three-game series then culminates with a single contest the following day at 11:00 AM.