Box Score

Atherton, Calif. (4/14/09) -- Although Academy of Art University fell to Menlo College on Tuesday by a score of 19-14 at Cartan Field, the Knights did erupt for 11 runs in the final three innings of play including dramatic back-to-back home runs by sophomore first baseman Chris Vargas and senior catcher Florentino Ubungen in the seventh inning. All but three Urban Knights had at least one RBI in the game.

The Oaks got off to a quick start with a five-run first inning in which Joel Hull and Ty Finley each hit a home run. After a quick AAU second inning, Menlo added on three more runs in its half. However, the Knights came back with a two-run double by Vargas after two runners had gotten aboard on errors by the Oaks' shortstop.

With the scoreboard reading 8-2 in favor of Menlo, freshman shortstop Ryan Worley bunted himself to first base in the fourth and later scored on a single by junior designated hitter Mike Gutierrez, who now has a team-leading seven-game hitting streak.  The Oaks pushed across 10 runs over the next three innings to take what looked like an insurmountable lead, but Academy of Art University was far from finished scoring.

In the seventh inning, a double by freshman left fielder Alex Rosenthal after freshman third baseman Brandon Kistler had reached on an error sparked an Urban Knight rally. Freshman right fielder Martin Layton-Santos brought home both runners with his double to left field. Then the consecutive home runs by Vargas and Ubungen cleared the bases and made the score 18-8.

Menlo added one run in the eighth, but the AAU comeback continued and nearly all of the Knights got in on the action. Vargas coaxed a lead off walk in the top of the ninth inning which was followed by a RBI double by Ubungen. After sophomore centerfielder Darnell Quinney popped out to first base, Worley singled home Ubungen and promptly stole his second base of the game.

Junior second baseman Matthew Ko and Gutierrez got aboard with singles before Kistler launched an impressive three-run homer over the left field fence scoring three runs in the process. Now down by just five runs, Academy of Art University managed to load the bases with back-to-back singles and a walk. Ubungen came to the plate in this critical moment with one out and unfortunately grounded into a double play ending the game.

Vargas finished the day 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs, two runs scored and two walks. Ubungen was 3-for-6 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Kistler had just one hit in the game (which continued his hitting streak to six games), but that hit was a three-run homer and he also scored three runs himself. Worley, now on a six-six game hitting streak, showed off his speed with a 3-for-5 performance along with a RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Layton-Santos, who heated up offensively over the weekend and extended his hitting streak to five games, went 2-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Junior right-handed pitcher Danny Couser (0-5), who took the loss, started the game, but after going throwing two innings and allowing eight runs on seven hits with two strikeouts, he was pulled for freshman righty Zelaya (0-2) who allowed seven runs (three earned) on six hits over three innings. Ko (0-6) finished off the final three innings of the game and surrendered four runs on five hits with three strikeouts.

A scary moment came in the fifth inning when freshman left fielder Zach Mexicano was hit on the left hand by an inside pitch. The extent of the injury is not yet known, but he left the game and did not return.

Oaks' designated hitter Matt Simpson was 4-for-5 with a home run, five RBIs, three runs scored, and two stolen bases while right-handed starting pitcher Sam Stewart gave up three runs (one earned) on five hits over five innings of work with four strikeouts.

Overall, AAU is now 0-26 while Menlo College improves to 15-16 on the season.

Academy of Art University baseball is back in action this Saturday when the team travels to Pomona, California for a scheduled four-game series spanning the weekend. Both doubleheaders will begin at 12:00 PM.