GAME #20, 21 Doubleheader
AAU Urban Knights (0-19) vs. Cal State Stanislaus Warriors (21-9)
Sunday, Apr. 5, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Cal State Stanislaus, Warrior Baseball Field

Game Notes

THE WEEK AHEAD:
Urban Knights baseball concludes this week with a doubleheader against the Warriors of Cal State Stanislaus on Sunday, Apr. 5 in Turlock, CA. The first pitch of the opening contest is set for 12:00 PM at Warrior Baseball Field.

LOOKING BEYOND:
Following this doubleheader, Academy of Art University heads to southern California for three games against Cal State Dominguez Hills and one contest against Cal State San Bernardino. AAU plays both the Toros and the Coyotes on Apr. 10 before finishing with a doubleheader versus CSUDH on Apr. 11.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS:
After enjoying a nine-game winning streak early on in the season, Cal State Stanislaus hit a rough patch in mid-March where the Warriors lost five consecutive contests. Then, at the end of the month, CSUS took four games from Academy of Art University's most recent opponent, Cal State Monterey Bay. In that series, the Warriors scored over 13 runs per game and their top hitter, senior catcher Chase Perez, was 7-for-13 with three RBIs and five runs scored. CSU Stanislaus showed its dominance from the outset by launching six home runs in the first game. Senior outfielder Kyle Loretelli, one of Warriors hitting over .300, leads the team with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs thus far. Amongst the starters for the Stanislaus, junior right-handed pitcher Dakota Watts (7-1) carries the team's best record and paces them with 49 strikeouts. However, neither sophomore righty Andrew Stueve (4-2) nor junior right-hander Spencer Sondgrass (4-2) are far behind Watts as all three boast an ERA right around 2.50.

CSU MONTEREY BAY SINGLE GAME:
Academy of Art University baseball traveled to Seaside, California this past Tuesday for one contest against the CSU Monterey Bay Otters. Although the Urban Knights lost 14-9, they never gave up despite allowing an eight-run fifth inning. Two quick runs crossed home plate for CSUMB in the first, but AAU responded with three consecutive singles to begin the second. The Knights got one run in the inning off a bases-loaded walk to freshman third baseman Brandon Kistler and the visitors followed with two more in the third inning after a walk and a double eventually led to a sac fly. Kistler continued his offensive day with a solo home run, his first of the season, to lead off the AAU fourth. Academy of Art University held a 4-1 advantage when the Otters commenced an 11-run rally that spanned the next two innings and included a grand slam by Steve Mays. Two scoreless innings passed before the Urban Knights made a late-game run to get back into the contest. With two runners on in the ninth, sophomore second baseman Van Hanson was productive with a RBI groundout then sophomore first baseman Chris Vargas soon brought another home with a single and sophomore shortstop Camryn Hernandez followed with a third RBI on a single. Sophomore right fielder Darnell Quinney knocked in two runs on a double down the left field line, but the two final outs were made after a pitching change and the game ended in favor of the Otters 14-9.