Turlock, Calif. (4/5/09) -- Finishing up a three-game week, the Academy of Art University baseball team dropped a pair of games 15-6 and 13-5 to Cal State Stanislaus at Warrior Field on Sunday. Freshman left fielder Zach Mexicano was 4-for-7 with two RBIs in the series while junior right fielder Matthew Ko was 4-for-10 with two runs scored for the Urban Knights. The loss moves AAU's record to 0-21 and CSUS improves to 23-11 overall.
Box Score #1
Game one saw both teams combine for eight runs in the first two innings with back-to-back three-run rallies by the Warriors to open the contest. However, it was Academy of Art University that scored the first run on consecutive doubles to left field by Mexicano and sophomore first baseman Chris Vargas. Some small-ball by CSUS put the home team up 3-1, but the lead was cut to one in the second inning when sophomore second baseman Van Hanson scored sophomore shortstop Ryan Worley on a RBI single.
All three of the Warriors' runs came on a home run by Jacob Thelen and after a scoreless AAU third inning, CSU Stanislaus pulled away with a five-run rally on another three-run homer from Thelen. With the scoreboard reading 15-2, the Urban Knights tried to make another late-game comeback.
Five consecutive AAU singles opened the eighth inning and then a RBI walk to Vargas was followed by a RBI groundout from sophomore centerfielder Darnell Quinney, but the Warrior advantage was still 15-6. With just four outs left at this point, Academy of Art University was unable to come any closer.
Junior right-handed pitcher Danny Couser (0-3) had a rough day on the mound giving up 13 runs (11 earned) on 10 hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
Box Score #2
In the second contest, Cal State Stanislaus was again the first team to score with a two-run second inning. Three Warrior singles loaded the bases before two sac flies brought runners home. The home team added to their lead with four runs in the third when CSU Stanislaus capitalized on two errors by AAU. Down by seven runs in the fifth, the Knights pushed two runs across with Hanson and Vargas each registering RBIs.
Unfortunately, the Warriors responded with a five-run bottom half of the fifth inning to put them up 12-2, but freshman third baseman Brandon Kistler came back with a two-RBI single to spark a rally in the sixth. One more AAU run came home on a wild pitch followed by a relatively quick seventh inning that ended the game.
Freshman relief pitcher Edgar Zelaya (0-1) made his first start of the season and allowed 12 runs (four earned) on 10 hits with one walk and two strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
For CSUS, Thelen had the strongest series with a 3-for-8 performance, two home runs, seven RBIs, and four runs scored. On the mound in game one, Matt Costa (1-0) earned his first win of the season by pitching 4.2 innings of scoreless ball with no hits allowed, two walks, and seven strikeouts. The back end of the doubleheader resulted in a victory Eric Cendejas (2-0) who threw four innings while giving up two hits and striking out five.
The Urban Knights with take a trip to southern California where they will face Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, Apr. 10 and Saturday, Apr. 11. Academy of Art University will play the Toros at 11:00 AM and the Coyotes at 3:00 PM on Friday then CSUDH again for a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 AM.
