Box Score #1
Box Score #2
Fresno, CA --- Academy of Art University baseball (0-6) was defeated by Fresno Pacific University (7-0), the NAIA's ninth-best team, in a Friday doubleheader at FPU Diamond. The Sunbirds won 10-0 after seven innings in the first game and followed with an 11-0 victory in a five-inning game two that was an exhibition contest. Freshman catcher Chris Holmes was 2-for-3 on the day and freshman left-handed pitcher Jeff Smith gave the Urban Knights solid relief without giving up a hit over three scoreless innings in game one.
“Jeff threw the ball well and his pitches were working so he's coming along well,” Head Coach Brian Guinn said. “We didn't hit the ball that bad, we just hit right at guys. It's sort of those baseball blues right now. We're going to get over the hump. We're improving so it's just a matter of time.”
The Sunbirds began the day by scoring eight runs in the first inning to take an early lead, but this was not simply an offensive barrage. Two defensive miscues that would have ended the inning instead led to five additional runs and junior starting right-handed pitcher Darnell Quinney (0-2) was the victim of some tough luck. Only three of Quinney's eight runs allowed were earned and he settled down by striking out two Sunbirds in the second.
“Darnell threw the ball well,” Coach Guinn said. “If we catch that pop up and that line drive, then they score no runs in the first inning. So had we gotten out of that one, it would have been a much closer game.”
Smith was called upon in the fourth inning and he needed just five pitches to retire the Sunbirds in order. He went on to put away the first two batters of the fifth before issuing a walk to end his streak of batters retired at five.
A single by freshman first baseman Andy Caniezo combined with a Sunbirds error and a walk to give Academy of Art the bases loaded with two out in the fifth. Unfortunately for AAU, Fresno Pacific got a force-out at second base to end the inning and the opportunity passed. However, the Knights' offense continued show itself in the sixth when senior right fielder Mike Gutierrez walked and stole second followed by a walk to freshman shortstop Stefen Henderson. FPU again got the outs it needed to exit the inning unscathed and the home team went on to take the 10-0 result in seven innings.
The exhibition game two began with Knights on the corners in the first inning after sophomore second baseman Jared DePatto was hit by a pitch and Gutierrez singled. However, the inning ended when Gutierrez was caught trying to steal second base. The Sunbirds scored one run against freshman starter Drew Sullivan-Hames (0-2) in the first inning, but the left-hander bounced back with three quick outs in the second.
Two errors in the third resulted in six runs against Sullivan-Hames whose outing ended up being similar to that of Quinney. The contest later ended when Fresno Pacific scored four runs over the next two innings en route to an 11-0 win in five innings.
The Urban Knights were led by Holmes who had two hits in the first game. Gutierrez added to AAU's offense by finishing the day 1-for-4 with a stolen base. Quinney took the loss in game one, but just five of his ten runs allowed were earned due to the error in the first. He added three strikeouts in his three innings of work and now has the team-lead (10).
Fresno Pacific got a strong offensive performance from first baseman Case Rigby who went 3-for-6 with five runs batted in and two runs scored. Defensively, right-hander David Hawes (2-0) got the win in the first game with no runs allowed over five innings while left-hander Sean Cunningham (3-0) threw five innings with no runs allowed in the second contest.
After the weekend series had been adjusted due to the weather forecast, Academy of Art and Fresno Pacific will play their third and final game tomorrow at FPU Diamond. The first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM.
