Box Score #1
Box Score #2

Oakland, CA – Academy of Art University put together a strong beginning to game one on Saturday at Laney College, but Dixie State managed to pull away with the victory and held a lead in the halted game two. A pitchers' duel through the first six innings, the Red Storm won 9-2 to start the day and were ahead 10-0 through six innings of the second contest. The remainder of the game is scheduled to be completed in St. George next weekend.

“Dixie State is a really good team and they do the fundamental things correctly,” Head Coach Brian Guinn said, looking back on the series. “We're very close though and this is a good indication of where we can be. It's early in the year right now and we are playing solid baseball. We are really close so the kids can keep their heads up because we are closer now than last year at the same time.”

After a calm first inning, an injury to ART U starting pitcher Kallen Fletcher meant freshman reliever Nick Giotta was called upon to take his place. Despite coming into the game unexpectedly, Giotta limited the Red Storm offense over the next three innings while Academy of Art pushed across the first run of the game in the fifth.

ART U got started with triple to centerfield by sophomore infielder Stefen Henderson (his third of the season). One batter later, freshman catcher James Singzon brought Henderson home on a single to right. The 1-0 lead held up briefly until DSC came back to tie the ballgame with a run in the sixth. Though the Red Storm led off that inning with three consecutive hits, Giotta and the Urban Knight defense held them to just a single run. In the seventh, however, Dixie State broke the game open with a seven-run rally that culminated in a two-run homer by outfielder Eric Bond.

“The first game was a pitchers' duel and both pitchers did a great job throwing strikes and making plays,” Coach Guinn said. “You know, we just had one bad inning and it was decided right there.”

DSC held onto its advantage for the remainder of the game, though ART U did get one run back in the ninth. Following a walk to Henderson, Singzon made things happen with a single and a steal that resulted in a throwing error by Dixie and scored Henderson from third. In the end, the Red Storm prevailed 9-2.

Though he took the loss, Giotta finished with an impressive day on the mound in game one. He pitched 4.2 innings while allowing two runs on three hits with one strikeout. Coming in to relieve Fletcher, Giotta started with 3.2 scoreless innings on the mound, needing just eight pitches to get through the third and only six to silence the Red Storm in the fifth.

“Nick did a good job today,” Coach Brian Guinn said. “He came in, threw strikes, and got guys to get the outs he needed. He's a freshman so we're looking for him to do well in the future.”


In game two, Dixie State established a 1-0 lead after the first inning and though ART U had chances early, a six-run third was the difference thus far. Junior infielder Zach Babitt reached third base in the first inning by way of his single and stolen base, but he was left stranded. Then sophomore catcher Chris Holmes led off the fourth with a double to center and became one of two runners left on base in the inning. The Knights were getting men on against DSC, but just could not string enough hits together for a score.

The fourth inning saw Academy of Art load the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch though they had tough luck in trying to push across a run. Following a three-run fifth for Dixie State, the scoreboard read 10-0 in favor of the Red Storm. However, the game could not be completed after the sixth inning and is now scheduled to be resumed on ART U's upcoming roadtrip to St. George, UT.

Academy of Art was led by solid offensive efforts from Henderson and Singzon in game one. Henderson hit his third triple of the season and finished the contest 1-for-3 with two runs scored. One spot behind Henderson in the lineup, Singzon went 2-for-4 with one run batted in and a stolen base. Saturday's results have ART U now 1-8 overall, 1-2 in PacWest competition.

At the end of the day, outfielder Jordan Hanley had driven the most runs in with a 4-for-7 performance and four RBIs. Bond added a home run for the Red Storm, going 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Game one's winning pitcher was starter Mike Dedrick (1-1) who allowed one run on four hits over 8.0 innings of work with 15 strikeouts. In game two, Sam Friend (0-1) started and lasted 4.0 innings without allowing a run. Dixie State is now 5-5 overall this season, 2-1 in the PacWest.

ART U's next series will be on the road against these same Red Storm in St. George, UT. The teams are scheduled to play a pair of doubleheaders starting on Mar. 4 at DSC's Bruce Hurst Field.