GAMES #4-7
ART U (1-2) vs. #7 Chico State (0-0)
Oakland, CA -- Laney College
Live Stats | Live Audio

Friday, Feb. 8 at 12:00 PM
Saturday, Feb. 9 at 4:30 PM (Game 1)
Sunday, Feb. 10 at 12:00 PM

LEADING OFF
The Urban Knights earned a split on the final day of the season-opening series against Cal State Dominguez Hills, dropping the first two games of the series but coming away with a 2-1 victory in the afternoon game of the doubleheader. It took the Knights extra innings, but redshirt sophomore Nick Giotta picked up the win with some clutch pitching after the Knights scored in the top of the eighth against the Toros.

WHAT A RELIEF!
Academy of Art has a much deeper pitching staff this year, and it showed in the matchup with the Toros. Against CSUDH, the Knights had four relievers throw at least an inning of scoreless baseball, and one who only gave up two runs while throwing a starter's load of five innings. Freshmen Kai Fink (1.1 IP) and Nicholas Boyett (3.1 IP, 1 SV) joined redshirt sophomores Samm McAlear (1.2 IP) and Nick Giotta (1.1 IP, 1 W) in putting up zeroes, while Yoshi Uemura's two earned runs in five innings were accompanied by five strikeouts.

'CATS RUNNING WILD
Chico State raked in the honors following last year's CCAA Championship and West Region Championship, as they were picked to repeat atop the West Region in the 2013 NCBWA preseason poll. The Wildcats also had three players named to the preseason All-West Region Team, as outfielder Blake Gibbs and closer Mike Botelho got the nod on the First Team and starter Kagen Hopkins was named to the Second Team. The series against the Urban Knights will be the season opener for the Wildcats, who finished 40-19 last year and ended their season in the second round of the NCAA Division II College World Series.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
One of the aspects that has drawn many players to the Academy of Art is the chance to play for its coaching staff. Head coach Brian Guinn and assistant coaches Bip Roberts, Mike Felder, and Ed Ricks all have played professional baseball, combining for 40 years of service time between both the majors and the minor leagues. Roberts has major league experience with six teams, earning an All-Star selection in 1992. Felder had a 10-year career with four different teams, while Guinn spent 10 years in the minors for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox, and Ricks spent eight years in the New York Yankees farm system.

WHAT'S ON DECK
After the games this weekend, the Urban Knights will have a lengthy break for the remainder of February, not playing their next game until March 1 against Grand Canyon in Phoenix. Their next home matchups will be on March 7 against California Baptist University.