Box Score
Turlock, CA -- Playing their fifth game in four days, the Academy of Art University was knocking on the door all game but just fell short of getting over the hump against non-conference opponent Cal State Stanislaus. The Urban Knights matched the Warriors in terms of hits, with each team rapping out seven, but ART U left eleven men on base as Stanislaus was able to hold on and hand the Knights a 3-0 loss. 

The Urban Knights started off their attack early on, getting back-to-back singles with two outs in the first inning, but unable to score off of starter Nick Ippolito (2-3). Freshman Alex Kuisel (0-4) took the mound for Academy of Art, and got into some trouble right from the start. Skippy Ferreria led off with a single, taking second on a failed pickoff throw. After loading the bases with one out, Kuisel got Matt Chaidez to fly into a double play, as the Knights cut down the runner from first base, but the run had already scored and the Warriors took a 1-0 lead.

ART U would continue to get hits, getting their best chance in the fourth inning, when Daniel Skinner singled with one out. After a fielders choice , a walk, and an error, Dante Redhead walked on five pitches to load the bases with two outs, but Daniel Gutierrez grounded out to second to leave all three runners on base. They would have another good chance in the fifth, getting runners at the corners with only one out, but Chucky Cavestany grounded into a double play to end the threat once again.

Stanislaus would add to their lead in the sixth, and although Kuisel had been pitching extremely efficiently, scattering hits but not racking up a big pitch count, the Warriors would extend their lead. Charlie Gaff led off the inning with a single, and after Kuisel retired two batters on three pitches, Gaff stole second, scoring on an RBI single from Marcus Mastrobuoni to make it 2-0.

Frustration on offense mounted for the Knights, as they stranded two more in the seventh after a single and a walk. Stanislaus would add one more in the eighth inning when Gaff against scored, this time on a squeeze play. The Knights got to the Warriors bullpen in that inning, but reliever Dustin Baisdon shut them down in the final two innings, allowing a double to pinch-hitter Daniel Robertson in the top of the ninth but nothing else, earning his second save of the year.

Kuisel went the distance for ART U in an impressive performance in the losing effort, throwing only 90 pitches in eight innings. Marchini had a pair of hits and a walk for the Knights, while Ramirez was 1-for-2 with two walks. Gaff was 2-for-3 with two runs for Stanislaus as Ippolito (7 IP, 2K) and Baisdon (2 IP, 3K) combined for the shutout.

The two teams will take tomorrow off before resuming the series with a doubleheader on Sunday.