IRVINE, Calif. – Despite a complete-game effort from junior left hander Alexander Kuisel, the Urban Knights (7-18, 2-9 PacWest) were unable to put a run across, falling 2-0 in the series finale against Concordia (16-16, 12-8 PacWest).
 
The game was scoreless for the opening three innings as neither side was able to crack the scoreboard. In fact, Kuisel did not surrender his first hit of the ballgame until the fourth inning when the Eagles' John Bornhop singled through the right side to drive in Tino Leite for the team's first run; Concordia exited the inning with a 1-0 lead.
 
Looking to even the score, ART U had their first opportunity the following half-inning. Junior catcher Zack Trueblood reached on a single through the left side and advanced to second when senior first baseman Brett Adami followed with a single to right. The runners would stay put however, as the subsequent batters flied out and struck out swinging to end the inning.
 
In the next frame, The Eagles would strike again, harnessing the use of small-ball to capitalize off of a leadoff double. CUI would bring the runner home with a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to left-center field.
 
Academy of Art would threaten once again in the ninth: with one out, senior third baseman Tyler Strawn pulled the ball into right field which rolled up against the wall, allowing him to head into second with a double. The following play saw Trueblood hit a sharp ground ball to Leite at second who was just able to knock it down with a diving effort. The defender was able to recover and get off a throw to first, resulting in a bang-bang play where Trueblood was ruled out. Had he reached, it would have placed runners at the corners with just one out. Instead, Strawn moved to third and would be stranded as Adami grounded to first for an unassisted putout to end the game.
 
Although the Urban Knights were unable to score, they posted twice as many hits as their opponents for the second consecutive game. In game two of Saturday's double header, ART U posted 13 hits to the Eagles' six, and today the ratio stood 6:3. Senior left fielder Greg Ivory was responsible for two of the Knights' hits, singling in his final two plate appearances.
 
Kuisel's dominant pitching performance included 8.0 innings of work while only allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), four walks, and four strikeouts. It was the third time the junior went the distance, and his first time since the 2015 season finale at UH-Hilo on April 30 (also March 28, 2014 at Cal State Stanislaus). Trueblood was another standout during the weekend series, posting a .400 batting average (6-for-15) while catching all 38 innings.
 
"Trueblood emerges from this weekend establishing himself as a warrior," said head coach Dan McDermott. "He was physically fatigued, yet continued to lead our team in both attitude and action."
 
The Urban Knights will now return home, receiving a week off from competition before welcoming in the formidable Hawaii Pacific Sharks.
 
"We will utilize the upcoming break to heal up and work on the little things," added McDermott. "We always play hard, but we need to play smarter."