SAN DIEGO – As if newly energized after the 13-day intercession, the Urban Knights' bats told the story during the opening two games with Point Loma. Game one saw ART U reach double digits in both the hits and runs columns which ended in a 10-3 triumph. The second contest saw a late comeback by the Sea Lions and they held on for a 5-1 finish.
 
Game One: ART U 10, PLNU 3
 
The Urban Knights started their four-game series with Point Loma with an offensive explosion.
 
The scoring commenced in the second inning when they took advantage of two PLNU mistakes. Their first run came home when junior shortstop Payton Milone hit a sharp ground ball to the second baseman with the bases loaded. Unable to cleanly handle the play, Milone reached on the error which allowed senior first baseman Brett Adami to cross the plate. Two batters later, the bases were still loaded when senior left fielder Greg Ivory was able to coax a walk to give ART U a 2-0 advantage.
 
The following inning, Academy of Art stretched their lead to three runs when senior third baseman Tyler Strawn left the yard with a solo home run to right-center field. It was the team's second dinger on the year, Strawn's second as an Urban Knight, and his first since Valentine's Day, 2015 at Cal State East Bay.
 
ART U would continue on to score in four out of the remaining six innings and finish by a final tally of 10-3. Game one marked the second time this season that ART U reached a double-digit run total (also March 28 with a 12-3 victory over Hawaii Pacific.) The team totaled 12 hits in the game which is tied for their third-highest mark of the season. Their most came on April 1 when they tallied 14 against No. 6 California Baptist.
 
The Urban Knights' offensive barrage was backed by a quality start from junior right hander Brett Bovee. The Las Vegas native notched his third win of the season after tossing 7.0 innings while only allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits, five walks, and four strikeouts.  
 
"The game is made up of three facets: hitting, pithing, and defense" said head coach Dan McDermott.  "In game one, we excelled in all three…We were led by an outstanding pitching performance by Brett which enabled us to build a lead and create a cushion heading into the later innings."
 
Game Two: ART U 1, PLNU 5
 
Although their bats were quieter in game two, ART U continued to demonstrate solid pitching and put together numerous quality at-bats.
 
The Knights managed to plate the first run of the ballgame in the fourth when Adami stroked a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing senior center fielder Joseph Marchini to score. ART U held their lead until the bottom of the fifth when Point Loma pulled even and eventually took the lead with two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings.
 
Junior left hander Alexander Kuisel took the tough loss after issuing a quality start of his own. The Chula Vista, Calif. native totaled 7.0 innings pitched while allowing just three runs (all earned) on nine hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. Kuisel has been one the Urban Knights' most consistent starters, delivering a quality start in three out of his previous four outings.
 
"In game two, we had great starting pitching from Alex and our defense was stellar," said McDermott. "Overall, we had a great day in the quality at-bat department and we feel good going into tomorrow."
 
Academy of Art will conclude their series with the Sea Lions on Saturday with a Noon/3:00 p.m. double header.