OAKLAND, Calif. – Artist-athletes from all different sports came out on Sunday to support the baseball team as they looked to take the series from UH Hilo. They would be treated to a well-fought, rollercoaster-type of game which saw the Vulcans eventually finding a way to win 7-6 in 11 innings.
 
The Urban Knights came out swinging in the first, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring three runs in the inning. Junior left fielder Cameron Jones got things rolling with a leadoff triple to left-center field. Just two pitches later, redshirt junior second baseman Erick Luna knocked in his teammate with an infield hit to second base. After senior center fielder Joseph Marchini coaxed an eight-pitch walk, senior third baseman Tyler Strawn laced a single to right field. The play was mishandled by the defender, allowing two runs to score and Strawn to reach third.
 
Academy of Art took a comfortable four-run lead in the third, courtesy of Marchini's fourth-career home run and first of the season.
 
However, UH Hilo came back in a big way in the seventh. After being held scoreless throughout the first six innings, the Vulcans came away with five runs, receiving 11 at-bats in the frame, and benefitting from three hits and five walks.
 
After surrendering another run in the eighth, the Urban Knights came up to bat in the ninth, facing a two-run deficit. Luna was the first to settle into the box and faced five pitches before getting hit and receiving a free pass to first base. Marchini followed and just missed his second home run of the game, getting under a first-pitch fastball which resulted in a fly out to right. Strawn followed and brought his clutch-stroke with him. The senior crushed a 1-2 pitch into left-center field which left a dent halfway up the fence over the 365-foot sign. As Strawn cruised into second, Luna was able to cross the plate without a contest. Before the next pitch was thrown, Strawn was awarded third base after a balk from the Vulcans' pitcher. This set up freshman designated hitter Taj Dawson's first collegiate run batted in on a sacrifice fly that tied the game and forced extra innings.
 
After a scoreless tenth, UH Hilo pulled ahead in the 11th, scoring on a sacrifice fly after Jenkerson reached third on a throwing error by junior right hander Josh Lopez.
In the bottom of the inning, ART U was unable to complete a second comeback and fell 7-6.
 
Strawn was the biggest offensive force for the Urban Knights, going 3-for-6 with two runs batted in and a double. Junior shortstop Payton Milone also registered a multiple-hit day, tallying two singles in five at-bats.
 
On the pitching front, junior right hander Chris Rost was rolling through 4.2 innings, allowing no runs on just four hits, one walk, and one strikeout. The Dixon, Calif. native was replaced in the fifth by freshman Roman Martinez who allowed five runs in two innings of work. Lopez went the rest of the way, taking the loss while registering 4.1 innings of work, permitting seven hits, and striking out three.
 
Next week, ART U will head out on the road for the final time this season when they take on Azusa Pacific April 29-30.