AZUSA, Calif. – Academy of Art found themselves in a slugfest on Friday night, but their season-high 16 hits in game one were not enough to overcome APU's six total home runs.
 
GAME ONE: ART U 6, APU 11

The Urban Knights were out to a quick start in game one. After surrendering a run in the first inning, ART U quickly responded in the top of the second. Sophomore designated hitter Jacoby Barragan got things started with an infield single to second base which paved the way for junior shortstop Payton Milone who followed with a single to center field. With two outs, senior right fielder Cody Edmunds laced a base hit into right field which got past the defender and allowed two runs to score. ART U would tally two more hits in the inning from senior left fielder Greg Ivory and redshirt junior Erick Luna, totaling four runs in the frame to take a 4-1 lead.
 
The Cougars would threaten in their half of the second, loading the bases with two outs. However, junior right hander Brett Bovee was up to the task, coaxing a first-pitch fly out to center field which allowed the Urban Knights to escape unscathed.
 
APU would make a comeback in the fifth however, sending twelve batters to the plate and hitting three home runs to complete an eight-run inning and take a 9-5 lead.
 
Sophomore first baseman Michael Maleski would drive in Academy of Art's final run of the contest in the seventh, but it would not prove to be enough as the Cougars scored twice on two more occasions and won by a final total of 11-6.
 
Despite the loss, the Urban Knights enjoyed plenty of success at the plate. Their 16 hits were the most this season and program's third highest mark since its inception in 2009. Luna had four hits in five trips to the plate, doubling twice for the first time in his career at ART U and totaling two runs batted in. The Knights also had four other players register multiple hits and eight out of nine of the starters found their way on base by way of a base hit.
 
GAME TWO: ART U 1, APU 5

Junior left hander Alexander Kuisel took to the mound in game two looking to tame Azusa Pacific after their offensive output in the first contest. Through three innings, the Chula Vista native did not give up a run, stretching his scoreless streak to 12 innings which dated back to his complete-game shutout against UH-Hilo on April 23.

However, the Cougars would score two runs in the fourth inning to end the streak and plated three more over the next two frames to take a 5-0 lead.
 
Academy of Art put their first run on the board in the ninth inning when Barragan pinch hit for junior catcher Zack Trueblood. With the bases loaded and one out in the inning, the Multimedia Communication major lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
 
On the offensive side of the ball, Luna continued his hot streak, going 2-for-3 in the night cap. On the day, the redshirt junior totaled six hits in nine at-bats. Thayer, senior center fielder Joseph Marchini, and senior third baseman Tyler Strawn were the other three Urban Knights to produce a hit in the second game.
 
ART U will look to force a split when they return to Cougar field on Saturday for a Noon/3:00 p.m. double header.