ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – Academy of Art baseball headed to Rohnert Park on Tuesday, looking to exact revenge on Sonoma State after falling to the Seawolves on February 14. Solid pitching and a five-run fifth helped the Urban Knights achieve their goal, defeating SSU 5-3.
 
Making his first start of the season, sophomore right hander Mason Verhees was dominant in his 4.1 innings pitched. The San Diego native did not allow a run and only surrendered four hits while recording four strikeouts and four walks.
 
Through four innings, the game was held scoreless, but that would change in the Knights' half of the fifth. With runners on second and third with one out, senior outfielder Cameron Jones beat out an infield single to the shortstop to open the scoring. On the play, junior outfielder Izac Bauer came in to score. Senior outfielder Alex Fernandex then stepped up to the plate and delivered a single to right center which knocked in junior outfielder Jackson Murphy from third. After a single from junior Michael Maleski which loaded the bases, senior infielder Erick Luna stroked ART U's fourth consecutive base hit, driving in both Maleski and Fernandez to give Academy of Art a 5-0 lead.
 
Heading to the bottom of the frame, Verhees quickly recorded the first out, but left the game after allowing a pair of runners to reach base. Senior left hander Jacob Green came on in relief and needed just eight pitches to record the innings' final two outs. Green cruised for the next 2.1 innings, striking out four batters and allowing five hits. The Multimedia Communications major began to run into the trouble in the seventh however, and allowed his first three runs of the season. Senior right hander Josh Lopez then took over for ART U and carried them until they were two outs away from victory.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, the Seawolves threatened by starting the inning with a leadoff walk. With one out, SSU managed to move runners to first and second. At that point, junior right hander Sal Johnson entered the game looking to record a two-out save. Mitch West entered the game as a pinch hitter for Sonoma State and nearly sent the game into extra innings with a long drive to left. Playing left field, Jones executed a precise route to the ball and made a game-saving, leaping catch to record the second out. Three pitches later, Johnson was able to induce a flyout to centerfield and seal the Urban Knights' fourth win of the season.
 
Altogether, Maleski led ART U with three hits in four at-bats, while Luna went 1-for-4 with two runs batted in, and Jones, Bauer, and Fernandez each recorded a base hit as well. Green (1-1) earned his first victory of the season and Johnson recorded his first save as an Urban Knight. Lopez was also impressive in relief, tossing 1.2 innings while only surrendering one hit with three strikeouts and two walks.
 
Academy of Art will spend the next two days preparing for a four-game set with Concordia beginning on March 3, marking their first PacWest matchups of the season.