OAKLAND, Calif. – It was a tale of two games on Friday as Academy of Art and Holy Names squared off in their first of two doubleheaders. The Urban Knights matched a program record with their 10th PacWest win in game one, but could not find their stride in game two, falling to the Hawks to split the twin bill.
 
GAME ONE: ART U 8, HNU 2
 
ART U was efficient on both sides of the ball in game one, matching their season-high hits total with 13 and managed to shut out their opposition until the ninth inning. Senior right-hander Brett Bovee pitched 7.0 scoreless frames, allowing just four hits while striking out four and walking six. This is Bovee's second start this season where he has tossed 7.0 innings without allowing a run; he last repeated the feat on February 11 against SF State. Senior righty Josh Lopez took the team the rest of the way, making his 14th appearance this season and 58th in his career. His total ties him with Zach Mexicano and Yoshi Uemura for the most appearances in program history. With 10 games remaining in the 2017 season, Lopez needs to toe the rubber just once more to call the record his own.
 
ART U's offense got going early, pushing their first run across in the second inning thanks to the efforts from a pair of junior outfielders: Izac Bauer led off the frame with an infield single to the shortstop and moved over on a sacrifice bunt. Then, Evan Ray brought him home with an RBI single to center. Now with a 1-0 lead, the Knights added three more in the bottom of the third thanks, in part, to three-consecutive doubles from junior infielder Michael Maleski, senior infielder Erick Luna, and Bauer.
 
However, Academy of Art's biggest inning came two frames later, in the fifth. The Urban Knights sent nine batters to the plate and managed to score five runs in the process. The biggest blow of the inning came off the bat of junior infielder Taylor Martin who knocked in a pair of runs with a double down the left-field line.
 
ART U cruised into the ninth looking to preserve the shutout, but HNU avoided going down quietly by tallying three singles to drive in a pair of runs.
 
A pair of Urban Knights put together three-hit games including Luna who went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Bauer enjoyed a 3-for-4 day with three runs scored and a run batted in as well.
 
 
GAME TWO: ART U 0, HNU 17
 
Entering the game tied for the second-most complete games in the conference (4), junior right-hander Luke Lacy took to the mound in game two looking to continue his success. However, Holy Names' bats awoke in game two as the Hawks erupted for 17 runs to split the doubleheader.
 
Scoring in six separate frames, their biggest inning came in the in the fifth when the Hawks struck for eight runs
 
"This is actually the first time all season that I stood in front of my boys and said 'we just need to tip our cap to the other team,'" said head coach Dan McDermott. "Our opponents hit so well in the second game and it was really their time. Our starting pitching has been solid for most of the season and letting that game get away from us is a disappointment. Our challenge is to get a good night's rest and come out ready to play heads up baseball tomorrow."
 
The Urban Knights will head to College of Alameda on Saturday for the final two games of the series with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.