FRESNO, Calif. – Academy of Art headed to Fresno on Thursday to take on the Sunbirds in their final road series of the 2017 season. The Urban Knights were met with an offensive front however, dropping the first contest by a score of 12-3.  
 
FPU got things started early with a four-run bottom of the first followed by another scoring play in the second. Facing a 5-0 deficit, ART U put their first run on the board in the third thanks to an RBI single off the bat of junior infielder Taylor Martin. His single through the left side drove in junior designated hitter Kyle McGraw after he led off the frame with his second hit of the ballgame.
 
The Urban Knights cut the deficit to just two runs in the fourth thanks to a two-run home run from junior outfielder Evan Ray. It was Ray's second homer of the year and senior Erick Luna came in to score on the play after reaching on a leadoff walk. That was the last time ART U crossed the plate and FPU responded with a three-run inning in the fifth and also pushed runs across in the seventh and eighth-frames.
 
Although Ray dealt the biggest blow for Academy of Art, McGraw led the team in hits with two singles in four at-bats. Senior right-hander Brett Bovee made his 11th start of the season, but succumbed to Fresno's big offensive output. Despite allowing 11 runs (10 earned), the Las Vegas native completed seven innings of work for the second-consecutive start. It was also the eighth-time this season that Bovee pitched seven or more frames.
 
ART U will look to bounce back on Friday when the Urban Knights and Sunbirds meet for games two and three starting at 2:00 p.m.