Donnie Gardiner
Alex Kuisel
5
Academy of Art Univ AAU-BASE 6-8
7
Winner Concordia Irvine CUI-BB 4-11
Academy of Art Univ AAU-BASE
6-8
5
Final
7
Concordia Irvine CUI-BB
4-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Academy of Art Univ AAU-BASE 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 11 1
Concordia Irvine CUI-BB 1 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 X 7 6 0

W: W. Cohen (2-0) L: Lacy, Luke (0-3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Urban Knights Collect 11 Hits in 7-5 Loss to Eagles

IRVINE, Calif. – In game one of the series against Concordia, Academy of Art got off to a hot start, holding a 4-1 lead after 1.5 innings. However, a big bottom of the second for CUI put the Eagles ahead for good.
 
As aforementioned, ART U got on the board quickly, notching four-consecutive hits to begin the game, taking a 3-0 lead. After the Eagles scored an unearned run in the bottom of the frame, the Urban Knights recaptured their three-run lead (4-1) when junior infielder Elijah Smith drove in Robert "Gio" Villanueva with his second hit of the game.
 
ART U's lead was brief however, as Concordia's Chris Martin and Bailey Collins each recorded a home run in the bottom of the second. The Eagles' five runs in the frame gave CUI a 6-4 lead and an advantage which they went on to keep for the rest of the contest.
 
Two innings later, the Urban Knights pulled within one run thanks to a single from junior infielder Josh Carlin which allowed Villanueva to cross the plate. However, Concordia responded with another run of their own in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-5 lead.
 
Over the next five innings, ART U recorded just one hit, a double from junior outfielder Taj Dawson who finished with a career-first, 3-for-3 day. However, Dawson's efforts were not enough as the Urban Knights fell by the final score of 7-5.
 
Despite the loss, ART U saw success with the bats: their 11 base hits were nearly twice as many as the Eagles' six and they tied for the third-most hits this season. Beyond Dawson, there were three Knights who collected two hits apiece: Smith (one run batted in and a triple), Carlin (two RBI), and Villanueva (two runs scored). Entering the game in relief in the third inning, junior right-hander Donnie Gardiner tossed 6.0 strong innings while only giving up one earned run on two hits and recording eight strikeouts (a career-high). In fact, Gardiner has now struck out 19 batters in just 16.0 innings pitched.
 
Academy of Art will return to action on Friday when they play the Eagles in game two of the series at 2:00 p.m.
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