OAKLAND, Calif. -- On the final day of their home series against Northwest Nazarene, Academy of Art split the doubleheader with a pair of one run games at Laney College. In game two, junior pitcher Galen Manhard nailed down his fourth save of the season to break the career and single season saves record in less than one month as an Urban Knight.

"It was a really hard fought series between two good teams," said head coach Dan McDermott. "I am really proud of how the guys battled. The difference between winning and losing in each of the games came down to just a few pitches, hits, and throws."

GAME 1 -- NNU 6, ART U 5
Senior pitcher Angel Mora took the mound for ART U in game one and started with three scoreless innings. After retiring the first two batters of the fourth inning, Mora gave up a solo shot to left field to give the Nighthawks a 1-0 lead. NNU struck for another in the fifth, thus ending Mora's outing. The senior from Torrance ended with five innings pitched and gave up only two hits and two runs while striking out five.  

Sophomore utility Noah Daubin took over the pitching duties in the top of the sixth and threw three scoreless innings. But, in the top of ninth the Nighthawks loaded the bases and hit a grand slam to take a 6-0 lead.

Facing a six run deficit with just three outs to work with, ART U would not admit defeat. The Urban Knights put up five runs in the bottom half of the inning, all with two out. The rally started with an RBI walk rom Daubin. Then with the bases still loaded junior outfielder Alex Golembiewski drove a single into center field scoring senior catcher Zak May and junior outfielder Thomas Delgadillo. A sophomore catcher Ryan Gamboa base-hit and a junior shortstop Justin Summers walk brought the Urban Knights within one with the bases still loaded, but ARTU stranded the runners and fell to NNU 6-5.

Game 2 -- ART U 4, NNU 3
ART U got off to a quick start In the final game of the series with a Golembiewski single and a Delgadillo double to take a 1-0 lead in the first. Golembiewski was ART U's leading hitter on the day, with four hits, three runs, and two runs batted in. The Nighthawks tied the game in the top of the second, but ART U scored two runs after Mora drove a line drive at the second baseman that was too hot to handle.

ART U held onto its lead with starting pitcher, senior Mason Verhees retiring the remaining NNU batters through the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Knights added one more insurance run, that ended up being critical, on a single up the middle by senior outfielder Taj Dawson to bring home senior pitcher Ben Kaser who was pinch running.

Though NNU added two runs in the top of the seventh, Manhard held off the Nighthawks to secure a 4-3 ART U victory. Manhard notched his record breaking fourth save, while Verhees earned his second win to start a perfect 2-0.

"Mora and Verhees gave us quality starts today," said McDermott. "This series allowed us to utilize our entire pitching staff and should allow us to gain some momentum headed into next week's conference opening series."

After the split day, ART U moves to 8-3 on the season. Academy of Art will begin PacWest play with Point Loma next week in a four game series at Benedetti Diamond starting on Friday, March 1 at 12 p.m.