SAN FRANCISCO -- Academy of Art took on No. 17 Point Loma in their first conference series of the year and went out to an early lead in game one, but the Sea Lions ended up sweeping the doubleheader Friday at Benedetti Diamond.

Game 1 -- PLNU 6, ART U 5
ART U started game one with a bang when senior first baseman Angel Mora launched a solo shot over the right field fence to give the Urban Knights a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Senior pitcher Ben Kaser made it through three scoreless innings before giving up a run in the fourth on a leadoff double followed shortly by a base hit.  

Academy of Art collected a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, sparked by a leadoff walk by senior outfielder Taj Dawson. The next batter, junior outfielder Daniel Curiel, drove a double down the left field line to score Dawson. Curiel made his way across the plate on a line drive up the middle by senior second baseman Elijah Smith to take a 3-1 lead. The Sea Lions came back with a vengeance in the top half of the next inning, putting up a five spot in the top of the seventh to take a 6-3 lead.

ART U struck for two more runs, driven in by senior catcher Zak May and Mora, in the bottom of the eighth to make it a one run game, but PLNU hung on and took game one 6-5. Mora ended the game with three hits, a home run, two runs batted in, and three runs. Junior outfielder Thomas Delgadillo and Smith had two hits apiece and May's RBI boosted his team leading total to 12.

Game 2 -- PLNU 17, ART U 6
PLNU got off to a quick start in game two, picking up two runs in the first, three in the third, and one in the fourth to take an early 6-0 lead. The Urban Knights got on the board when Mora belted his fourth hit of the day, a double down the right field line, to drive in sophomore catcher Ryan Gamboa who hit a double the previous at bat. Junior third baseman Fabian Barcena added the third two bagger of the inning to score Mora and reduce the Sea Lions lead to 6-2.

But PLNU proved their No. 17 national rankling and released an offensive flurry that ended with a 17-2 score in the seventh. ART U fought back for a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth, but the deficit was too large to overcome and the Sea Lions swept the day. Barcena lead the Urban Knights' offense game two, going 2-3 with a season high three runs batted in, while Gamboa contributed with a pair of runs.

After the losses Academy of Art moves to 8-5 overall and 0-2 in conference. The Urban Knights will be back on Benedetti Diamond with another doubleheader Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.