FRESNO, Calif. -- Despite a 28 hit, 17 run barrage, Academy of Art dropped both games of Tuesday's doubleheader at FPU Diamond. The hit parade was not enough as the Urban Knights fell 8-7 in game one and 10-6 in the nightcap. The offensive outburst increases ART U's season totals to 227 runs, 417 hits, and 206 runs batted in, all more than any previous team in program history. The records continued to fall, as senior second baseman Elijah Smith became ART U's all-time triples leader with his 11th career three bagger.  

Game One: FPU 8, ART U 7
The Sunbirds struck early, scoring two runs off one hit in the bottom of the first. ART U continued it's consisting hitting through the third game of the series striking back with runs in innings two through four. In the second, the Urban Knights cut FPU's lead in half 2-1. After his record breaking leadoff triple down the right field line Smith was driven in one a sacrifice fly to center field by sophomore outfielder Noah Daubin. ART U evened the score 2-2 with a single to center field by senior first baseman Josh Carlin that sent home junior outfielder Thomas Delgadillo, whose hit in the third improved his hit-streak to 16.

The Sunbirds were able to take a two-run lead in the bottom of third and the back and forth battle continued, but the Knights took an extended lead with runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Coming off a strong game one from Monday evening, junior third baseman Fabian Barcena hit a double to left field to send home senior catcher Donnie Gardiner. Barcena scored soon after when junior outfielder Alex Golembiewski hit a single to center field. With one more run added in the fifth and two more in the sixth the Urban Knights took a 7-5 lead into the final innings. Senior utility Angel Mora went out for the ninth looking to notch his first complete game of the year, but a late Sunbirds rally put two across for a 8-7 win over ART U. Mora left it all out on the mound, throwing 2.1 more innings than his longest previous outing, for a total of 8.1 innings pitched while only allowing one earned run.

Game Two: FPU 14, ART U 10
The Urban Knights brought the same offensive intensity into the second game of the day, although it was FPU with the big six-run second inning. ART U answered back quickly with a four-run top of the third. The explosive inning was led off by junior shortstop Justin Summers who hit a ground-rule double to center field to score Golembiewski.   

The Knights fell behind again when the Sunbirds tacked on eight more runs to take a commanding 14-5 lead. ART U threatened a comeback with a huge sixth inning, scoring four runs off six hits. The attack started with a leadoff double from Daubin who was sent home by senior utility Caden Spillsbury. After chipping away, ART U went into the final inning down 14-9. Spilsbury brought in another run for his first ever multi-RBI day, but the Sunbirds hung on for the 14-10 victory.

Summers ended the doubleheader 5-for-8 with four RBI, three runs, and a double, Delgadillo extended his hit-streak to 17, and Barcena had a productive four hit, two run day.

The pair of losses put ART U at 17-28 overall and 6-24 in conference. The Urban Knights will close out their season with one final game against Fresno Pacific tomorrow at noon.