Game #9 & #10
ART U Urban Knights (6-2, 6-2 PacWest) at Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (7-9, 4-6 PacWest)
Thursday, Mar. 25, 2021 at 2 & 5:30 p.m.
Alameda, Calif. – College of Alameda
Live Stats and Video

Game #11 & #12
ART U Urban Knights (6-2, 6-2 PacWest) at Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (7-9, 4-6 PacWest)
Saturday, Mar. 27, 2021 at 2 & 5:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. – FPU Diamond
Live Stats and Video

OUTSHINING THE SUNBIRDS
Two consecutive series victories have started the 2021 campaign for Academy of Art baseball, having won three out of four against Fresno Pacific and Holy Names. Now the Urban Knights will look to make it three in a row in their first rematch of the season, as they take on the Sunbirds in a four-game set. 

FIRST PITCH
The series will be split into a pair of doubleheaders, with ART U hosting at 2 and 5 p.m. on Thursday while the series concludes in Fresno on Saturday at the same times. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
It has been a week off for the Urban Knights, who last saw the field during a drubbing of the Hawks in which ART U totaled 25 runs in two games, leading to a doubleheader sweep over HNU. Game one saw ART U score the second-most runs in a single game in program history, as the Knights would cruise to a 17-4 final that was powered by a 10-run bottom of the eighth, which finally put the game out of reach. The offense continued to surge in game two, plating three runs in the bottom of the first while eight of nine starters collected hits en route to an easy 8-1 victory in the shortened seven-inning contest. Leading the way with four hits apiece was junior outfielder Ty Conrad and junior first baseman Vincent Lontz, with Conrad launching his second home run of the season and totaling five RBI in game one, which is tied for the most in a single game in ART U history. The first to do so was current assistant coach Stefen Henderson ('13) on Apr. 2, 2012, while the last to do it was Zak May against Azusa Pacific in April 2019. Junior righty Noah Daubin picked up his first win of the season with a quality start in game one, lasting seven innings and allowing three runs, none of them earned, while allowing just four hits and striking out three. Starting on the hill in game two was junior right-hander Cannon Secrist, tossing a seven-inning complete game in which he allowed one earned run on three hits, striking out six in the process. 

Eight games into the season, the top batting average among those who qualify is sophomore outfielder Hayato Niki, hitting .387 with a .406 OBP. Meanwhile, Conrad holds the team lead in most offensive categories among those who qualify, including OPS (1.104), runs (11), RBI (13), and total bases (20). Lontz's four doubles are a team-high, while graduate student middle infielder Justin Summers has a pair of triples on the young campaign, putting him in a tie for fifth all time in ART U history in career triples along with Jackson Murphy (2017-18). From the bump, five Urban Knights have collected victories on the season, led by the two for junior righty Ryan Skillman. It is Secrist that has tossed the most innings leading to an ERA of just 0.64 with an 0.93 WHIP, while Skillman has not allowed a run in 4.2 innings pitched to go with his 0.43 WHIP. 
 
SUN SETTING ON THE SUNBIRDS
The Sunbirds enter the rematch having won their last two times out against Holy Names, sweeping a doubleheader to snap a seven-game losing streak dating back to their last matchup against the Knights in which ART U walked off victorious. In the losing streak was a four-game series against Southern California PacWest member Azusa Pacific, and then lost the first two to HNU before totaling 18 runs on the series' final day. Averaging 6.5 runs per game, Fresno Pacific provides plenty of pop at the dish, hitting 15 homers through 16 contests. Trent Greene comes in as FPU's top hitter, batting .361 with a 1.106 OPS (both team highs among those who qualify) in 12 games played, scoring 12 runs and hitting a team-leading four doubles. Six Sunbirds have registered victories, led by the two from Garrett Cooper. Among those with at least 10.0 innings pitched, Justin Fuson holds the best ERA at 3.22. While ART U made up ground in their last series, FPU still holds the edge in the all-time series, 30-9. 

ON DECK CIRCLE
Next up on the schedule for ART U is Bay Area rival Holy Names in a four-game series, with all four contests hosted from the College of Alameda beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, April 2 at 2 and 5:30 p.m.