Game #21 & #22
ART U Urban Knights (10-10, 10-10 PacWest) at Holy Names Hawks (9-9, 7-9 PacWest)
Friday, Apr. 23, 2021 at 2 & 5 p.m.
Alameda, Calif. – College of Alameda
Live Stats and Video

Game #23 & #24
ART U Urban Knights (10-10, 10-10 PacWest) vs. Holy Names Hawks (9-9, 7-9 PacWest)
Saturday, Apr. 24, 2021 at 1 & 4:30 p.m.
Alameda, Calif. – College of Alameda
Live Stats and Video

CLOSING OUT CONFERENCE PLAY
It's the final Pacific West Conference Northern California pod series for Academy of Art baseball, as the Knights meet cross-Bay area rival Holy Names for the final time this season. ART U remains in the chase for the PacWest NorCal pod title, but is currently in second place behind Fresno Pacific by just one game. 

FIRST PITCH
All four games will be played at the College of Alameda, with Holy Names hosting the first doubleheader at 2 & 5 p.m. on Friday before ART U closes out the season series at 1 & 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. 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
ART U is currently second in team batting average in the PacWest at .313, and are averaging 6.85 runs per game in 2021. Their OBP (.386) ranks fourth while their slugging percentage (.413) is third, while also posting the third-best mark in doubles (37) and the conference-lead in triples (5). From the hill, the Knights have allowed the third-fewest runs (128) and earned runs (106) in the PacWest, while allowing the second-fewest hits (159) in the conference.

Both the hitting streak (16 games) and reached base streak (19 games) of redshirt junior shortstop Dominic Ruggiero came to an end in the last game of the most recent series aganist the Sunbirds, as Ruggiero had reached base in every single game for ART U this season. It is a mark that ties an ART U program record, having been set by Lyle "Kalani" Brackenridge in 2013. The next current longest reached base streak belongs to sophomore infielder Adam Inouye, who picked up a hit in game one before drawing a walk in game two to extend his streak to 13 games. Leading the way in batting average is junior outfielder Ty Conrad at .372, while Ruggiero follows closely behind at .370, while the two are tied for the team-lead in total bases (41). Conrad continues to hold the team lead in on-base percentage (.438), slugging percentage (.526), OPS (.964), RBI (23) and stolen bases (70), while now holding the longest active hitting streak at four games. A total of nine Urban Knights are hitting above the .300 mark.

From the hill, graduate student right-hander Matthew Sanchez leads the way with a 3-1 record, while senior righty Jayson Summers carries the best ERA at 2.81 (minimum three appearances).  Junior right-handers Ryan Skillman and Collin Carriger are tied for the most appearances with seven, and Skillman is one of two Urban Knights to post a sub-3 ERA at 2.95. Sanchez has tossed the most innings on the team this season with 32.1 while Summers is nipping at his heels with 32.0 innings pitched. Four ART U pitchers have recorded at least 24 strikeouts, led by the 34 from Summers, who has struck out at least six batters in each of his last four starts. 
 
HANGER FROM THE HAWKS
Third place Holy Names comes into the matchup having lost three of their last four in a series with Fresno Pacific, and five of their last six contests dating back to the last doubleheader split with the Urban Knights. Only two Hawks are batting above the .300 mark, led by Morgan McIntosh at .353 with team highs in hits (24), runs (19), doubles (7), home runs (3) and total bases (44). Additionally, he's drawn 14 walks and is a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen base opportunities. Meanwhile, six Hawks have recorded a victory from the mound, as starter Noah Barros leads the way at a perfect 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 36 strikeouts. ART U is leading the season series, 5-3, extending their lead in the all-time series, 27-21. 

SUNBIRDS OFFENSE TOO MUCH FOR ART U IN FINAL MATCHUPS
In a battle of the top two teams in the Pacific West Conference Northern California pod, Academy of Art baseball opened a seven-run lead over Fresno Pacific early in game one, but FPU would eventually fight back for an 11-10 win in extra innings. Riding that momentum, FPU would cruise to a 14-6 victory in the shortened second part of a twin bill on Saturday from Pat Bail Field at the College of Alameda. 

ON DECK CIRCLE
With conference play having concluded, ART U prepares for their first non-conference games of the season as they host fellow PacWest member Concordia in a four-game set on Apr. 29 and 30, with Senior Day set for Apr. 30.