ALAMEDA, Calif. – In their first non-conference action of the season, Academy of Art baseball was seeking a pair of come-from-behind efforts in a doubleheader against Concordia on Thursday, but unfortunately would leave the tying run on base in the final inning of each contest. For game one, it would lead to a 5-4 victory for the Eagles, who would also go on to claim the shortened second battle by a final of 4-3 (seven innings). 

The Urban Knights (13-13, 13-11 PacWest) ran up against tough starting pitching from the Eagles (13-12, 11-12 PacWest), as both CUI starters would wind up with complete game efforts. While ART U led both games in hits, totaling 24 between the two games to provide scoring opportunities, they were ultimately unable to get runners across and find the timely score. Game one starter and graduate student righty Matthew Sanchez would secure a quality start while matching his career high in strikeouts with nine (also: Mar. 11, 2020). Meanwhile, senior right-hander Jayson Summers got the call in game two and allowed just four hits in six full innings, but both starters would be tagged with the loss. 

From the dish, junior designated hitter Noah Daubin posted a pair of two-hit games and was a combined 4-for-8 on the day with two RBI and a double, matching the four hits on the day from redshirt junior shortstop Dominic Ruggiero after he was 4-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored. All ART U starters tallied hits in game one, with four collecting a two-hit game, including the team-leading 14th on the season from Ruggiero and the third two-hit game of the season for sophomore outfielder Hayato Niki (ninth overall). 

GAME ONE – CUI 5, ART U 4
Striking early were the Eagles, tallying one run in the opening frame and two more in the second. After those first two times out, ART U starter Sanchez would find his groove by recording six strikeouts over the next three innings, including striking out the side (although not in order) in the top of the fifth.

ART U got on the scoreboard for the first time in the home half of the fourth, as junior first baseman Vincent Lontz would reach after he was hit by a pitch and later scored on the second of back-to-back singles from graduate student infielder Justin Summers and junior designated hitter Noah Daubin. The lead would be cut to just one after the Knights scored again in the sixth, as three consecutive hits were capped off with a Summers RBI double into left field that he crushed over the left fielder's head near the base of the wall.

However, the Eagles would add some cushion to their lead, scoring once in each the top of the eighth and ninth innings to build the lead back to three runs at 5-2. Refusing to go away quietly, ART U put up a two-out rally that was started with a double from graduate student catcher Ryan Gamboa after his fly ball was lost in the sun by the CUI right fielder, and would score two batters later on an RBI single into left field, with Niki advancing to second base after he caught the Eagles slacking on defense. Niki's hustle would pay off, as he would score on the very next play thanks to an RBI single through the left side from graduate student outfielder Andrew Shebloski. Unfortunately, the two-out rally would end as CUI starter Brett Vansant was able to finish off his complete game. 

Doing the most damage for the Knights in game one was Niki, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI, run scored, while Summers and Daubin were each 2-for-4 with an RBI (Summers also added a double). Junior right-hander Austin LaBarber would make a relief appearance for Sanchez, allowing one run on one hit with no walks in 1.1 innings pitched. 

GAME TWO – CUI 4, ART U 3 (7 INNINGS)
Flipping the script in game two, it was the Knights who were on the board first with a pair of runs in the home half of the first, as a fielding error would open the inning followed by three consecutive singles. The final of those base knocks be an RBI single for Lontz, picking up an RBI as Shebloski scored an unearned run. Two batters later, Daubin would continue the hit parade and earn an RBI in the process by bringing in Ruggiero with a ball through the left side. 

Urban Knights starter Jayson Summers would work well with run support, cruising through the first three innings including a pair of three-up, three-down frames in the first and third and a pair of strikeouts. Each team would notch a run in the fourth, as CUI got their tally from an RBI groundout. Meanwhile, ART U opened the frame with a double from sophomore third baseman Adam Inouye, utilized small ball with a sacrifice bunt, and pushed the lead to 4-2 just two batters later as Ruggiero used his speed to earn an infield RBI single. 

For the first time in game two, CUI would put up a crooked number in the fifth, using a pair of walks, a pair of hits and a hit by pitch to tally three runs and swipe the lead. Despite the Urban Knights getting runners into scoring position in each of the sixth and seventh innings as they looked for the comeback bid, Concordia starter Dillon Brown would hold on for the quality start and complete game win.

Ruggiero's second three-hit game of the season led the way for the Knights at the plate, as he both drove in and scored a run in the second of the twin bill. Daubin and Inouye both went 2-for-4 with a double, as Inouye also scored a run during the contest. 

ART U will look for revenge as the two teams close out this four-game series on Friday with first pitch times of 2 and 5:30 p.m.