ALAMEDA, Calif. – Academy of Art baseball had an offensive explosion in game one of a Pacific West Conference doubleheader against Holy Names, tallying 17 runs on 23 hits as they would cruise to the easy victory by a final of 17-3. However, ART U could not sustain the offense, as they would drop game two to HNU by a final 4-0 to split the twin bill. 

The 23 hits by the Urban Knights (9-7, 9-7 PacWest) are tied for the most in a single game in program history (also: vs. Central Washington, Feb. 9, 2020), while the 17 runs are tied for the second most in ART U history (last: also vs. Central Washington). Despite the outpouring of runs, the Hawks (8-6, 6-6 PacWest) found a way to stymie the bats of the Knights in the shortened second game, limiting them to just one hit in seven innings. Redshirt junior shortstop Dominic Ruggiero was the only Urban Knight to post a hit in both games, having now posted a hit in 13 consecutive games, and having reached base safely in all 16 contests in 2021. 

GAME ONE – ART U 17, HNU 3
The scoring started in the top of the second, as the Urban Knights exploded for five runs to establish command early. Two singles and a walk would load the bases for graduate student outfielder Andrew Shebloski, who promptly cleared them with a three-RBI double into left field for his third two-bagger of the campaign. Ruggiero would immediately follow up with a triple into left center field, scoring Shebloski and putting him 90 feet away from home. After an intentional walk to junior outfielder Ty Conrad put runners on the corners, a throwing error from the HNU first baseman in a double steal attempt would allow Ruggiero to cap the inning off.
 
ART U would score twice in each the third and fourth frames, as sophomore outfielder Hayato Niki singled home a pair of runs in the away half of the third after he dug into the box with runners on second and third with two outs. The early offense by the Knights would chase the HNU starter after only three innings, but the scoring wasn't done yet. A fielding error by the HNU right fielder would allow Ruggiero to get all the way to third after he initially singled, and he would keep rounding third and head home after a throwing error from the right fielder on the same play. Three consecutive singles would bring home the other run, started and scored by Conrad. 
 
While HNU would get to ART U junior starting pitcher Noah Daubin for a run in each the fourth and fifth, he was undeterred as he allowed just five HNU hits through the first seven innings. He would continue to get extra run support, as the Knights scored one run in each the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings before putting up another five-spot in the top of the ninth. Junior first baseman Vincent Lontz chipped in a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth before graduate student catcher Ryan Gamboa led off the next frame with a towering home run to left field on the first pitch, his first big fly of the season and third in his career at ART U. With no outs in the eighth, Lontz would earn his second RBI with a double into left center. 
 
Four hits and a walk would translate into the five tallies in the top of the ninth, including RBI doubles from Conrad and senior infielder Fabian Barcena, his first extra-base hit this season. 
 
Daubin would end his performance with just three runs allowed, only two of which were earned, over 8.0 innings to pair with six strikeouts. Junior righty Austin LaBarber would pitch the ninth in relief, allowing two hits while striking out two. 
 
Every single Urban Knight that came to the plate collected a hit on the day, with Conrad and graduate student shortstop Justin Summers each posting a four-hit game. Conrad was 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Summers was 4-for-6 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI. Gamboa earn a hit in half of his at-bats by going 3-for-6 with three runs scored, an RBI, a home run and a double. 
 
GAME TWO – HNU 4, ART U 0 (7 INNINGS)
The story of the game was the effort of HNU starter Noah Barros, as he dazzled over a complete game 7.0 innings with six strikeouts and no walks, taking a no-hit effort all the way into the seventh inning. The no-no would ultimately be broken up by Ruggiero, avoiding the bagel in the hit column while also keeping his hitting streak alive. All the run support Barros would need came in the middle innings, with HNU once each in the second and fourth innings while plating two runs in the third. ART U junior starter Ryan Skillman was tagged for all four runs, but only three of them earned, while striking out five in 4.0 innings pitched. Fellow righty and junior Collin Carriger would appear in relief, striking out two while not allowing a hit over two frames. 

ART U will return to the diamond on Thursday, Apr. 15 when they prepare for the first two of a four-game set with Fresno Pacific from the FPU Diamond.