AZUSA, Calif. – Despite holding a four-run lead after the top of the ninth, Academy of Art baseball would see UH Hilo storm back and tie the game in the bottom of the frame to force extra innings in ART U's third game of the Pacific West Conference AQ Pod Series. Though Academy of Art would score once in the top of the 11th, the Vulcans would cross home plate twice in response to walk off winners Friday on Cougar Baseball Field. 

Home runs were crucial for the Urban Knights (16-19) offense in their battle against UH Hilo (14-14), smashing four solo dingers to tie the second-most home runs in a single game in program history (also: Feb. 9, 2020 vs. CWU). Two of the homers came off the bat of junior right-handed starter-turned-designated-hitter Noah Daubin, as he became the fourth Urban Knight to tally a multi-homer game (last: Justin Summers, Feb. 9, 2020). 

In fact, the scoring would start with a home run in the top of the first, with junior outfielder Ty Conrad sending the first pitch of his at-bat with two outs into orbit over the left field wall. Conrad would have a hand in the next ART U run as well, leading off the fourth with a walk before moving all the way to third on a single down the right field line by graduate student second baseman Justin Summers. To cross the plate, Summers would provide some help and force a mistake by the Vulcans' defense, as a stolen base would draw a bad throw down to second base, allowing Conrad to scamper home for a 2-0 lead. 

Continuing to extend their lead in the away half of the sixth, a leadoff double from redshirt junior shortstop Dominic Ruggiero would once again allow Conrad to manufacture ART U runs. His second hit of the ballgame would be lined into the right center field gap, allowing Ruggiero to score while Conrad would move up to second base on the throw to home plate. Active on the basepaths, a groundout from junior first baseman Vincent Lontz would send Conrad to third before scoring on a wild pitch during the very next at-bat, pushing the game to 4-0. 

It took until the home half of the seventh for the Vulcans to finally respond, as the deficit would be cut in half just two batters into the frame thanks to one swing from Mason Campbell, hitting a two-run homer to make it 4-2. Daubin, who tossed 6.0 shutout innings with three strikeouts prior to home run, would then slide from the mound into the lineup, giving way to junior right-hander Austin LaBarber who would settle the Knights and keep the Vulcans at bay through the end of the eighth. 

Insurance was quickly delivered in the top of the ninth, as two swings from Summers and Daubin produced a pair of home runs to once again double the lead. Both hitters would work tough at-bats, running the count full before finally winning the battle with four-baggers to left field (Summers) and right field (Daubin). Unfortunately, the lead would not survive the bottom of the frame, as the Vulcans would squeeze out four runs on only one hit and one ART U error to tie the game 6-6 and force extra innings. 

Neither team would score in the 10th inning despite having their chances, as both teams would have runners in scoring position with only one out. Even more dangerous, UH Hilo would load the bases with two away looking for the game-winning run, but newly-entered junior lefty Jacob Hord would induce a flyout to center field to end the inning. 

After two were quickly retired and offense was slow in the top of the 11th, a loud pop off the bat of Daubin would regain all attention, as he would blast a towering home run over the right field fence that he would stop to admire before rounding the bases and scoring the go-ahead ART U run, 7-6. Yet once again, trouble would strike for the Knights in the bottom of the inning, as with the bases loaded and two outs, a pinch-hit single would bring in the tying run while a throwing error towards home from the outfield would push across the game-winning run for Hilo, 8-7. 

Conrad, Daubin, and Summers would all earn two hits at the dish, with Daubin going a perfect 2-for-2 with the two important solo home runs. Meanwhile, Conrad was all over the stat sheet by going 2-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI and a homer. In addition to his 2-for-4 game with a home run and a walk, Summers would notch three stolen bases in the contest, the ninth three-steal game in ART U history. Charged with the loss was junior right-hander Morgan Edwards, allowing two runs (only one earned) on one hit in 1.1 innings pitched. 

ART U will play their fourth and final game of the PacWest AQ Pod Series on Saturday, as they look for revenge against No. 17/15 and host Azusa Pacific at noon.