FRESNO, Calf. – Offense was aplenty and pitching was strong for Academy of Art baseball in the finale of a four-game non-conference set against Fresno Pacific on Saturday, tying a season-high 14 hits that produced a season-best 11 runs for an 11-1 win over FPU. 

"[I'm] really proud of the way the guys played this weekend," said ART U Head Coach Dan McDermott. "We have had a short roster the last month with so many key inuries. Getting [Ty] Conrad and [Brian] Kraft has really helped."

From the first pitch the Urban Knights' (8-19) bats were ready to go, with the rally sparked by a pair of doubles from redshirt senior middle infielder Dominic Ruggiero and graduate student outfielder Travis Turney, with the former setting the table while the latter drove home a pair of runs. Turney would later score on a throwing error by the Sunbirds' (13-9) Ben Jungbluth after Turney had swiped third base, allowing him to head home and make it 3-0 before FPU had their turn at-bat. 

Facing a bases loaded jam with no outs in the bottom of the first was freshman right-hander Dallen Turner, but he would largely escape damage by allowing just one earned run on a sacrifice fly from Jared Aguilar, keeping the Knights in front by a pair of runs. ART U would reward him in the top half of the second by getting the run back, as junior utility player Robbie Brue manufactured a run when he scored on a wild pitch after initially reaching on a walk, subsequently stealing second, and moving to third on a single from junior middle infielder Adam Inouye. 

Even though Academy of Art would chase Fresno Pacific starter Justin Fuson from the game after just two innings, they kept the foot on the gas pedal with another pair of runs in the third. Turney's second double of the afternoon put him in scoring position, but it looked as if the scoring streak would be stopped after it was followed by a pair of quick outs. Showing off clutch hitting with three consecutive hits was the trio of junior outfielder Charles Morgan, Brue and freshman infielder Emil Jellinek, with an RBI to each of Morgan and Jellinek. 

The Knights made it four consecutive scoring innings with yet another pair of runs in the away half of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs for Morgan to deliver his second RBI base hit of the game with a single to left, scoring both of Ruggiero and Turney after the former reached on a single while the latter walked. 

A quick scoring break in the fifth would precede ART U's final three runs of the game in the sixth inning, as each of the first five batters in the frame would reach, started by the third double of the game from Turney. He is just the second Urban Knight to record three doubles in a game, joining Jared DePatto who did so on Apr.17, 2010 against Bethany College. Turney crossed the plate for the fourth time on a fielder's choice from Morgan, which also happened to be Morgan's fourth RBI of the game. Graduate student catcher Ryan Gamboa scampered home on an RBI single from Brue, while the final run of the inning was scored by Morgan after a throwing error by the FPU pitcher. 

Settling down to turn in the first quality start of his career while punching out four batters was Turner, allowing just the one earned run on seven hits in 7.0 innings pitched, the longest outing of his ART U career. Senior righty Ryan Skillman would ensure no FPU comeback by tossing a pair of scoreless innings, securing the first win of the season for Turner.

"Our starting pitching was excellent the whole weekend," McDermott said. "Kraft was outstanding in game one on Thursday night and only walked two in his seven inning start. [Collin] Carriger and [Cannon] Secrist pitched well yesterday and took the pressure off our deplete bullpen. Today, Turner produced a solid seven inning start for us."

Four different Urban Knights recorded a multi-hit game, led by the 4-for-4 effort with three doubles, four runs scored and two RBI from Turney, as he becomes the third Urban Knight to tally a four-hit game this season. Ending his day 3-for-5 with two runs scored was Ruggiero while Morgan finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI, which was the first four-RBI game on ART U this year. Brue would do a little bit of everything today by closing out 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI, and a walk. 

"On the other side of the ball, our bats came alive," McDermott said. "Ruggiero, Turney and Lontz had some great at-bats all weekend as we kept the pressure on an extremely powerful FPU team. We are looking forward to getting back into the PacWest Conference race."

The next chance will come on Friday, Mar. 25 when the Urban Knights begin a road trip on the Hawaiian Islands with a doubleheader against UH Hilo beginning at 3:30 p.m. HST.