HILO, Hawaii – Though they were able to find a timely hit and briefly jump in front during game one of a doubleheader against UH Hilo, the lead for Academy of Art baseball would not last after a seventh-inning rally for the Vulcans grabbed the momentum resulting in a 7-3 victory, but ART U would ensure a doubleheader split by scoring early and often in game two toward a 9-1 victory. 

A low-scoring affair through the first six innings, the Vulcans (20-13, 9-11 PacWest) held an edge until the Urban Knights (9-20, 3-11 PacWest) came up with a clutch hit in the top half of the sixth, though the lead would be short-lived after a five-spot from UH Hilo in the bottom of the seventh put them back in front for good. Things would be much different in the second half of the twin bill as ART U generated offense thanks to a combination of hits and Vulcan errors, putting up a total of nine runs on the board while receiving yet another dominant effort from senior right-hander Collin Carriger. Redshirt senior middle infielder Dominic Ruggiero collected multiple hits in both games for the Knights, going a combined 5-for-10 (.500) with three runs scored, an RBI and a double. 

GAME ONE – UHH 7, ART U 3
It was a pitcher's duel in the early stages of the contest as each team's starter was effective with their repertoire, including ART U freshman lefty Brian Kraft striking out the side in the first after giving up a leadoff single to Casey Yamaguchi (who would reach third with no outs after a pair of stolen bases).

Neither team found the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Vulcans were finally able to get to Kraft for a single run after he issued a walk with the bases loaded, but Kraft would regroup and induce a flyout to leave the three stranded. 

Two innings later in the top half of the sixth is when the ART U response came in clutch fashion, putting runners on with a single and an error before both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice from graduate student outfielder Travis Turney. Following a pop up, senior first baseman Vincent Lontz delivered the blow with a single into center field that scored both runners, giving ART U its first lead of the game. 

The lead would become 3-1 in the top of the seventh when junior catcher/utility Robbie Brue reached on an error before eventually scoring on a single into left field by Ruggiero, with Brue crossing just before Ruggiero was thrown out trying to stretch the one-bagger into a double. 

All would be undone in the bottom half of the inning when the Vuclans scored five times on six hits, chasing Kraft from the game after the first two hits in the frame. UH Hilo would add one more insurance run in the home half of the eighth before retiring the ART U side in order to preserve the 7-3 victory. 

Despite allowing four earned runs on seven hits across 6.1 innings pitched, Kraft would punch out eight batters to come within one of his season-best (nine, 2/18/22 vs. HNU). Earning the win was James Yamasaki after allowed three runs, only one earned, on six hits over 7.0 innings pitched with a pair of strikeouts. 

Both Ruggiero and Lontz would close the game with a pair of hits in four at-bats, with the only difference being Ruggiero scoring and driving in a run while Lontz collected a pair of RBI. Additionally, Brue was 1-for-4 with a run scored. 

GAME TWO – ART U 9, UHH 1
Things were much different in game two after the Urban Knights immediately scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, putting two runners on with hits from Ruggiero and Turney, with both eventually coming around to score on a pair of two-out errors from the Vulcans. 

ART U would score in a similar fashion in the fourth after graduate student catcher Ryan Gamboa was hit with a pitch to start the inning, moving his way around the basepaths before ultimately scoring on yet another two UH Hilo errors. 

Though UH Hilo responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth, ART U would erupt for at least one run in each of the final three innings, starting with a passed ball with the bases loaded brining a run home in the seventh. Following was a four-run rally in the away half of the eighth that included a sacrifice fly from Turney and a double steal in which Ruggiero stole home, but was ultimately highlighted by an RBI double from redshirt sophomore first baseman Liam Rizzo and an RBI single from Gamboa. 

The final run would come in the top of the ninth when junior middle infielder Adam Inouye scored after an error on a single into center field allowed him to gallop all the way around the bases for the final run of the game. 

Like he has been much of the season, Carriger was solid yet again as he picked up another quality start by tossing all 9.0 innings over the course of just 102 pitches for his fourth complete game of the season, allowing just one unearned run on seven hits while punching out six batters. Taking the loss was Vulcans starter Kyle Alcorn, who was chased from the game after he allowed four unearned runs over 6.1 innings pitched. 

Seven of nine Urban Knights in the starting lineup collected hits led by the 4-for-5 effort from Rizzo with a pair of runs scored, an RBI and a double. Ruggiero would slot in just behind Rizzo after he went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and a double, while Inouye was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. 

The series will conclude with a doubleheader scheduled on Mar. 26, with first pitch set for 3:30 p.m. HST.