OAKLAND, Calif. – Academy of Art baseball started its non-conference contest against Fresno Pacific in a big way, taking the lead on a three-run blast by redshirt junior catcher Liam Rizzo before ultimately totaling 11 hits with five going for extra bases, as ART U powered its way to a 10-4 win for its first victory of the 2023 campaign on Monday. 

"Tonight was really a complete team win," said ART U Head Coach Dan McDermott. "[Junior right-hander] Devan Quesada gave us a solid seven innings and we were able to back him up with a consistent offense. Everyone in the lineup contributed at least two quality at-bats led by [graduate student designated hitter] Travis Turney and [freshman shortstop] Gabe Henderson."

Jumping on the scoreboard in the opening inning were the Sunbirds (4-4), scoring the first run of the game on an RBI single from Peyton McNair that dropped in shallow right field, while the second crossed on a wild pitch by Quesada. Showing that offensive backing, the Urban Knights (1-3) began their half of the frame with a walk by Henderson and a long at-bat by sophomore outfielder Tony Diaz that resulted in a bouncing single to shortstop that left no play for FPU, immediately threatening to match the crooked number from Fresno Pacific. 

Two batters later Rizzo connected on his mammoth homer to left field for his first of the year to put Academy of Art out in front. The Knights added one more later in the frame with two outs, as a double to the left center gap from junior third baseman Ryne Lina reached the wall and allowed Turney to score from first base, who had reached just before Lina with a single of his own. 

Both sides were retired with ease in the second inning but responded in the third, starting with FPU on an RBI single up the middle from McNair again that was the result of an error and a sacrifice bunt. Meanwhile, the Knights put up another multi-run inning when sophomore second baseman Chris Fung joined the double party by ripping one of his own with two outs that hooked into the right field corner, allowing both Rizzo and Turney to cross the plate after they originally reached base on walks. 

Again the two teams were able to find a run in the fourth and in near identical ways, as the RBI groundout by Trent Greene for the Sunbirds was matched by an RBI fielder's choice from graduate student outfielder Landon Levine. For Levine it was his team-leading fifth run driven in this year. 

The scoring would come to a halt over the next three frames, with Quesada settling into a groove which included him retiring each of the last six batters that he faced with three strikeouts in that span, ultimately exiting the game after seven innings and seven strikeouts (second time this season after also doing so in the season opener). Meanwhile, ART U would continue to collect hits, but the rotation of FPU pitchers was able to leave the Knights stranded. 

That was until the home half of the seventh, when a throwing error by the Sunbirds allowed two ART U runners to score while a third followed suit the next trip to the plate on a sacrifice fly by Fung. Tossing the final two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts was junior right-hander Fernando Dueñas, as his work helped Academy of Art hold that score and collect its first victory of the 2023 campaign, as well as its second in a row over Fresno Pacific. 

Factoring into the decision for the first time this year was Quesada, who picked up his first ART U win with a final line of four runs allowed, only two of which were earned, on just four hits in 7.0 innings pitched. Taking the loss for the Sunbirds was John Lloyd, who surrendered five runs on five hits in just 2.0 innings pitched. 

There were numerous impressive performances at the plate, as Turney reached base in all four plate appearances by going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and three runs scored, while Fung was 2-for-3 with a double and a trio of RBI. Though Rizzo's only hit was his big fly in the first, he also walked twice and had a productive day with three runs scored and three driven in. Earning his first two extra-base hits was Lina, who was 2-for-4 with a two-double game and a pair of RBI. Henderson has now collected hits in three straight games by going 1-for-4 with a two runs scored and a walk. 

"This is a really good team and as our confidence grows, the guys will continue to play inspired baseball," McDermott said.

 It will be a short turnaround for ART U as they return to the diamond tomorrow at 2 p.m. to take on Central Washington from Laney College.