OAKLAND, Calif. – Battling back from down four runs against Central Washington, Academy of Art baseball produced a trio of three-run innings in their final three turns at the plate to overcome two deficits and produce a 9-8 comeback victory for their second straight win. 

"We were really proud of how the guys kept battling today," said ART U Head Coach Dan McDermott. "[Sophomore pitcher] Brian Kraft was able to hold CWU down during the first half of the game, until our offense got rolling. The last three innings were a rollercoaster, and we had a lot of hitters contribute." 

It was a bit of a rocky start to the game for Kraft and the Urban Knights (2-3), as the Wildcats (2-7) used a pair of hits and a walk in the first three hitters to score the game's first run, then added another RBI single later in the frame for the early 2-0 lead. However, he did induce a groundball double play to end the inning and retired the next six hitters in order with three punch outs in the span.

Meanwhile at the dish, ART U was able to put a pair of runners in scoring position in the home half of the first, which included a double from graduate student Peter Torres, but both were left stranded. Much like their counterparts, it was a quick second and third frames for the Knights despite a leadoff bunt single from senior outfielder Hayato Niki in the third, as Academy of Art also fell victim to a double play. 

Bats picked up again over the fourth and fifth innings, as there were runners in scoring position in three of the four turns at the dish, but still neither side scored. That included an eventful fifth frame, which saw the top half of the inning end when the Wildcats were gunned down trying to score on a single with two outs thanks to a brilliant relay that began with sophomore outfielder Tony Diaz and continued through sophomore third baseman Emil Jellinek. Continuing that momentum to the plate, Jellinek led things off with a double but was doubled up on a liner to first base in the next at-bat. 

Central Washington finally broke the scoreless stretch when they kicked off a three-inning period where each team scored in their turn at the dish, scoring a pair of runs with two outs thanks to a double down the left field line that just hopped over the third base bag from Divine Ayemere and a subsequent single into center to make it a 4-0 game. 

The Academy of Art bats woke up in a big way during the bottom of the inning with what felt like a near replay from yesterday's win over Fresno Pacific, as redshirt junior catcher Liam Rizzo clobbered a three-run home run to drive in ART U's first runs of the day for the second time in as many games. The only difference is that this one did not give ART U the lead, but it did bring them within one at 4-3. 

Central Washington captured one of the runs back in the away half of the seventh, capitalizing on a fielding error and a passed ball that initially put a runner in scoring position to later score on an RBI double from Ben Leid.

That lone run would be no match for the second ART U three-spot, with Niki once again reaching base to start the inning, this time with a crisp single through the right side. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out, and after a wild pitch pushed one of the runs across, Rizzo followed with his fourth and fifth RBI of the game by delivering a single into left center to give ART U its first lead of the game at 6-5. Thanks to that two-RBI knock, Rizzo became just the seventh Urban Knight in program history to drive in five runs in a single game, the first since former Knight Ty Conrad did so against Holy Names on March 13, 2021. 

Following with a pinch-hit RBI double was graduate student outfielder Travis Turney, which again put another pair of Urban Knights in scoring position, but the Wildcats brought the play home and eventually retired the runner at third in a rundown before later getting a flyout to escape without more damage. 

Seeking to regain the lead, the Wilcats were able to make contact and put runners on while forcing the Knights to make plays, as a pair of singles with one out both later scored thanks to both a fielding and throwing error by Academy of Art to retake the lead. Trying to build a cushion, Central Washington added one last run on a sacrifice fly in the subsequent at-bat. 

Down but not out, for the third time Niki led off the inning by reaching base to start an ART U rally, this time smashing a single into left field. Catching the fever, freshman shortstop Gabe Henderson found his first hit of the day with a double down the right field line to put runners and second and third with no outs. Torres was hit by a pitch in his following at-bat to load the bases, and the Knights cut the deficit in half on a sacrifice fly from graduate student outfielder Landon Levine. 

Another wild pitch moved the runners up 90 feet each, but the lead runner was retired in the following at-bat on a fielder's choice by Rizzo as the Wildcats clung to their lead. Unfortunately for CWU, the lead evaporated as Turney delivered his second double of the game by ripping one to the wall in left center, which scored both runners on base and put the Knights back in front 9-8.

After coming on in the eighth and getting out of a jam, junior right-hander Fernando Dueñas tossed a perfect 1-2-3 ninth by inducing a flyout and a pair of groundballs to shut the door and collect his first win of the season. In the other dugout, taking the loss for the Wildcats was Drew Richardson, who allowed all three earned runs in the ninth while tossing 1.2 innings. For the Urban Knights it was their second win in a row, and was also their second straight win over the Wildcats. In addition to the team accomplishment, today's win marked No. 800 in the managerial career of ART U Head Coach Dan McDermott. 

On a day where nearly half of the ART U hits went for extra bases (six of 13), leading the way was Niki by going 4-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Rizzo ended his afternoon 2-for-5 (.400) with two runs scored, five driven in and a double, and Turney was 2-for-2 with his two double and two RBI. Meanwhile, Levine was all over the stat sheet by going 1-for-1 but scoring two runs thanks to a pair of walks to go along with an RBI. Jellinek also contributed a pair of hits (2-for-3) with a double, and the duo of Henderson and Torres each contributed a double.

"Once again, Rizzo and Turney provided the big hits, while Levine, Niki and Torres came up with multiple quality at-bats," McDermott said. "In relief, Dueñas showed great composure as he threw back-to-back games sealing both victories. It was great to see Niki have a great day at the plate, he is one of our best players and he takes great pride in being the quiet leader of this team."

Academy of Art is back in action this weekend, as the Knights hit the road for the first time in the 2023 campaign by taking on Cal State East Bay in a three game set in Hayward, Calif. beginning with a doubleheader this Friday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.