Box Score ATHERTON, Calif. – A five-run sixth inning for Academy of Art baseball was key to a comeback against Menlo on Saturday, but the second contest of a four-game set wasn't won until the top of the seventh as ART U twice took the lead in later innings to walk away victorious 12-9 over the Oaks. 

Getting underway nearly an hour after the originally scheduled first pitch due to rainy weather, the Urban Knights (6-7) were the first to reach the scoreboard as a pair of doubles resulted in the game's opening run during the top of the first. The first of the two came from graduate student outfielder Travis Turney into right field, while redshirt junior catcher Liam Rizzo followed suit two minutes later with one of his own into left that drove in Turney. Unfortunately, the lead would not last long as the Oaks (4-16) struck six times in the bottom of the frame, two of which were unearned. 

Both teams swapped a run in the second, with the Knights beginning their turn at the dish with a pair of singles that saw the lead runner move to third on a fly out before later scoring on an error. Meanwhile, Menlo loaded the bases in the first three batters with an opening pair of singles followed by a walk, scoring once on a fielder's choice to keep a five-run lead at 7-2. Both sides were quickly retired in the third despite putting base runners on, with Menlo reaching scoring position, but both were left stranded. 

The top of the fourth was when ART U started their work, scoring twice thanks to a bases loaded walk and wild pitch. Neither side scored in the sixth, allowing Academy of Art to keep their momentum in the sixth as the started the frame with a walk and single. Two batters later, Rizzo stayed hot at the dish with an RBI single into left, forcing a move to the bullpen by the Oaks. It had little effect, with junior third baseman Emil Jellinek immediately delivering his own RBI single into left field. 

Though there were two on with one out, both runners came home on one swing of the bat as third first homer of the season from sophomore designated hitter Ryne Lina put the cherry on top of the ART U comeback, putting the Knights back on top, 9-7. Much like the first, the lead was brief as Menlo was able to knot the contest in a similar fashion during the bottom of the frame on a two-run homer of their own. 

Continuing the back-and-forth nature, ART U wasted no time in responding as they jumped in front on the scoreboard for the second time in as many innings during the away half of the seventh on a two-RBI double from Rizzo, as he collected his third and fourth RBI of the afternoon. The following inning in the eighth, a walk and wild pitch put an Urban Knight in scoring position for the second double of the game from Turney, as he gave the Knights a bit of a cushion at 12-9. 

Tossing the first 6.0 innings for ART U was graduate student right-hander Cannon Secrist, turning in his longest outing of the season while allowing six runs (only four earned) on nine hits with six strikeouts. Entering in his place during the bottom of the seventh was sophomore righty Dwyer Lewis, who gave the Knights three innings of scoreless ball while fanning five of the 10 batters he faced to earn his first save of the campaign (third ART U save). 

Going a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish with a trio of runs and a pair of doubles was Turney, as he also walked three times in what was his third three-hit game of the season. Also posting three hits was Rizzo was he was 3-for-6 with four driven in, one run scored and a double. Additionally, the duo of Lina and freshman shortstop Gabe Henderson each collected a pair of hits as Lina was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, three driven in and the homer, while Henderson was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and a pair of walks. Coming to an end was a pair of streaks for graduate student outfielder Landon Levine, who had led ART U with a 10-game hitting streak and 12-game reached base streak prior to going hitless today.

Originally scheduled for a doubleheader, the second game of today's action was postponed due to the rain. This series will conclude tomorrow with Academy of Art hosting from Laney College.