AZUSA, Calif. – Academy of Art baseball was just two outs away from capturing a victory in the Pacific West Conference series opener against Azusa Pacific, a contest in which graduate student right-hander Cannon Secrist became the new ART U career strikeouts leader, but a ninth-inning rally by APU led them to become walk-off winners by a 4-3 final. 
 
From the first pitch the Urban Knights (14-25, 7-18 PacWest) were locked in, opening the contest with a pair of singles from sophomore designated hitter Tony Diaz and senior outfielder Hayato Niki. A walk from freshman catcher Gabe Henderson loaded the bases, setting the stage for a sacrifice fly to center from graduate student outfielder Travis Turney for the 1-0 lead. However, one is all ART U would manage after hitting into an inning-ending double play. 
 
Matching the energy on the mound for the Knights was Secrist, who was mostly efficient in what became his record-setting day and started his outing by retiring the Cougars (28-17, 19-10) in order during the home half of the first. However, he did hit a slight bump when he yielded a leadoff homer to Spencer Rasmussen in the second. 
 
The Urban Knights lineup had their starter's back and reclaimed the lead in the top of the third, starting again with the duo of Diaz and Niki when the former was hit by a pitch and the latter doubled to left. Academy of Art once more traded a run for a hit, this time using an RBI groundout from Henderson to score Diaz and make the score 2-1. 
 
While graduate student outfielder Landon Levine opened the fourth with a double, he was immediately retired on a fielder's choice. Academy of Art threatened again in the fifth thanks to a Niki single and Henderson walk, but both runners were left stranded. 
 
ART U would not be denied in the sixth when Levine tallied his second inning-opening hit, this one a single, then finally moved into scoring position two batters later on the first hit of the game from sophomore shortstop Emil Jellinek. That's where sophomore second baseman Larry Fonseca came up clutch, driving a single into left that was deep enough to score Levine from second and further extend the Academy of Art advantage to 3-1. 
 
Throughout that time Secrist continued his efficiency, allowing just two hits and four total base runners from the third through the sixth, none made it past second base and one was caught stealing by Henderson.  
 
In a bit of déjà vu, Secrist's groove was once again interrupted by a single swing when Rasumussen hit his second leadoff homer of the game, once more bringing the Cougars within a run at 3-2. Seemingly unfazed, Secrist got back into his groove and retired the next three batters in order, which included his fifth strikeout of the game for the second out of the inning. That would be the record-setting punchout for Secrist, as he surpassed the previous record of 196 that was set by current ART U pitching coach Nate Gercken (2012-15). 
 
A one-out double seemed to be the start of something big for APU in the bottom of the eighth, but Secrist again escaped any danger thanks to a punchout before inducing a flyout to end the frame. Seeking to find an insurance run, Academy of Art threatened in their at-bat during the eighth when sophomore third baseman Chris Fung was hit by a pitch before stealing second. However, he was left stranded, and the Knights went down in order in the top of the ninth. 
 
Carrying a quality start into the ninth and seeking the complete-game victory, Secrist started the frame with his seventh and final strikeout of the game, giving him 199 for his career to date. However, a walk and single through the left side put a pair of runners on representing the tying and go-ahead runs. A wild pitch moved both into scoring position, and both scored shortly after on a walk-off two-RBI double from Will Stroud. 
 
While still a complete game, Secrist (2-5) is charged with the tough-luck loss by allowing four earned runs on eight hits over 8.1 innings pitched with his seven strikeouts. Earning the win in relief for the Cougars was Alfredo Frey (4-0), remaining unbeaten on the season after he went 2.1 scoreless innings without allowing a hit and fanning three. 
 
Niki delivered his third three-hit game of the season (16 total multi-hit games), going 3-for-5 with a double, but did not factor into the run production. Producing the other ART U multi-hit game was Levine, as he was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored. Three others finished the game 1-for-4, which included Diaz (two runs) and Fonseca (one RBI). Though they did not have hits, Henderson and Turney recorded the other RBI, and Henderson achieved a piece of ART U history as he became the 12th Urban Knight to draw three walks in a game. 
 
This four-game set between the Knights and Cougars continues tomorrow with games two and three in doubleheader fashion, with first pitch times set for 1 and 4 p.m.