GAME #4
AAU Urban Knights (0-3) vs. Hawaii Pacific University Sea Warriors (4-0)
Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at 6:00 PM
Hawaii Pacific University, Sea Warrior Field

GAME #5, #6 (Doubleheader)
AAU Urban Knights (0-3) vs. Hawaii Pacific University Sea Warriors (4-0)
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at 2:00 PM
Hawaii Pacific University, Sea Warrior Field

GAME #7
AAU Urban Knights (0-3) vs. Hawaii Pacific University Sea Warriors (4-0)
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, at 2:00 p.m.
Hawaii Pacific University, Sea Warrior Field

GAME #8, #9
(Doubleheader) AAU Urban Knights (0-3) vs. University of Hawaii at Hilo Vulcans (2-3)
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, at 3:00 p.m.
University of Hawaii at Hilo, Wong Stadium

Game Notes

WEEKEND SERIES:
Having been able to play just three out of nine games thus far due to inclement weather in California, Academy of Art University baseball will leave the Golden State for its next six games. The Urban Knights first take on Hawaii Pacific in a four-game series that spans three days beginning at 6 p.m. on February 20. After the stretch with the Sea Warriors, the Urban Knights travel to Hilo, Hawaii, where a doubleheader against the Vulcans awaits. Those two contests are set to start at 3 p.m. on February 24.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Following the trip to Hawaii, Academy of Art will have a week of rest before traveling to Atherton, California, for a single game against Menlo College on March 3. That matchup is followed by AAU's first home doubleheader which comes on March 7 versus Trinity International.

SCOUTING THE SEA WARRIORS:
A perfect 4-0 so far this season, Hawaii Pacific defeated Biola in each game of a four-part series to begin the month of February. The Sea Warriors are led by first baseman Cheynne Hirota who is already 9-for-12 at the plate in this young season with 11 total bases and three RBI. Hirota is backed by the team's two RBI leaders, right fielder Jonah Hobson and centerfielder Jacob Valentine, who have both batted in five runs apiece. On the mound, no starting pitcher has lasted longer than five innings, but right-hander Chad Wagner has had the best outing of the four with a 0.00 ERA and a pair of strikeouts. At this point, Hawaii Pacific's strikeout leader is lefty Caelan O'Meara who has eight to go with a 5.40 ERA.

SCOUTING THE VULCANS:
Similar to HPU, Hawaii Hilo began its season with its own doubleheader against Biola. However, only one game was played between the teams and it was a 10-5 loss for the Vulcans. A four-game series versus George Fox came next and UHH split with a pair of wins. The final game was a high-scoring 11-7 victory in which four Vulcans registered multi-hit games. Through their first three contests, shortstop Jeff Hanna and catcher Peter Rogers are leading the way with .583 and .429 batting averages respectively. Although the UHH pitching has struggled, Brian Shannon is the lone starter with a 1-0 record to go with his 4.50 ERA.

LAST SERIES RECAP:
Since their series with No. 4 UC San Diego was cancelled and their most recent three-part set against San Francisco State was postponed due to inclement weather, the Urban Knights previous opponent was Fresno Pacific, who defeated AAU in a pair of games on February 4. In both contests, the Sunbirds established a three-run lead by the end of the second inning and went on to defeat the Knights, 8-1 and 7-0, with strong starting pitching as well. Junior right fielder Mike Gutierrez, who had his two-game hitting streak snapped in the second game, has been the most consistent Academy of Art player this season with a .400 batting average and five total bases thus far.