Kona, Hawaii -- Academy of Art University closed out its Hawaii road trip on Tuesday night with pair of losses, 12-2 and 7-5, against the Hawaii Hilo Vulcans. Although the overall results were not so positive, junior catcher Florentino Ubungen launched the Urban Knights' first home run of the season over the left field fence in the seventh inning of the first game. Ubungen went 4-for-5 in the series with two runs scored and two RBI.
Box Score #1
In game one, sophomore right-handed pitcher Darnell Quinney had a tough time on the mound allowing 12 runs (six earned) on seven hits and six walks, but it was three fielding errors that became the difference. Quinney's record now stands at 0-3 on the season.
Sophomore first baseman got AAU on the board early with a RBI single in the first inning with two Urban Knights, sophomore centerfielder Ryan Worley and junior right fielder Matthew Ko, having reached on singles of their own prior. Hawaii Hilo responded with two of its players earning walks and then each stole a base to begin the bottom of the first. The Vulcans' Peter Rogers knocked both home on a double and later in the inning, two more runs scored after a fielding error and sacrifice fly.
Hawaii Hilo got a RBI single in the second inning and then scored three unearned runs on a three-run double after a wild pitch, a fielding error and a passed ball. With the scoreboard reading 8-1 in favor of Hawaii Hilo, the Vulcans tacked on another run in the third before more unearned runs crossed home plate in the fourth due to another fielding error and a wild pitch. At this point, freshman lefty Zach Mexicano was brought on and allowed one more run in the inning which was credited to Quinney.
Academy of Art University then started off the seventh inning with a bang. Ubungen went deep to lead things off and the next three batters each reached base when freshman infielder Martin Layton-Santos was hit by a pitch, Worley walked and Ko singled. With the bases loaded, AAU had a heartbreaking ending with two consecutive outs and an early finish to the game.
Box Score #2
The second game also began with the Urban Knights scoring first on back-to-back singles by sophomore shortstop Camryn Hernandez and sophomore first baseman Chris Vargas. Ko followed with a RBI ground out to account for the second run of the first inning. Hawaii Hilo answered back with a run in the bottom of the first, but Academy of Art University then cashed in on one of its three opportunities with a runner at third base in the second inning.
Ubungen's hot bat got him on base again in the third and Vargas brought him home with a RBI double. Now up 4-1, the Urban Knights looked to their starting pitcher, junior right-hander Danny Couser, to hold the lead. Unfortunately, a walk, a wild pitch and a fielding error gave the Vulcans one run back in the fourth and that was followed by a RBI single and a two-run home run which put Hawaii Hilo back in front.
Ko got a runner home in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, but when he came on to replace Couser in the following inning, Ko allowed two hits and another Vulcan run to score. One more run was added by Hawaii Hilo in the sixth and the Urban Knights were unable to come back from the two-run deficit. Ko was charged with the loss after giving up two earned runs on three hits and he falls to 0-3.
On Hawaii Hilo's side of the ball, Matt Haasenritter had arguably the best day at the plate in the series with his combined 3-for-6 performance and four RBI. However, the Vulcans' hero in game two was likely Keoni Manago whose two-run long ball brought the home team back into the contest.
Overall the AAU record moves to 0-9 while Hawaii Hilo stands at 4-3 on the season.
Academy of Art University next faces Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., on March 3, at Cartan Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
