Irvine, CA --- The Academy of Art University baseball team (0-4) faced a strong Concordia University (4-1) offense in the Urban Knights' 24-1 loss Friday afternoon at Eagles Field. Sophomore second baseman Jared DePatto put AAU on the board in the third inning when he hit the first Academy of Art home run of the season to center field.

"He looked good at the plate, he got a pitch he liked, and drove it," Head Coach Brian Guinn said. "We've definitely got a lot of work to do, but things will come around. We have a young and talented group of kids and they are working hard. We saw a lot of good things today and there's definitely room for improvement, but we're starting to swing the bat better and that's a good sign."

The Eagles jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first two innings using four consecutive hits to start the game. Sophomore starting right-handed pitcher Alex Rosenthal (0-2) was able to get out of the first with three outs after the strong start for CUI, but the second inning saw more hard hit balls and AAU was forced to play from behind.

One pitch into the third inning, DePatto launched a pitch into centerfield to give the Knights life in the game now that the score was 5-1. Unfortunately for the visitors, the inning concluded with no more AAU runs. Following a two-run rally by Concordia that forced Rosenthal out of the game in the third, the Eagles hit a grand slam and then a second home run in consecutive at bats to give them a 12-1 advantage.

Junior relief right-handed pitcher Darnell Quinney had given up the runs, but he blanked the Eagles in the fourth inning with three straight outs. CUI added to its lead in the fifth and sixth innings and although senior left fielder Mike Gutierrez led off the seventh with a single, he was later stranded at third base. Quinney got to the eighth inning and was lifted for sophomore right-hander Brandon Kistler, but Concordia would hit the Knights hard with seven more runs in the inning including a second grand slam.

Academy of Art was led by DePatto who went 1-for-2 with his home run and a walk. Freshman first baseman Andy Caniezo came through with a 1-for-2 performance as well and AAU also got hits from Gutierrez, sophomore right fielder Johnathan Robbins, and freshman shortstop Stefen Henderson. Rosenthal took the loss after going 2.2 innings with nine earned runs allowed on eight hits and one strikeout while Quinney provided 4.1 innings pitched, giving up seven runs with four strikeouts tying his career-high.

Grand slams from left fielder Matt Ivanoff and right fielder Beau Poteet both paced the Eagles as the pair combined for 10 runs batted in. Concordia had hits from 16 different players while right-handed starting pitcher Ryan Goodbrand (1-0) got his first victory of the season with 5.0 innings pitched, one earned run allowed, and three strikeouts.

The two-day series between the Knights and Eagles continues tomorrow at Eagles Field with the second and final game. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.