Box Score

Moraga, CA --- After leading the top team in the Pacific West Conference for eight innings, Academy of Art University fell to Hawaii Pacific University 8-7. The Sea Warriors pushed across four runs in the ninth to take the victory despite strong pitching from junior right-hander Darnell Quinney (0-4) and freshman reliever Jeff Smith. Sophomore catcher Brandon Kistler went 2-for-4 with one run scored, one RBI, and one stolen base while junior left fielder Ryan Worley was 2-for-4 with one RBI and a career-high two stolen bases. AAU moves to 2-15 overall, 2-7 in PacWest and HPU is now 16-5 overall, 11-2 in PacWest.

“It's an indication that we're getting better,” Head Coach Brian Guinn said. “We just need to sustain it for nine innings. We will just wipe that one clean and try to keep up that momentum we had in the first innings.”

The opening inning saw the Urban Knights cash in sophomore centerfielder Johnathan Robbins on a RBI groundout by senior right fielder Mike Gutierrez. After Quinney blanked the Sea Warriors for the second consecutive inning, Academy of Art added two more runs to its lead with an RBI single by Worley and an error that later scored Robbins.

Hawaii Pacific took two runs back in the top of the third, but both were unearned following an error earlier in the inning. Up 4-2, the Knights continued to hit HPU's right-handed starter Micah Takahashi (2-1). Gutierrez led off with a double, Kistler plated him with an RBI single and the proceeded to steal second. Rollins, Jr. also singled and freshman shortstop Stefen Henderson came through with the fourth hit, another RBI single, and later came around to score.

Quinney limited the Sea Warriors to just two hits over the next two innings and kept AAU ahead 7-2. In the fifth, Smith came in to relieve Quinney during a two-run rally by HPU. Smith allowed one earned run in his 2.2 innings on the mound, holding the game for freshman Drew Sullivan-Hames (1-5), the PacWest Pitcher of the Week. Although HPU rallied for four total runs against the righty in his 7-4 save situation, only one was earned after an error early on and Smith's walked batter to start the inning.

Down by one run, Academy of Art had an opportunity to tie the game when sophomore Jared DePatto came in to pinch hit, got aboard on a single, and later stole second. Unfortunately for the Knights, Hawaii Pacific got the final two outs and held on for the 8-7 victory.

Robbins and Worley were a large part of the AAU offense in this nine-inning affair. Robbins was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, and one stolen base. Batting in the second spot behind Robbins, Worley went 2-for-4 with one RBI and stolen bases for the third time in his Urban Knight career. Kistler had two hits in a game for the second time this season and the second stolen base of his career to go with one RBI and one run scored. On the mound, Quinney received the no-decision, but threw 5.1 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts to tie his career-high.

“We're starting to figure out who we are,” Coach Guinn said. “We are getting comfortable playing the game and stealing bases. We are getting better every inning and with every pitch.”

Second baseman Sean Winston was 1-for-4 in the contest with a stolen base and two RBIs. Pinch hitter Kiley Kawazoe had the big two-run double in the ninth, but no Sea Warrior had more than one hit in the game. Takahashi put in three innings of work, allowing seven runs (four earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts before he was replaced by righty Danny March (2-0). March wound up with the victory after lasting 6.0 innings with no runs allowed and seven strikeouts.

The AAU-HPU five-game series continues tomorrow with two seven-inning games back at Louis Guisto Baseball Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 PM.