Waipahu, HI --- Although the Academy of Art University baseball team (6-35 overall, 2-23 in PacWest) posted 10 hits to just five from Hawaii Pacific University (35-10 overall, 25-4 in PacWest), the Sea Warriors prevailed 7-1 at Hans L'Orange Park Friday night. Sophomore centerfielder Johnathan Robbins turned in his second consecutive three-hit game (his fourth of the season) while senior right fielder Mike Gutierrez was 2-for-4 with his third home run this year, one run batted in, and one run scored.

The Urban Knights were down 1-0 after one complete inning, but they quickly rectified the score when Gutierrez blasted a solo home run over the left field fence to lead off the second. AAU then had a chance to take the lead when Robbins singled in the third inning, advanced to second base on an error, and then reached third on a wild pitch. He was left stranded there and HPU went on to rally in the bottom of the inning.

A three-run homer left the park during a five-run push by the Sea Warriors, giving the advantage back to the home squad. In the fourth, an error eventually gave way to a sacrifice fly and Hawaii Pacific now led 7-1. Academy of Art created another scoring opportunity in the fifth when sophomore catcher Brandon Kistler earned a one-out walk and junior second baseman Ryan Worley followed that up with a single. Robbins got his second hit of the day to load the bases, but a double play was turned by HPU to end the inning.

The AAU sixth was much like their third because Gutierrez singled and got all the way to third on a balk and a wild pitch. However, Gutierrez wound up being one of ten Knights left on base in the game. One final chance came in the ninth when Academy of Art loaded the bases yet again only to see Hawaii Pacific get its final out of the contest.

Robbins is now currently on his longest hitting streak of the season having registered a hit in six consecutive games. With a four-game hitting surge, Gutierrez has matched his season-high and the senior has also reached base safely in nine straight games. The third Knight to come through with a multi-hit game Friday night was Worley who went 2-for-4 with a stolen base.

On the mound for AAU, freshman right-hander Jeff Smith took the loss, dropping him to 2-6 on the season after allowing six runs (four earned) over 2.1 innings of work. Sophomore lefty Zach Mexicano again pitched strong relief innings, wrapping up the day with zero earned runs allowed in 5.2 innings with three strikeouts. He has now allowed just two earned runs in his last 10.2 innings as a reliever.

Hawaii Pacific was led by Sean Winston who had the three-run home run and finished with a 2-for-4 night, four RBIs, and one run scored. Michael Greene improved to 6-2 overall after pitching 6.0 innings while surrendering one run with four strikeouts.

The three-day series between AAU and HPU continues tomorrow at Hans L'Orange Park.  The Saturday doubleheader begins at 4:00 PM HST (7:00 PM PST).