Box Score #1
Box Score #2
Waipahu, HI --- In a Saturday night doubleheader at Hans L'Orange Park, the Urban Knights (6-37 overall, 2-25 in PacWest) fell twice to Hawaii Pacific University (37-10 overall, 27-4 in PacWest) with final scores of 14-5 and 7-4. Sophomore third baseman Jared DePatto had a career-high four runs batted in for AAU in game one. Freshman shortstop Stefen Henderson also had the Knights' lone home run of the day.
In the first inning of game one, Academy of Art rallied to an early 2-0 advantage. Sophomore center fielder Johnathan Robbins sent a one-out double down the left field line to get things going. Following walks to junior designated hitter Chris Vargas and Henderson, DePatto connected on a two-run single to center and AAU was off to a strong start.
Junior right-handed starter Darnell Quinney (1-10) came out of the gate looking very sharp as he allowed just one hit in the first three innings. Quinney did allow one run in that span, but the junior retired four of the first five batters he faced.
It was the bottom of the fourth when Hawaii Pacific's offense began to roll. Unfortunately for Academy of Art, the Sea Warriors scored 13 runs over the next three innings to take back the lead. Before the end of the game, DePatto posted RBI singles in the fifth and seventh. The latter was part of a two-run, four-hit surge by the Knights that also included an RBI single for freshman catcher Chris Holmes.
Quinney pitched 5.1 innings in the contest and surrendered 10 runs. Freshman lefty Spencer Roland came in to get the final two outs of the game while allowing four runs (three earned) in that span.
Hawaii Pacific put up three runs in the first inning of the second game, but sophomore starting right-hander Alex Rosenthal (1-9) proceeded to allow just one hit over his next two frames. Academy of Art made a late-game push starting with one run in the fourth. Robbins singled his way to first and promptly stole second and third, allowing him to later score on a fielder's choice.
In the fifth inning, Henderson led off with a home run to left field to make the score 4-2 in favor of HPU. The Urban Knights then came back to tie the contest in a dramatic sixth. Two walks and RBI singles by senior right fielder Mike Gutierrez and DePatto made up the comeback heading into Hawaii Pacific's half of the inning.
The Sea Warriors took back the lead when they plated three runs in the sixth and took a 7-4. Facing HPU's closer, a final scoring opportunity came for AAU in the seventh as junior second baseman Ryan Worley and Robbins both hit two-out singles followed by a walk to Quinney. In the end, Hawaii Pacific got out alive despite loading the bases and wound up with the 7-4 victory.
Rosenthal finished a complete game (6.0 innings) and allowed seven runs (six earned) with three strikeouts.
In addition to DePatto and Henderson, the Urban Knights were led by Robbins who wrapped up Saturday 3-for-7 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. He now has notched a hit in eight straight games. Gutierrez, who was 2-for-7 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the doubleheader, upped his hit streak to six contests in a row.
HPU had a solid performance from third baseman Wade Tamaru who finished the night 3-for-4 with four RBIs and one run scored. The winning pitcher of game one was Toby Inouye (7-2) who threw 5.0 innings for the Sea Warriors, allowing three runs while striking out six. Caelan O'Meara (6-1) completed 6.0 innings on the mound while allowing four runs with six strikeouts.
Academy of Art and Hawaii Pacific conclude their five-game series tomorrow at Hans L'Orange Park with one final doubleheader beginning at 12:00 PM HST (3:00 PM PST). Game two will be a non-conference contest.
