Hilo, HI --- On the eve of its season finale, the Academy of Art University baseball team (6-39 overall, 2-27 in PacWest) was topped by the University of Hawaii - Hilo (17-26 overall, 12-18 in PacWest) twice, 7-6 and 5-2, at Wong Stadium. Sophomore righty Kallen Fletcher pitched a gem in the second contest with a two-hit shutout over 5.0 innings of work while senior right fielder Mike Gutierrez finished the day 5-for-8 with two runs batted in, two runs scored, and a stolen base.

The top of the Urban Knight lineup sparked a three-run rally in the first inning of game one. Junior second baseman Ryan Worley reached on an error by the Hawaii-Hilo shortstop and promptly stole second to put himself into scoring position. Worley would come around to score on the ensuing play in which sophomore centerfielder Johnathan Robbins went to third on a misplayed sacrifice bunt attempt.

After junior third baseman Darnell Quinney grounded out to plate Robbins, Gutierrez put a one-out single into center field to keep things going for AAU. Junior designated hitter Chris Vargas was then hit by a pitch and Gutierrez later reached third base a fielder's choice. It was sophomore first baseman Jared DePatto who brought Gutierrez home on a RBI single to right and Academy of Art led 3-0 after only the first inning of play.

Freshman right-handed starter Jeff Smith was perfect through his first two innings with six consecutive retired batters, but the third proved to be more of a challenge. Six runs came across for the Vulcans in an inning that saw two home runs as well. However, the Knights came right back in the fourth.

An error got sophomore left fielder Alex Rosenthal to first and two singles later, the bases were loaded for Robbins. The sophomore drove one in on his single to left and Gutierrez was responsible for another after reaching on a fielder's choice. The game-tying run came in on an error by Hawaii-Hilo's starting pitcher and the teams would remain deadlocked 6-6 until the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore lefty Zach Mexicano (0-5) relieved Smith in the fourth and pitched well, but a costly error by the Knights in the sixth was the difference, giving the Vulcans the one run they needed for a 7-6 victory.

Smith pitched the 3.0 innings of the game, allowing six runs on four hits. Mexicano was assigned the loss despite surrendering just one unearned run on two hits with three strikeouts.

The second game was a pitchers' duel through three innings as Kallen Fletcher came out with some of his best stuff. He allowed only three base runners in the first five innings of the contest and Academy of Art managed to score first to support him.

Facing a solid UHH starter in Aaron Correa (4-2), the Urban Knights broke the silence in the fourth when Gutierrez hit a one-out single followed by hits for DePatto and freshman shortstop Stefen Henderson to fill up the bases. Rosenthal was able to reach base on a fielding error by the Vulcans' third baseman and AAU plated one run in the inning.

Academy of Art University's one-run advantage would hold up until the sixth when Hawaii-Hilo rallied for five runs to take the lead. UHH had three hits and three steals in the inning which was broken open by a two-run single from first baseman Cody Barrett. Now trailing 5-1 in the seventh, the Knights loaded the bases with just one out. Gutierrez came through with one RBI single, but the Hawaii-Hilo then got the final two outs to ultimately take the game 5-2.

Over a season-high 5.0 innings on the mound, Fletcher was simply magnificent. The right-handed starter struck out one and allowed just two hits and one walk while shutting out the Vulcans.  Fletcher retired the first five batters he faced and went on to post eight consecutive outs at one point during his start. The loss was charged to Quinney (1-11) who allowed five runs in one complete inning with three strikeouts.

Although his hit streak came to an end in the second game, Robbins was 1-for-2 in the first contest to up the offensive burst to a season-high nine games. Gutierrez and Quinney each were both 3-for-4 in game two, extending Gutierrez's hitting streak to eight contests and giving Quinney his first hits on the roadtrip. DePatto also continued to stay hot with one single in each of the games.

Offensively, the Vulcans had strong performances from centerfielder Keoni Manago and second baseman TJ Pilla. The pair combined for a 4-for-11 day with two home runs, two RBIs, two runs, and one stolen base. Chris Pascual (2-2) came in to pick up a relief win in game one with 2.0 innings of no-hit ball and one walk. In the second matchup, Correa captured the victory after 6.1 innings on the mound with two runs allowed (one earned) and eight strikeouts.

The four-game series between AAU and UHH concludes Wednesday, May 5 at Wong Stadium. It will be the final two contests of the Knights' 2010 season as part of a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 PM HST (3:00 PM PST).