Box Score #1
Box Score #2

Oakland, CA – Back home to continue Pacific West Conference play, Academy of Art University baseball dropped a pair of close battles with the visiting Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans on Wednesday. Game one saw stellar pitching by freshman righty Wade Broadstreet (0-4), but after UHH scored late, the visitors went on to win 2-1 in the 11th inning. Up 4-2 midway through the second contest with junior lefty Zach Mexicano (2-6) amid a solid outing, ART U was faced with another late-game rally by Hawaii-Hilo and fell 8-4 in the end. Junior outfielder Niko Leite had multi-hit games in both contests, finishing the day 4-for-7 with two runs batted in, two runs scored, a double, and one stolen base.

“I thought we had two well-pitched games and those are heartbreakers to lose, but someone has to come out on either end of them,” Head Coach Brian Guinn said. “They were two winnable games, but just didn't do the job at the end.”

Academy of Art was on the scoreboard before the conclusion of the very first inning to start Wednesday's action. Singles by freshman catcher James Singzon and junior infielder Zach Babitt initiated the scoring opportunity. Later, when a pickoff attempt was made at first base, Singzon managed to score on a throwing error by the Vulcans and ART U was up 1-0 early.

Broadstreet began to get into a groove over the six innings which followed. He needed 10 pitches or less in three of those frames and not a single Vulcan batter was able to hit for extra bases against him until the sixth. When UHH did get a runner into scoring position on a leadoff double in that sixth, Broadstreet promptly induced a double play ball and exited the inning having thrown just five pitches.

“Wade came in, threw strikes, and kept hitters off balance,” Coach Guinn said. “The defense also made some plays for him. It was just a good baseball game and came down to a significant play at the end.”

Hawaii-Hilo's starting pitcher, lefty Kekoa Lee (2-2), matched Broadstreet after allowing the initial run to begin the game. When the Knights loaded the bases against him in the fifth, he too was the benefactor of a double play turned by the infield. After the visitors managed to score a run in the eighth, both pitchers had reached the ninth inning of their duel and the score was tied, 1-1. Both hurlers combined for 17.0 innings pitched with just one earned run allowed as this game would be decided in extras.

Senior righty Alex Rosenthal came on to throw a pair of scoreless relief innings as the additional frames moved along quickly. Finally in the 11th, Hawaii-Hilo was able to plate a run on three hits along with an error to take the 2-1 advantage. Strong relief pitching by the Vulcans prevented an ART U rebuttal in the bottom half of the inning and the 2-1 score held up for a victory.


The Urban Knights struck first once again in the third inning of game two. Mexicano, Academy of Art's starting pitcher, had gotten through the first three innings unscathed and was provided a lead on a rally initiated by Leite. The junior outfielder worked hard at the plate fouling off several pitches and finally sent the 11th offering off the left field wall for a leadoff double. Leite would later score on a wild pitch after being strategically bunted to third by senior outfielder Ryan Worley.

“Niko is starting to show more patience at the plate so he's getting good pitches to hit and it's falling more for him,” Coach Guinn said. “Niko and [the top of the order] are having good at-bats and getting good results. They're starting to bunt for hits more and being more patient at the plate. And consequently they're getting base-hits and drawing walks now.”

It seemed both offenses came alive at the same time, however, because Hawaii-Hilo managed a two-run rally in the fourth inning which followed. Though the Vulcans led 2-1 at that point, the Knights' bats started to catch fire in their fourth. Juniors Kenny Rollins, Jr. and Andy Caniezo set the table with a single and double respectively followed by a two-run single for Leite and a RBI single by Worley.

ART U had now taken a 4-2 lead, but the final two innings turned the momentum back in UHH's favor. An error in the sixth eventually resulted in three runs for Hawaii-Hilo and the visitors' opportunity to retake the lead. Then three more came in the seventh and the same Vulcan relief pitcher that picked up the game one victory, righty Richie Mariano (2-0), returned to earn a save. The final score was 8-4.

In addition to Leite's 4-for-7 performance which included two RBIs and two runs scored, Rollins, Jr. added a perfect 3-for-3 outing in game two. After walking twice in the second contest, Babitt finished the day 3-for-6 along with a stolen base. Broadstreet finished the opener with a no-decision despite allowing only one run on just six hits over 8.0 innings pitched. Mexicano went 5.2 innings of game two with two earned runs allowed to go with two strikeouts. The Knights' record is now 3-26 overall, 3-15 in the PacWest.

“Zach threw the ball well and made his pitches,” Coach Guinn said. “We made plays behind him until the later part of the game and that was the difference. You have to give Hilo credit because their starting pitchers also did well. They're a scrappy team so you can't let your guard down.”

The Vulcan offense was led by infielder Joshua Wong and outfielder Keoni Manago who combined to go 6-for-18 with three RBIs. Lee earned a no-decision in game one despite lasting 9.0 innings with no earned runs allowed and 10 strikeouts. The winning pitcher in the first contest was Mariano. Lefty starter Aaron Correa (1-2) picked up the game two victory with four runs allowed on nine hits in 5.0 innings pitched and seven strikeouts. Hawaii-Hilo moves to 8-14 overall, 5-9 in PacWest play.

The Urban Knights continue their PacWest Conference series with Hawaii-Hilo tomorrow, Thursday, Mar. 31. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 PM at Laney College.