Box Score

La Jolla, CA – Saturday afternoon at Triton Ballpark, ART U dropped a 12-2 decision to #16 UC San Diego. Academy of Art assumed an early 1-0 lead, but a resilient Triton offense worked its way in front with a five-run second inning. UCSD stayed ahead en route to the end result though the Urban Knights threatened repeatedly and scored again in the seventh. Freshman catcher James Singzon was 1-for-4 in the contest with a double and a run batted in.

"Playing a solid team like UC San Diego is a good measuring stick for where we need to be at that next level," Head Coach Brian Guinn said. "We made mistakes today and those will cost you in any game at any level. But it definitely gives us a good vision of what it's going to take if we want to compete at an NCAA Championship level."

Academy of Art got on the board first after senior outfielder Ryan Worley started off the game with a walk. He would reach third base on an ensuing throwing error by UCSD's third baseman and junior infielder Zach Babitt promptly brought him home with a bunt down the first base line. However, a double and a sacrifice fly for the Tritons helped them tie the ballgame, 1-1, in their half of the first.

UC San Diego then used a two-run single and a two-run home run to score four more times in the second, but all of those runs were unearned because of a fielding error at the inning's start. Junior lefty starter Zach Mexicano (3-8) would keep UCSD off the scoreboard in the third and the damage was minimal from that point forward.

The Knights had a two-out possibility develop in the fifth inning when Worley was hit by a pitch and swiped second for his 11th steal of the year. There were then two on for Babitt, but the Triton relief pitcher executed a successful pickoff play to end the threat. Academy of Art had a string of two men on base in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.

After several scoring chances in the middle innings, ART U broke through in the seventh with a single by freshman infielder Wade Broadstreet and later a RBI double off the bat of Singzon. The Knights were down 9-2 at that point and UC San Diego would maintain its advantage, eventually taking home a 12-2 result.

Four different ART U players ended up with hits, headlined by Singzon who had the double and RBI in his 1-for-4 outing. Babitt added one RBI and a walk while Worley scored a run, stole a base, and walked once to round out the top of the Knights' lineup. Sophomore Stefen Henderson finished the contest 1-for-2 with a walk, Broadstreet and junior outfielder Johnathan Robbins were each 1-for-4, and junior outfielder Niko Leite scored a run. Mexicano went 3.2 innings in his start, allowing just three earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. The Knights are now 6-35 overall this year and remain 6-18 in PacWest play heading into their final stretch of conference games.

"We're just playing the same ball we've been playing all season," Coach Guinn said. "Ryan and James found some holes today so we just have to get to that point where we're able to execute and keep having good at-bats."

Outfielder Scott Liske and catcher Michael Benton led the way for UC San Diego, combining to go 4-6 on the day including two home runs, five RBIs, and four runs scored. Earning the victory on the mound was starter Guido Knudson (6-3) who lasted 3.0 innings with one unearned run allowed on zero hits and one strikeout. Overall, the Tritons are 30-12 this season.

One last roadtrip is now on tap for ART U. The Urban Knights resume PacWest Conference play when they travel to Hawaii for nine more games beginning on Apr. 29. Academy of Art starts with a five-part series versus Hawaii Pacific and closes out 2011 with four games against Hawaii-Hilo.

"It's going to be interesting because we're four games behind Hawaii-Hilo right now so if we go in there and get hot, you never know what will happen," Coach Guinn said. "It's definitely going to be an interesting trip."