Box Score #1
Box Score #2

Alameda, CA – The Urban Knights matched up against the Lions of Patten University at College of Alameda on Friday afternoon with Patten winning both sides of a non-conference doubleheader. The first contest had the Lions up early and while Academy of Art fought back with three runs in the middle innings, Patten had the 6-3 edge. ART U got ahead 1-0 for half of game two, but a four-run burst by PU was the difference in a 4-1 final. Junior infielder Kenny Rollins, Jr., a PacWest Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll recipient this past week, was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in on a double in the opener.

“We hit the ball hard at times today in some close ballgames so the results could have been very different,” Head Coach Brian Guinn said. “The kids played decently and just didn't get the breaks offensively. We just need to stay positive, come back Sunday, and play hard.”

The first inning of game one saw the Lions benefit from an error to gain a lead then an additional run scored in the second gave the home team an early 4-0 advantage. With senior righty Alex Rosenthal providing solid relief innings, the Knights were able to keep Patten scoreless over the next two frames. Rosenthal retired seven consecutive Lions at one point during that initial stretch.

“Rosie threw the ball well today and had eighty some pitches in six innings,” Coach Guinn said. “That's where we want him to be; throwing strikes with guys getting themselves out.”

Academy of Art was on the board after a two-run rally in the fourth. With two outs, junior infielder Zach Babitt singled and Rosenthal followed by helping his own cause with another single. Rollins, Jr. came to the plate next and proceeded to smash a 2-1 pitch into centerfield for a bases-clearing double. The Knights were now down by just two, 4-2.

ART U came within one run of Patten in the fifth inning when sophomore infielder Andy Caniezo led things off with a double to right field. Senior outfielder Ryan Worley sacrificed him to third and junior outfielder Niko Leite added a sacrifice fly to score Caniezo, making it a 4-3 ballgame.

“I thought Andy played well,” Coach Guinn said. “He was having good at-bats and putting the ball in play hard. When you do that, you're going to find some holes.”

Speed and small ball then helped Patten get one run back in its half of the fifth. Though the score remained close for the remainder of the game, the Lions would eventually prevail 6-3.


In the second installment Friday, it was clear that the Knights were determined to get ahead quickly. Senior outfielder Johnathan Robbins doubled to start the game and while he did not score, ART U still managed to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning. There, sophomore infielder Stefen Henderson coaxed a walk, stole a pair of bases, and was plated on Worley's single.

Junior lefty Zach Mexicano (2-7) made his team-high ninth start of the year and executed his pitches early. After two big strikeouts in the first inning, Mexicano also benefited from two double plays turned by the Academy of Art infield in the second and third innings. Mexicano battled through a four-run rally by the Lions in the fourth and went on to finish the game strong by retiring six of the final seven batters he faced.

However, the game's turning point came in the fifth inning after PU had taken its 4-1 lead in the fourth. A walk to Leite followed by singles from Robbins and freshman Michael Reyes set up a bases-loaded situation for Babitt with one out. Babitt represented the go-ahead run, but he was unfortunately the victim of a Patten double play which consequently ended the inning. The Lions would hold that advantage through the end of game two.

“Mexicano threw the ball well again,” Coach Guinn said. “We had a couple tough breaks and had opportunities to score, but the ball just didn't fall for us. When you have one of your best hitters up with the bases loaded and one out, you can't ask for a better situation. It was unfortunate that ended by grounding into a double play, but that's just how baseball is sometimes.”

Rollins, Jr.'s season-best hit streak was extended to six games with his 2-for-4 performance in game one. He also had two RBIs and a double in that contest. Robbins, who registered hits in each game, finished the day 3-for-8. Singzon's single in the first contest upped his current hitting streak to nine games while Caniezo doubled for the third time in his last three outings and was 2-for-4 in the opener. Rosenthal provided 6.0 strong relief innings in the first contest with two runs allowed on six hits and two strikeouts. Mexicano pitched a solid game two, going a complete 7.0 innings with four runs allowed on seven hits and three strikeouts. Academy of Art is now 4-30 overall and remains 4-16 in the PacWest.

“We had some guys with good at-bats, but they just hit the ball right at somebody,” Coach Guinn said. “That's a stat that goes unknown when you look at the box score, but we will stay positive and keep having good at-bats.”

Offensively, Patten was led by infielders Alberto Gonzalez and Nicholas Carillo who combined to go 4-for-9 in the doubleheader with two RBIs, four runs scored, and two stolen bases. A complete game victory went to Isaac Duran (4-3) in the opener after the righty allowed three runs on eight hits on 9.0 innings of work. The winning pitcher in game two was Jason Kellar (2-2) who surrendered one run on four hits over 5.0 innings on the mound. Patten moves to 19-18 with Friday's results.

The Urban Knights return to College of Alameda on Sunday, Apr. 10 to wrap up the series with Patten University. The finale will feature a single nine-inning game.