FRESNO, Calif. -- In the first of four games with Fresno Pacific, senior pitcher Ben Kaser threw seven innings and allowed just one run, but a late rally gave the Sunbirds a 3-2 comeback win, Monday night at FPU Diamond.

"Pretty tough game tonight," said head coach Dan McDermott. "Kaser threw great and gave us a very strong seven innings. Justin Summers was outstanding at the plate and Noah Daubin had a couple of really good at bats."

FPU put their first run across in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly to left field that gave them a 1-0 lead. Kaser settled in from there and threw five straight scoreless innings while striking out four. Although ART U was unable to plate a run through five innings, multiple Knights had strong performances at the plate, including junior outfielder Thomas Delgadillo who went 2-for-5. Delgadillo currently leads the Urban Knights in hits with 69 while batting a team leading .434. Other standout performers were junior third baseman Fabian Barcena, who stroked a pair of doubles, and junior shortstop Justin Summers who went 2-for-4.

The first hit that translated into runs came in the top of the sixth when sophomore outfielder Noah Daubin stroked a double down the right field line, sending home senior second baseman Elijah Smith and tying the game at one. Smith put himself on with a single to shortstop and moved into scoring position on a failed pickoff attempt.

FPU threatened in the seventh, when they loaded the bases with two out, but Kaser worked out of the inning by forcing a pop-out to shortstop and exited the game having allowed just one earned run. ART U put another run on the board in the eighth, when senior catcher Donnie Gardiner hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score senior catcher Zak May and put ART U up 2-1.

But the Sunbirds rallied back in the bottom half of the inning when they loaded the bases once more, this time with senior pitcher Gonzo Rios on the mound. In what ended up being the game winning runs, FPU sent home a pair on an infield single for a 3-2 win.

After the loss, Academy of Art moves to 17-26 overall and 6-22 in conference. The Urban Knights will continue their final series with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 2 p.m.