OAKLAND, Calif. – In windy conditions that proved to be a boost to both offenses, the Academy of Art baseball team recorded a program record 23 hits in a 17-16 victory against Central Washington at Laney College.  
 
The Urban Knights (2-2) found themselves trailing the Wildcats (2-5) by nine runs in the fifth inning, but proceeded to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in program history, capped off by a five-run ninth inning. Aided at times by wind that reached 30 mph, the 23 knocks by ART U beat the old record of hits in a single game by five. That mark happened four times, the last coming on April 20, 2019 when they did it against Azusa Pacific.
 
A major part of the comeback was senior shortstop Justin Summers, as he had a 3-for-6 afternoon with two home runs, five RBIs, and four runs, with the dingers coming in consecutive at-bats in the seventh and eighth innings. The five RBIs tied a program record for most in a game, which has happened four times, the first of which occurred on April 2, 2012 against UH Hilo by current ART U assistant coach Stefen Henderson. It last occurred on April 20, 2019 by Zak May against Azusa Pacific.
 
Also coming up clutch was junior outfielder and pitcher Noah Daubin, as well as senior third baseman Thomas Delgadillo. Daubin connected for a big fly in the fourth inning, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs and as the pitcher of record on the mound. He earned his first win of the season after allowing two earned runs on two hits over the final three innings with two strikeouts. For Delgadillo, he drove in four RBIs on the 3-for-6 day, while also scoring a run.
 
In all four games this season, the Urban Knights scored the first runs of the game, plating two runs on a pair of RBI singles from Daubin and junior first baseman Vincent Lontz in the bottom of the first inning. It didn't take long for CWU to respond, as they came through with two of their own RBI singles to tie the game in the top half of the second. The tie wouldn't last long, as Delgadillo drove in two on a bases loaded single through the right side, followed by a RBI single from Daubin in the bottom half of the frame.
 
The game changed in the top of the third, as Central Washington took control on the strength of a 12-run inning where all runs were scored with two outs, punctuated with a grand slam from Michael Copeland. The first run of the inning came on a wild pitch, but the Wildcats earned the rest starting with five straight hits that equaled five runs. A walk and a passed ball put runners on the corners, with two more hits scoring two more runs before the eventual grand slam.

 
Beginning in the bottom of the fourth, the Urban Knights began to chip away at the lead, beginning with Daubin's homer. Two more runs scored in the fifth on a two RBI single into left from Delgadillo, making the game 14-8.
 
Each team scored two runs in the seventh inning, as Central Washington plated two on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch before Summers hit his first home run and sophomore catcher Ryan Gamboa singled home a run through the left side.
 
The rally continued in the eighth when Summers drove two home with his second big fly of the day, cutting the lead to 16-12. The final half inning started with a bang, as Lontz got the ninth going with a solo homer to right center. After a Gamboa walk, freshman outfielder Teman Washington recorded his first collegiate hit in a pinch-hit capacity, putting two runners on with one out. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base, allowing junior designated hitter Cannon Secrist to drive Gamboa home on a single up the middle.
 
The second wild pitch of the inning would score Washington while moving Secrist to second, and pinch-hitting sophomore Nathan Macis would reach after being hit by a pitch. A fielding error would load the bases, setting the stage for Summers to continue his hot day and complete the nine-run comeback with a two RBI single into left field.
 
Josh Touhey was tagged with the loss for CWU, as he allowed two runs, only one earned, on two hits in four batters faced while recording zero outs.
 
Next series will be a four-game non-conference series with cross-Bay Area rival Holy Names, beginning on Friday at 1 p.m. at the College of Alameda.