Smith's Double Walks Off No. 17 Point Loma

SAN FRANCISCO -- Academy of Art took down No. 17 Point Loma in dramatic fashion Saturday at Benedetti Diamond, walking off the Sea Lions on a double by senior second baseman Elijah Smith. This is the first time since March 31, 2017 the Urban Knights have captured a win against a ranked opponent.

Smith started the comeback with a home run in the ninth to swing momentum in favor of ART U before senior pitcher Gonzo Rios shut down the Sea Lions in the 10th with a critical strikeout to set the Urban Knights up for a walkoff victory. The triumphant moment came when Smith drove a line shot over the right fielders head to score the game winning run and send the ART U dugout blazing out to second base to dogpile in celebration.

To start the day, senior pitcher Angel Mora got the Knights through three scoreless innings. After loading the bases in the top of the fourth, the Sea Lions plated a run to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth. ART U retaliated in the bottom of the inning when senior first baseman Josh Carlin hit a double to right field putting himself in scoring position. The next batter junior outfielder Thomas Delgadillo hit a single to center scoring Carlin to tie the game 1-1.

In the top of the fifth PLNU put three more runs on the board to take a 4-1 lead. The Knights got one back in the sixth after a Sea Lions error sent junior shortstop Justin Summers home. Rios continued to deal in the late innings and struck out the side in the top of the ninth to keep it a two run game. The senior pitcher ended the game with four innings pitched, zero runs, and six strikeouts to notch his team leading third win of the season. Smith started the bottom half of the ninth with a huge solo shot to left field and senior utility Donnie Gardiner followed up with a single to score Mora and tie the game at four. Gonzo found himself in a bases loaded pinch in the 10th, but worked out of the inning with a strikeout looking on three straight pitches. Then in the bottom half of the inning the Urban Knights put two runners on with back to back walks before Smith's triumphant moment transpired.

After the dramatic win, Academy of Art improves to 9-5 overall and 1-2 in conference. The Urban Knights will have a weekend without games before facing Holy Names in a four game, three day series, beginning Friday, March 15 at noon.