FRESNO, Calif.  – The Fresno Pacific University baseball team fell in the series finale against Academy of Art on Saturday afternoon, dropping the contest by a final of 8-6 in 10 innings. The Urban Knights were able to hold off the Sunbirds to claim the series by winning each of the last three games.

A two-run tenth proved to be the difference in the game, as base hits from Evan Ray and Robert Villanueva gave ART U the final runs of the contest. First baseman Erick Luna and catcher Marciano Reichel each contributed four base hits in the victory, and the Urban Knights recorded a season-high 18 base hits to surpass the previous best of 17 set on Friday night.

Fresno Pacific mustered just seven base knocks for the afternoon, including two from leadoff man Michael Warkentin. Infielders Haden Haynes and Tristen Alvarez each drove in a pair of runs, and six different Sunbirds crossed the plate for a run.

Starting pitcher Nic Boatman pitched into the seventh before giving way to the bullpen, allowing five runs while picking up a pair of strikeouts. Nic Garcia and Tanner Irwin combined to toss the next three frames, with Zach Fleeman taking the loss after surrendering the final two runs of the game in the tenth.

Alex Fernandez kept the FPU offense off balance for most of the day, hurling eight innings before exiting the ballgame without a decision. Reliever Jacob Green was summoned from the pen, and the righthander overcame three hits to improve to 4-1 on the year.

Fresno Pacific will return to action on Friday afternoon, when they host Holy Names University for the first of two doubleheaders in as many days. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. from FPU Diamond.