GAME #30
Holy Names (12-20, 3-13 PacWest) at Academy of Art (5-24, 3-13 PacWest)
Thursday, April 2, 2015 – 8 p.m. PDT
Oakland, Calif. – Laney College
LIVE STATS
 
GAME #31
Holy Names (12-20, 3-13 PacWest) at Academy of Art (5-24, 3-13 PacWest)
Friday, April 3, 2015 – 7 p.m. PDT
Oakland, Calif. – Laney College
LIVE STATS
 
GAME #32 & #33
Academy of Art (5-24, 3-13 PacWest) at Holy Names (12-20, 3-13 PacWest)
Saturday, April 4, 2015 – Noon & 3 p.m. PDT
Oakland, Calif. – Laney College
LIVE STATS
 
SAN FRANCISCO — The beginning of April this week brings signs of finality for the Academy of Art University baseball team, as the Urban Knights play their last home games of the 2015 season on Thursday and Friday while honoring seven seniors playing their last home games Friday night.
 
A four-game series against Pacific West Conference cross-bay rival Holy Names (12-20, 3-13 PacWest) begins with a single game at 8 p.m. Thursday. Friday's game begins at 7 p.m., where seniors Maclane Brady, Chucky Cavestany, Nate Gercken, Nick Giotta, Daniel Skinner, James Singzon and Jordan Thomas will be recognized in a pregame ceremony before the final home games of their ART U careers. The series concludes Saturday with Holy Names playing host to a doubleheader starting at noon. All four games will be played at Laney College.
 
The Urban Knights (5-24, 3-13 PacWest) most recently traveled to PacWest leader Dixie State and held early multi-run leads in three games before succumbing to a four-game sweep. The team's losing streak has reached 10 games, dating to March 14 against California Baptist.
 
ABOUT HOLY NAMES
The Hawks (12-20, 3-13 PacWest) have fallen on hard times, losing 15 of their last 17 games after winning 10 of 15 to start the year. HNU entered last weekend's non-conference home series versus Central Washington with an 8-4 out-of-conference record, but lost three of four to the Wildcats. They are 4-8 at home in 2015, having lost six of their last seven.
 
Benjamin Gamba has been an offensive force for the Hawks, leading the team and sitting second in the PacWest with a .417 average. He has 19 extra-base hits for a .652 slugging percentage and 21 RBIs. The Hawks bat at a .280 team clip while opponents hit .299 against them. Trent Carrier has been HNU's top starting pitcher with a 3-1 record and 2.60 ERA in six starts, including a complete game shutout on March 12 versus Point Loma.
 
SUPER SENIOR SEVEN
The group of Academy of Art seniors to be honored Friday night represent a combined total of 664 appearances in an Urban Knights jersey over careers that some of which date back to 2011. Three offensive players (Cavestany, Skinner, Thomas), two pitchers (Gercken, Giotta) and two players who have seen time on both ends (Brady, Singzon) will play their final home games for ART U after helping the program equal or raise its win total each season from 2011-14.
 
GERCKEN IN THE RANKIN'
Senior starting pitcher Nate Gercken is among the nation's best in five categories this season. He is ranked No. 4 nationally in complete games (5) and games started (9). His 50 strikeouts ranked 50th in the country, while his 6.1 hits allowed per nine innings are 51st. He is also ranked 59th with a 0.98 WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched).