IRVINE, Calif. -- The PacWest season got an early start for Academy of Art, which swept a doubleheader at Fresno Pacific to grab the first two conference wins of the season and an early lead in the PacWest NorCal Pod.
 
The Urban Knights scored 21 runs in two games in an explosive start to the season. There were four players that had three hits in the first game, including Niki Havato, who also had a run and two RBIs. The Urban Knights also got solo home runs in the doubleheader by Ty Conrad and Andrew Shebloski.
 
Holy Names also got a 2-0 start to the season with a pair of wins against Simpson and 25 combined runs in the two wins with no runs allowed. The PacWest is now a perfect 6-0 against Simpson so far this year.
 
Azusa Pacific picked up two wins against Westmont. In the third game of the series, Cory Dawson and Casey Dykstra combined for a 3-hit shutout as the Cougars picked up the 7-0 victory with the help of Tyus Santa Anna’s four RBIs.
 
This week, Azusa Pacific will travel to Fresno Pacific for a Thursday doubleheader before the Sunbirds travel to Azusa on Saturday. Conference play in the NorCal pod continues as Academy of Art and Holy Names are set for a four-game series that will be played on Friday and Saturday. The last meeting between the two teams went to extra innings and the Hawks won it 4-2 in the 10th frame. Academy of Art will have nearly two weeks off after the completion of the series.
 
Weekly awards for the week of March 1-7
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Adam Inouye, Academy of Art
SS, So., 5-9 -- Vancouver, B.C., Canada
It was a noteworthy debut in an Academy of Art uniform for the native of Vancouver. Inouye recorded seven hits in just two games last week, leading the Urban Knights to a pair of wins for the early lead in the NorCal Pod standings. All seven of the hits were singles for the sophomore shortstop and he drove in two runs. Inouye came around to score four times.
 
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Matthew Sanchez, Academy of Art
UTIL, Sr., 6-0 -- Tucson, Ariz.
Sanchez tossed eight shutout innings against Fresno Pacific in the season opener for Academy of Art. It was his 11th career start as he earned the win for the Urban Knights and the first conference win of the season. Sanchez struck out three batters as he scattered three walks and three hits to hold off the Sunbird bats, which had just scored 59 runs in their last four games. In three of the four strikeouts, he sent the batter back to the dugout looking. He now leads the PacWest in innings pitched without an earned run allowed this season.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Tyler DeYoung, Hawai`i Pacific
C/RHP, Fr., 6-2 -- Canyon Country, Calif.
The Sharks faced a big challenge in the first series of the season facing NCAA Division I opponent University of Hawai`i in a four-game series. However, the performance by Hawai`i Pacific’s freshman DeYoung was a big bright spot as the Sharks prepare for the conference season. He pitched 2.2 innings and didn’t allow any runs or hits, while recording four strikeouts. The only base runner he allowed in nine batters faced was on a walk. He also recorded a single in Saturday’s game against the Rainbow Warriors.