Air Force Academy
San Diego St
SDSU wins pitchers' duel, 2-1
3/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 16, 2002
Senior pitcher Matt Kaercher pitched a complete game and allowed just seven hits, but the Air Force baseball team fell to San Diego State, 2-1, Friday, March 15, at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego, Calif. The contest was the Mountain West Conference season opener for both teams.
San Diego State scored a pair of runs in the second inning, and pitchers Chris Dunwell and Royce Ring held the Falcons to just two hits in the game. Dunwell (3-2) went eight innings allowing only one run on a pair of hits while striking out six. Ring struck out the side in the ninth to record his eighth save of the season.
San Diego State (17-7, 1-0 MWC) scored its two runs on consecutive singles by Josh Hill, Taber Lee and Josh Allen to lad the bases with one out. Riley Barrett knocked in the first run with a fielder's choice that force Allen at second. Anthony Gwynn then singled up the middle to drive in the second run.
Air Force (12-9, 0-1 MWC) got its run in the fourth on a leadoff double by center fielder Nick Liegl. A fielder's choice advanced him to third, and he scored on a sacrifice fly to off the bat of Josh Phifer.
The Falcons' only other threat of the night came in the eighth when they put two men on with two outs, but Dunwell induced pinch hitter Brian LaBasco to hit a fly ball to center field to retire the side.
Aztec Shortstop Taber Lee was the lone Aztecs to record more than one hit with a pair of singles, a run scored and a walk in four plate appearances.
The Aztecs and Falcons continue their three-game series on Saturday (March 16) with a game set for a 6:00 p.m. start at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
