Phifer hits three homers in 7-6 win over UNLV

April 5, 2002

Josh Phifer tied a school record with three home runs to lead Air Force to a 7-6 win over UNLV in a Mountain West Conference baseball game Friday, April 5, at Falcon Field.

Phifer, junior outfielder from Torrington, Wyo., hit a solo line drive to left field in the first and then a two-run blast to center field in the fifth. He tied the game at 6-6 with a solo homer to right field in the seventh.

UNLV, 15-17 overall and 4-6 in the MWC, took a 4-1 lead with three runs in the top of the fourth. David Trujillo walked and Tony Shuler singled. Joe Wickman's single scored Trujillo. Shuler scored on a Falcon error by Nick Liegl. Robert VanKirk was hit by pitch and scored on a balk. AFA took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Phifer's two-run homer tied the game at 4-4. Derck Kasel then reached base on an error and scored on a passed ball.

The Rebels scored two in the top of the seventh for a 6-5 lead. Wickman's single to left field scored Brent Johnson and Eric Nielsen. Phifer's solo homer in the seventh tied the game at 6-6. Adam Howes led off the bottom of the eighth for Air Force and singled up the middle. Tony Shockley's sacrifice bunt moved him to second. After he stole third during an intentional walk to Phifer, Howes scored on Kasel's single to center field. Air Force left the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth.

Air Force closer Paul Pratt come on in relief of Jesper Stubbendorff to start the ninth. He retired the side in order, including two strikeouts, on a steady diet of fastballs that reached 94 miles per hour.

Stubbendorff earned his second win of the season. He came on in relief of starter Erik Fisher in the seventh and got the Falcons out of the inning with minimal damage. He pitched two scoreless innings and gave up just one hit with no walks and two strikeouts. Pratt picked up his second save of the season. UNLV's Jeremy Weinberg took the loss. He came on in relief in the seventh and gave up one run on two hits with three walks and a strikeout.

Phifer went 3-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored. Howes, Bowie Frost and Brian LaBasco each had two hits. Wickman led UNLV as he went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Air Force, 16-16 overall and 4-6 in the MWC, moved into a tie with UNLV and Utah for fourth place in the conference. The Falcons and Rebels play again Saturday, April 6, at 1 p.m. the three-game series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. at Falcon Field.

--30--

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.