Air Force Drops Second Straight to Rebels, 13-7

March 15, 2003

LAS VEGAS - The Air Force baseball team lost its second consecutive game to UNLV, a 13-7 decision Saturday afternoon, despite out-hitting the Rebels 14-9. Derck Kasel led the Falcons, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.

The Falcons (8-11 overall, 0-5 MWC) took an early lead in the top of the first inning as Mike Rose scored on a wild pitch and Josh Phifer crossed the plate on an RBI double by Kasel.

UNLV (15-7, 2-0) struck back with three runs in the bottom of the first, two of them on a home run by Patrick Dobson off Falcon starter Johnny Koegel, who made just his second outing of the season following off-season surgery.

The Rebels broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 9-4 lead. Air Force closed the lead to 9-7, however, with three runs in the fifth. Brent Tittle knocked in two of them with a double to center field, and Ryan Fitzgerald scored when Kasel was hit by a pitch.

A four-run eighth inning put the game out of reach for UNLV as Fernando Valenzuela hit his sixth homer of the season, a two-run shot off Falcon reliever Jeff Tetrault.

Ben Scheinbaum (1-0) picked up the win in relief. He threw four shutout innings, with three hits and four strikeouts. Starter Adam Lesko pitched four innings, giving up four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

Koegel (0-2) earned the loss. He gave up nine runs on six hits in four innings of work. Only four of the nine runs were earned.

UNLV and Air Force wrap up the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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