Air Force Academy
BYU
Air Force loses Heartbreaker To BYU
4/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 26, 2007
PROVO, Utah - Air Force (7-34, 0-15) dropped a Mountain West Conference baseball contest at BYU (23-16, 8-5) in heartbreaking fashion, as the Cougars pushed across a pair of runs in the seventh inning to rally to a 5-4 win over the Falcons Thursday night at Miller Park.
Leading 4-3 after seven-and-a-half innings, Air Force could not hold the lead as BYU rallied with the two runs.
The loss spoiled a stellar pitching performance from Falcon starter Casey Allen. Allen held the potent Cougar offense at bay, scattering 10 hits in six-plus innings, allowing four runs. Reliever Michael Ruvolo (0-6) was charged with the loss, allowing the game-tying and go-ahead runs in the seventh.
Freshman David Miller also pitched well for the Falcons, two innings of shutout relief.
BYU starter Jordan Muir (5-3) picked up with win, allowing four runs off eight hits in seven innings pitched. Reliever Matt Jensen picked up his second save of the year with two scoreless innings of relief.
The Falcons had nine hits in the game, led by freshman K.J. Randhawa. Randhawa continued his hot-hitting in conference play by going 2-for-4.
Air Force jumped out to an early 2-0 lead by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first. BYU rallied with a run in the bottom of the inning and then took a 3-2 lead with two runs in the third inning.
The Falcons came back immediately with two runs in the top of the fourth to re-take a 4-3 lead. The score remained that way until the Cougars rallied with the two runs in the seventh.
Air Force made things interesting in the ninth, as Chay Derbigny singled with two outs. The Falcons' hopes were dashed however, as Derbigny was thrown out by BYU catcher and Pueblo native e, J.T. Musso, attempting to steal second to end the game.
BYU had 12 hits in the game. Kent Walton went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Apana Nakayama went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI.
Game two of the series is set for tomorrow, Friday April 27, at 6 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.byucougars.com.
