Falcons Drop Season-Opener at The Citadel, 5-3

Feb. 13, 2015

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Air Force baseball dropped its 2015 season-opener at The Citadel, 5-3, Friday afternoon at Riley Park. The Falcons were led by senior Noah Pierce and freshman Tyler Zabojnik, who had two hits each.

The Falcons brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning, after junior Spencer Draws drew a walk to start the inning. The rally ended there however, as Bulldog closer Skylar Hunter was able to retire the final three batters to close out the game with the save.

Sophomore righthander Griffin Jax (0-1) took the loss in the opening day start for AFA, pitching into the seventh inning, striking out six. Freshman Ryan Holloway relieved Jax in the seventh and recorded all three outs. Senior Ben Yokley pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

The Citadel starting pitcher James Reeves (1-0) picked up the win, striking out 14, while allowing just one run off two hits in six innings pitched.

Air Force had six hits on the day. Pierce went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Zabojnik went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Sophomore Tyler Jones added an RBI-single and senior David Thomas scored Air Force's third run as a pinch-runner.

The Citadel had nine hits on the day. Leadoff hitter Shy Phillips went 3-for-5 with a run scored and designated hitter Connor Walsh went 2-for-3 with a home run for the Bulldogs.

The two teams traded runs in the second inning before The Citadel went ahead 3-1 with two runs in the second. The Falcons got on the board with doubles by Pierce and Zabojnik in the second.

Pierce and Zabojnik would hit doubles again in the seventh to pull the Falcons to within one at 3-2. The Citadel rallied back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 5-2.

Jordan Hanlin hit a pinch-hit double in the eighth and Thomas then came in to pinch run, eventually scoring on Jones' RBI-single to make it a 5-3 game.

Air Force started three freshmen on opening day, using five total. Shaun Mize started at shortstop, Zabojnik at second and Travis Wilkie at catcher. Benn Hawkins also made his AFA debut in a reserve role at catcher.

Air Force and The Citadel wrap up the series with a noon doubleheader tomorrow, back at Riley Park.

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.