Falcon Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader With Creighton

March 8, 2017

Game One Box | Game Two Box | Photo Gallery

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force baseball (6-6) won both games of a doubleheader hosting Creighton (1-10) on Wednesday afternoon at Falcon Field. The Falcons rallied back in both seven-inning games, winning game one, 12-9, and game two 7-5.

In game one, Air Force came back from a 7-5 deficit. After being held scoreless in the first inning, the Falcons put up multiple runs in the next five innings.

Down 7-5, the Falcons scored three runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-7 lead. Shortstop Tyler Zabojnik hit a two-run double and came around to score the go-ahead run on an RBI-single by left fielder Ashton Easley.

Air Force had 15 base hits in the game, six for extra bases. Leadoff hitter Adam Groesbeck went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI and shortstop Zabojnik went 2-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs. Bradley Haslam, Russell Williams, Shaun Mize and Rob Dau added two hits each. Mize also hit a two-run homer in the second inning.

Ryan Holloway (1-0) pitched 2.1 innings in relief for the win. Holloway retired all seven out via strikeout and did not allow a hit or run. Tyler Mortenson picked up the save with a scoreless seventh. Starting pitcher Will Jones went 2.1 innings. Tucker Jacobs and Jake Gilbert also pitched in relief.

Creighton had 11 hits. Centerfielder Clark Brinkman went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. Jason Allbery also homered for the Bluejays.

Reliever Ethan DeCaster (0-1) took the loss for Creighton. Starting pitcher Jeff Albrecht pitched one scoreless inning.

In game two, the Falcons rallied back from a 4-3 deficit with a four-run sixth inning to rally to the win. A two-run double by Bradley Haslam gave Air Force the lead in the sixth.

The Falcons led 3-1 after the first inning. The game settled into a pitchers' duel for the next four innings until both team scored in the sixth. Creighton took a 4-3 lead on a three-run homer by Michael Emodi in the top of the sixth.

The Falcons rallied back in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.

Air Force had eight hits in the game. Groesbeck, Nic Ready and Zabojnik had two hits each. Haslam drove in three runs and Zabojnik two.

Reliever Jeff Gerlica (1-0) picked up the win with two innings of relief. Starting pitcher Ethan Nichols pitched five innings, striking out five.

Creighton also had eight hits in the game. Emodi went 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Reliever David Gerber (0-4) took the loss. Starting pitcher Austin Stroschein retired just two batters before being removed in the first.

"I'm proud of the fact our team rallied back to win both games," Air Force head coach Mike Kazlausky said. "We're a little banged up right now, but we made enough plays to come out with some wins. We hope this momentum gained will help us as we prepare for a tough series at UNLV."

Air Force returns to action Friday, beginning a three-game Mountain West series at UNLV.

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