Falcons Win Home, Conference Opener over San Diego State, 9-5

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy baseball team captured its fourth consecutive win by taking the home and Mountain West Conference opener over San Diego State, 9-5, Friday afternoon, March 1, at Falcon Field. Despite trailing early, a five-run fourth inning for the Falcons was the big difference in the final tally.

The Falcons (6-3, 1-0 MW) got it done on both sides of the field, collecting ten hits while getting a dazzling performance from senior Jake Gilbert on the mound in relief. The righty went the final 5.1 innings, a new career-long outing, while not allowing any earned runs and striking out a career-high tying five. He picked up his second win of the season, and has now not allowed an earned run in his first three outings, totaling 12.2 innings.

On the offensive side, Air Force spread the wealth, as eight different players tallied a hit, led by junior Tommy Gillman, who had a two-hit day with three driven in. Freshman Alexander Pup had the other multi-hit game with two singles, while senior captain Rob Dau's lone hit was a two-RBI double.

After a scoreless first, Air Force got the scoring started in the second, as Gillman smacked a two out RBI double to right, making it 1-0 after two. SDSU answered right back with three runs, one unearned, to make it 3-1 early on.

The Falcons answered back in the bottom of fourth with five runs on four hits. Dau got the scoring started with a bases loaded two-run double down the line, tying the contest at three. After a pitching change, Gillman drove in two more with a single through the right side, giving AF the lead back, 5-3. Sophomore Christian Gambale wrapped up the inning with an RBI fielder's choice, and the Falcons led 6-3 after four innings.

Gilbert, who entered in the fourth, then kept the SDSU batters at bay, tossing scoreless fifth and sixth innings. In the seventh, the Aztecs got a pair of unearned runs to tighten the score to 6-5 into the stretch.

That did not last long, however, as AF got the runs back in the bottom of the seventh. After two runners reached on a single and HBP, senior Gabe Martinez blooped a single in for an RBI hit. Then senior Colby Brown notched a sac fly to center, to put the Falcons back ahead by three, 8-5, with two to play.

Gilbert kept cruising in the eighth, going 1-2-3 with two more strikeouts to bring up the bottom of the eighth. Air Force got an insurance run there with a senior Nic Ready RBI double off the wall in left field, making it 9-5 into the final frame. Gilbert did not flinch in the top of the ninth, sending down his ninth batters in a row in a quick inning to close out the four run victory.

Air Force is back in action tomorrow, March 2, for game two of the series against the Aztecs. First pitch from Falcon Field is set for 12 p.m.

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