Air Force Academy
9-6
Nebraska
7-7
Falcons Fall to Nebraska in the Late Innings
3/19/2019 6:50:00 PM | Baseball
Air Force matched the Huskers in hits, 10-10
Air Force (9-6) matched the Huskers(7-7) in hits, 10-10. Four players tallied two hit days, including senior Nic Ready and junior Tommy Gillman who both had RBI doubles. Meanwhile, senior Rob Dau's lone hit of the day was a two-RBI double.
On the mound, sophomore Luke Chilcutt had an efficient relief outing in a no decision, going 3.0 innings only allowing one earned run while striking out three. Freshman Nathan Price kept the game close in the late innings, going the final 1.2 without allowing a hit or run, to go along with two punch outs.
The first three innings did not yield any runs for either side, despite both teams getting runners into scoring position. The Huskers broke the scoring open in the fourth, getting four, including three on a home run, to take the four run advantage into the fifth inning.
Air Force cut the deficit in half with two runs in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff single and walk, then a sac bunt, sophomore Christian Gambale drove in the first on an RBI ground out. With two outs, Ready delivered an RBI double to left center to make it 4-2 at the midway point. Nebraska got one of the runs back in the bottom half, however, as an error allowed a run to cross and put the Falcons down three with four to play.
The Falcons had the answer in the top of the sixth, tying the game at five each with a pair of RBI doubles. After two batters reached on walks, Gillman laced a double down the line in right to score one. The next batter, Dau, then split the gap in left center for a two-RBI double, knotting the contest. Chilcutt then went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth to keep it tied into the seventh.
Scoring didn't stop for the Falcons in the top of the seventh, as they loaded up the bases with two outs. This time they didn't even need a hit to drive in a run, as a wild pitch scored the leading run from third, giving Air Force its first lead of the game, 6-5, into the stretch.
The lead was shot lived though, as the Huskers tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to retake the lead, 7-6, with two frames to play. Despite getting runners on second and third in the top of the eighth, Nebraska got out of the jam to maintain its lead. The Falcons also got a runner on second in the ninth, but were again unable to capitalize.
These two teams will rematch tomorrow, March 20, for another midweek contest at Haymarket Park. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m. MT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Palkert, R. (1-1)
L: Martinez III, Joe (0-1)
S: Gomes, C. (3)
Batting:
2B: Ready, Nic 1 ; Gillman, Tommy 1 ; Dau, Rob 1
RBI: Gambale, Christian 1 ; Ready, Nic 1 ; Gillman, Tommy 1 ; Dau, Rob 2
SH: Gambale, Christian 1 ; Pup, Alexander 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Martinez, Gabe 1 ; Wiss, Drew 1 ; Brown, Colby 1 ; Gillman, Tommy 2 ; Dau, Rob 1
SB: Easley, Ashton 1 ; Wiss, Drew 1
HBP: Martinez, Gabe 1
PO: Martinez, Gabe 1
Batting:
2B: Schwellenbac 1 ; Palensky, A. 1
3B: Palensky, A. 1
HR: Watson, K. 1
RBI: Roskam, L. 1 ; Acker, J. 1 ; Gomes, C. 1 ; Watson, K. 3
SF: Acker, J. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schwellenbac 1 ; Hagge, M. 1 ; Palensky, A. 2 ; Acker, J. 1 ; Gomes, C. 1 ; Watson, K. 1
SB: Palensky, A. 1
CS: Schwellenbac 1
HBP: Roskam, L. 1
