Baseball Falls to Dallas Baptist in Extra Innings

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy baseball team fell in extra innings in the series opener against Dallas Baptist, 4-3, Friday evening, March 22, at Falcon Field. The Falcons (9-8) battled back to tie the game in the eighth, but were eventually downed in the 12th.

Both pitching staffs were magnificent, as they battled through cold and wet weather. Senior Jake Gilbert got his second start of the season, and had one of the best outings of his career, going 7.0 innings, only allowing one earned run, while walking no one and striking out five. He has now lowered his ERA to an astounding 1.35 in 26.2 innings pitched.

In relief, freshman Nathan Price was the hard luck loser, as he went the final five, only giving up the one run on three hits while also striking out five. The five K's were the most in his Air Force career to this point. Price also maintained his sub-2.00 ERA, as his is at 1.42 in 19.0 innings.

The offense had nine hits on the afternoon, led by a pair of two hit days from sophomore Christian Gambale and senior Drew Wiss. Gambale had a double and a walk. Junior Ashton Easley had one of the biggest hits of the day, an RBI triple. It was his third triple this season. He also scored the tying run in the eighth.

After a scoreless first three innings, DBU (16-5) struck first with an unearned run in the fourth after a passed ball. The Falcons were quick to respond, though, as after a leadoff double from senior Rob Dau in the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Jonathan Imperial drove him in with a single up the middle for his first RBI of the season.

Gilbert then tossed a scoreless sixth to send it to the seventh. The Patriots got another unearned run there after an error to retake the lead, 2-1, into the eighth. In the eighth, back-to-back doubles led to an insurance run to cross for Dallas Baptist, making it 3-1.

That's when AF rallied, tying the game back up in the bottom of the eighth. Gambale got it started with a one out single. After out two was recorded, Easley came through in the clutch with an RBI triple in the gap in left center, cutting the score to 3-2. As luck would have it, DBU spiked a pitch in the next at bat, allowing Easley to scoot home and tie the game into the ninth.

Both teams ten went scoreless in the 9th, 10th, and 11th, taking it to the 12th with darkness looming. DBU had a finally rally in it, however, as they got a clutch two out single to score a run in the top of the 12th. Despite getting a runner on in the bottom of the 12th, a strike out and caught stealing ended the game with the 4-3 tally.

The Falcons and Patriots will get back to it tomorrow, March 23, for game two of the series at Falcon Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT.

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