Saturday, April 13
Fresno, CA
4 p.m. MT (7 inn.)
Air Force Academy
15-18, 5-8
7
at
13
Fresno State
19-11, 7-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Air Force
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
7
10
4
Fresno State
1
0
2
0
1
9
X
13
14
2
Photo by: Eric Strom
Falcons Split Doubleheader at Fresno State
4/13/2019 10:21:00 PM | Baseball
Sophomore Luke Chilcutt had his best outing as a Falcon in the nightcap
FRESNO, Calif. – The Air Force Academy baseball team split a Mountain West Conference doubleheader with Fresno State, dropping the opener, 13-7, before rebounding with a 4-3 win in the nightcap, Saturday evening, April 13, at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Game One: Fresno State 13, Air Force 7 (7 inn.)
In game one, Air Force had a lead in the late innings after a seven inning fifth, but Fresno State rallied in the sixth to take the opener in a seven inning contest.
Air Force's offense had its best offensive output of the series, tallying 10 hits. Senior Drew Wiss led the way with two RBIs on two hits. Fellow seniors Rob Dau and Nic Ready had a game-best three hits, Dau with a double and RBI, while junior Ashton Easley also had two hits and an RBI.
It was all Bulldogs early, as they got three unearned runs over the first three innings to lead it by three into the fifth. In the top of the fifth, AF got the bats going, striking for seven runs on five hits and an error.
An RBI fielder's choice, followed by a wild pitch and RBI single from Dau tied the contest at 3-3. The inning continued after the bases became loaded, and freshman Braydon Altorfer, who entered as a pinch hitter, drew a bases loaded walk to give AF the 4-3 lead. After a pitching change, Wiss drove in a pair with a single, making it 6-3. The final run came across on an Easley RBI infield single, capping the seven run inning.
The Bulldogs got one back in bottom of the fifth, making it a three run game into the final two innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Fresno struck for nine runs, including four on a grand slam, to take the 13-7 advantage into the seventh and decisive inning. Air Force then went in order in the top of the seventh to seal the game one defeat.
Game Two: Air Force 4, Fresno State 3
The Falcons got a solid pitching performance from its staff in game two to lead the Falcons to victory. Sophomore Luke Chilcutt got the first start of his career, and made the most of it going seven strong, only allowing three runs and striking out a career-best six, earning him his second win of the season.
In relief, junior Shawn Kelley pitched 1.1 scoreless, only allowing one hit, while freshman Nathan Price got the first save of his collegiate career after getting the final two outs.
On offense, AF was led by a two RBI day from senior Colby Brown, which ended up being the winning RBIs. Ready had another productive game, collecting two hits, including a double, and scoring two runs.
The Bulldogs struck first in the first inning with a solo home run. Air Force was able to respond in the top half of the second though, as a lead off Ready double turned into a sac fly from freshman Alexander Pup to make it 1-1.
Fresno State got another run in the bottom of the third to lead it 2-1 into the fourth. The Falcons once again got the immediate response, striking for three in the top of the fourth. Senior Gabe Martinez tied the game with an RBI double, and Brown singled in a pair later in the inning to grab the 4-2 advantage in the fourth.
Air Force's lead went down to one in the fifth as FS got another solo run, but Chilcutt was able to retain the lead. The sophomore then retired eight in a row to maintain the one run lead into the eighth. Kelley came in to pitch in the bottom of the eighth, and worked around a runner on third to maintain the lead into the ninth.
In the ninth, Kelley got the first out, but allowed two to reach so Price came on from the pen. The freshman then got a double play to seal the win and the first save of his career.
The Falcons and Bulldogs will conclude the five game series tomorrow afternoon, April 14, with a solo game. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Game One: Fresno State 13, Air Force 7 (7 inn.)
In game one, Air Force had a lead in the late innings after a seven inning fifth, but Fresno State rallied in the sixth to take the opener in a seven inning contest.
Air Force's offense had its best offensive output of the series, tallying 10 hits. Senior Drew Wiss led the way with two RBIs on two hits. Fellow seniors Rob Dau and Nic Ready had a game-best three hits, Dau with a double and RBI, while junior Ashton Easley also had two hits and an RBI.
It was all Bulldogs early, as they got three unearned runs over the first three innings to lead it by three into the fifth. In the top of the fifth, AF got the bats going, striking for seven runs on five hits and an error.
An RBI fielder's choice, followed by a wild pitch and RBI single from Dau tied the contest at 3-3. The inning continued after the bases became loaded, and freshman Braydon Altorfer, who entered as a pinch hitter, drew a bases loaded walk to give AF the 4-3 lead. After a pitching change, Wiss drove in a pair with a single, making it 6-3. The final run came across on an Easley RBI infield single, capping the seven run inning.
The Bulldogs got one back in bottom of the fifth, making it a three run game into the final two innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Fresno struck for nine runs, including four on a grand slam, to take the 13-7 advantage into the seventh and decisive inning. Air Force then went in order in the top of the seventh to seal the game one defeat.
Game Two: Air Force 4, Fresno State 3
The Falcons got a solid pitching performance from its staff in game two to lead the Falcons to victory. Sophomore Luke Chilcutt got the first start of his career, and made the most of it going seven strong, only allowing three runs and striking out a career-best six, earning him his second win of the season.
In relief, junior Shawn Kelley pitched 1.1 scoreless, only allowing one hit, while freshman Nathan Price got the first save of his collegiate career after getting the final two outs.
On offense, AF was led by a two RBI day from senior Colby Brown, which ended up being the winning RBIs. Ready had another productive game, collecting two hits, including a double, and scoring two runs.
The Bulldogs struck first in the first inning with a solo home run. Air Force was able to respond in the top half of the second though, as a lead off Ready double turned into a sac fly from freshman Alexander Pup to make it 1-1.
Fresno State got another run in the bottom of the third to lead it 2-1 into the fourth. The Falcons once again got the immediate response, striking for three in the top of the fourth. Senior Gabe Martinez tied the game with an RBI double, and Brown singled in a pair later in the inning to grab the 4-2 advantage in the fourth.
Air Force's lead went down to one in the fifth as FS got another solo run, but Chilcutt was able to retain the lead. The sophomore then retired eight in a row to maintain the one run lead into the eighth. Kelley came in to pitch in the bottom of the eighth, and worked around a runner on third to maintain the lead into the ninth.
In the ninth, Kelley got the first out, but allowed two to reach so Price came on from the pen. The freshman then got a double play to seal the win and the first save of his career.
The Falcons and Bulldogs will conclude the five game series tomorrow afternoon, April 14, with a solo game. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chilcutt, Luke (2-3)
L: HILL, J. (0-1)
S: Price, Nathan (1)
Batting:
2B: Ready, Nic 1 ; Martinez, Gabe 1
RBI: Martinez, Gabe 1 ; Pup, Alexander 1 ; Brown, Colby 2
SF: Pup, Alexander 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ready, Nic 2 ; Martinez, Gabe 1 ; Pup, Alexander 1
SB: Pup, Alexander 1
PO: Pup, Alexander 1
Batting:
2B: CHASTAIN, A. 1 ; PRESNO, Z. 1
HR: ASHFORD, Z. 1
RBI: ASHFORD, Z. 1 ; ARRUDA, JT 1 ; TATUM, M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ASHFORD, Z. 2 ; PRESNO, Z. 1
CS: ARRUDA, JT 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
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