Falcons Split Non-Conference Doubleheader with Butler

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader with the Butler University Bulldogs, Saturday, May 11 at Falcon Field. The Falcons (23-25) took the opener, 9-7, before falling in the night cap, 10-6.

Game One: Air Force 9, Butler 7

The Falcons took a back and forth opener that featured three lead changes over the first four innings. In the end, the bullpen duo of sophomore Joe Martinez III and freshman Nathan Price combined to toss the final five frames and lock down a win.

Martinez III earned his first collegiate win after throwing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Price then came in and went the final three innings to lock in his fifth save of his rookie campaign. He allowed just one run on three hits, and also struck out one. His ERA now sits at 2.06 over 52.1 innings.

On offense, AF scattered nine hits around the diamond, led by a two hit, four RBI day from senior Gabe Martinez, which included a three run homer. It was his eighth of the season. Fellow senior Rob Dau added two hits of his own, as well as two RBIs.

Butler (25-22) struck first with a pair of runs in the first off of three hits to make it 2-0. Martinez responded in the bottom of the first with his three run homer to give AF the lead, 3-2, after one. The Falcons added another in the second on a sac fly off the bat of junior Ashton Easley, getting the lead up to two.

The Bulldogs got the run back in the top of the third, but the damage was limited on a double play, keeping it a one run game. The lead went back to two in the bottom of the third on a Butler error, making it 5-3 after three.

In the top of the forth, the seesaw continued as Butler plated a trio of runs to lead ahead, 6-5. The lead was shot lived, however, as a two run single from Dau in the bottom of the fourth gave AF the lead back, 7-6.

Following a scoreless fifth, AF added to the lead in the sixth as Easley scored on an error on a stolen base attempt. Two batters later, Martinez drove in runner number four in the game on a single, making it 9-6 Falcons with three to play.

That is when Price entered from the pen, and held the BU offense mostly in check. A solo home run to lead off the top of the ninth was the only damage, as the rookie earned save number five on the season.

Game Two: Butler 10, Air Force 6

Game two started similarly to the first, with Butler scoring three in the first, and AF battling back, but the Bulldogs outscored the Falcons, 7-1, over the final five innings to take the nightcap.

Air Force's offense totaled eight hits in game two, led by Dau who went 3-for-4 with a two run home run. It was his third of the season. Fellow senior Colby Brown had a pair of hits, including a double and his first triple of the season. He also knocked in a run.

As mentioned, Butler struck first with a three run top of the first. There was no scoring in the second, but AF answered back with a five run bottom of the third. Easley got the scoring started with a two run single up the middle, cutting the deficit to one. One batter later, on a double steal attempt, the throw trying to get Easley bounced away, allowing the speedster to score, tying the game at three.

AF wasn't done yet, though, as Dau put a capper on the inning with a two run blast over the scoreboard in left field, making it a five run inning, and getting the Falcons ahead, 5-3.

The fourth also went scoreless before BU tied it up in the fifth with a two run homer of their own, making it a new ball game at the midway point. From there, Butler put up a five spot in the seventh to leap ahead, 10-5, with two to play. AF got a single run in the ninth on a Brown RBI double, but it was not enough, as the twin billing ended in a split.

Air Force and Butler will meet tomorrow afternoon, May 12, for the rubber match from Falcon Field. First pitch is set for noon.

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