Wednesday, March 4
Wichita, Kan.
1 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
0
at
2
Wichita State
Photo by: Darcie Ibidapo
Baseball Blanked By Shockers
3/4/2020 3:59:00 PM | Baseball
The Falcons out-hit Wichita State, 8-2
WICHITA, Kan. – The Air Force Academy baseball team closed out its two game midweek series with Wichita State with a tough 2-0 defeat Wednesday afternoon, March 4, at Eck Stadium. The Falcons out-hit the Shockers, 8-2, but could not get the clutch hits it needed to plate any runs.
The Falcons had plenty of opportunities to score, as they left eight men on base. AF went just 2-19 with runners on base, and 0-8 with runners in scoring position.
It was a solid overall day for Falcon pitchers on the mound, as they allowed just one earned run. Starter junior John Byrnes took the hard luck loss after going the first five innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out a new career-best six batters. In relief, junior Ben Hauser and seniors Josh Leaser and Ashton Easley tossed one inning each, and allowed just one base runner total on a walk. Leaser had one strikeout, while Easley tallied two.
On offense, AF got a career-high three-hit day from junior Cole Blatchford, including a double for Air Force's only extra base hit. It was his team-leading eighth double on the year. Senior Tommy Gillman added two hits, as well as a walk.
The Shockers struck first in the bottom of the first, as they got a two-out RBI double to take the early advantage. Byrnes then locked in, and went on to retire 12 straight Shockers at one point, to keep it a 1-0 game into the bottom of the fifth. There, WSU got another two out RBI, this one an unearned run, to make it 2-0 with four innings to play.
AF got a good opportunities to break the shutout in the seventh and eighth innings, but a leadoff double from Blatchford was stranded in the seventh and in the eighth, runners were left on second and third. Then in the ninth, a leadoff single couldn't be advanced, resulting in the 2-0 final.
The Falcons will be back in action this weekend for the home opening weekend series against South Dakota State, Friday-Sunday, March 6-8. The home opener against the Jackrabbits at Falcon Field is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
The Falcons had plenty of opportunities to score, as they left eight men on base. AF went just 2-19 with runners on base, and 0-8 with runners in scoring position.
It was a solid overall day for Falcon pitchers on the mound, as they allowed just one earned run. Starter junior John Byrnes took the hard luck loss after going the first five innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out a new career-best six batters. In relief, junior Ben Hauser and seniors Josh Leaser and Ashton Easley tossed one inning each, and allowed just one base runner total on a walk. Leaser had one strikeout, while Easley tallied two.
On offense, AF got a career-high three-hit day from junior Cole Blatchford, including a double for Air Force's only extra base hit. It was his team-leading eighth double on the year. Senior Tommy Gillman added two hits, as well as a walk.
The Shockers struck first in the bottom of the first, as they got a two-out RBI double to take the early advantage. Byrnes then locked in, and went on to retire 12 straight Shockers at one point, to keep it a 1-0 game into the bottom of the fifth. There, WSU got another two out RBI, this one an unearned run, to make it 2-0 with four innings to play.
AF got a good opportunities to break the shutout in the seventh and eighth innings, but a leadoff double from Blatchford was stranded in the seventh and in the eighth, runners were left on second and third. Then in the ninth, a leadoff single couldn't be advanced, resulting in the 2-0 final.
The Falcons will be back in action this weekend for the home opening weekend series against South Dakota State, Friday-Sunday, March 6-8. The home opener against the Jackrabbits at Falcon Field is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
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RHP
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OF
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IF/OF
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IF/RHP
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RHP
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