Air Force Academy
23-23, 11-11
San Diego State University
14-34, 6-16
Falcons rally late, beat Aztecs 10-8
5/6/2022 11:29:00 PM | Baseball
Sam Kulasingam finished 3-6 with a double and a RBI at the top of the order, while Jay Thomason finished 3-4 with 3 RBI a stolen base.
Gabriel Garcia, Jake Greiving, and Braydon Altorfer each managed one hit as well, with Altorfer providing a double in the 8th to kickstart the four-run frame.
Starter Paul Skenes didn't factor in the decision, but gave Air Force six solid innings. The sophomore allowed four runs on seven hits, three walks and five strikeouts. Nathan Price picked up his first win of the spring after entering in the 8th, scattering a hit over his scoreless inning.
Zach Argo notched the first save of his senior campaign, inducing three swinging strikeouts in the 9th to close the ballgame.
San Diego State initially jumped out to a 2-0 lead after an extended 2nd inning, though Air Force bided its time until the middle innings to get on the scoreboard. In the 4th, Altorfer worked a two-out walk, eventually advancing to second after a wild pitch. Thomason drove in the first of his three ribbies with a run-scoring single to trim the deficit to 2-1.
An inning later, Kulasingam doubled with two outs before Covin singled him home to tie the game at 2-2.
However, the Aztecs struck for two runs in the 5th and four more in the 7th to build a 8-2 lead. Nevertheless, the Falcons clawed back.
Greiving singled to leadoff the 8th and was advanced third after an Altorfer double. Thomason grounded out to first to score Greiving, with Trayden Tamiya reaching base on a run-scoring error by the SDSU shortstop.
Now 8-4, Kulasingam drove home Tamiya with a RBI base-hit, trimming the lead to 8-5. Later in the inning, Aerik Joe, who reached base after a walk, stole third and trotted home after an error from the San Diego State catcher. Price's scoreless 8th saw the Falcons trailing 8-6 going into the final inning.
In need of baserunners, Garcia was hit by the first pitch of the 9th. Following Garcia, Greiving and Altorfer each worked walks loading the bases for Thomason.
As was the theme of the inning, Thomason drew a base on balls on four pitches, bringing home Garcia. Down a run, Tamiya poked a ground ball towards second base to score Matt Thompson, who pinch ran for Greiving to tie the ballgame.
Jason Booker, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the 8th, singled into right field with two outs to bring home Altorfer, giving the Falcons their first lead of the game at 9-8. Tamiya later scored after a wild pitch, as Air Force suddenly led 10-8 with three outs remaining.
Argo left no stone unturned in his lone inning on the mound, striking out the side to put a stamp on the six-run comeback win. Having faced a 8-2 deficit to start the 7th, Friday marks the Falcons first win this season when trailing after eight innings.
Game Two between Air Force and San Diego State is slated for Saturday, May 7, with first-pitch scheduled for 7 pm MT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Price, Nathan (1-0)
L: SAUER, Kelena (1-6)
S: Argo, Zach (1)
Batting:
2B: Kulasingam, Sam 1 ; Altorfer, Braydon 1
RBI: Kulasingam, Sam 1 ; Covin, Blake 1 ; Thomason, Jay 3 ; Tamiya, Trayden 2 ; Booker, Jason 1
SH: Joe, Aerik 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kulasingam, Sam 1 ; Garcia, Gabriel 1 ; Greiving, Jake 1 ; Thompson, Matt 1 ; Altorfer, Braydon 3 ; Tamiya, Trayden 2 ; Joe, Aerik 1
SB: Thomason, Jay 1 ; Joe, Aerik 1
HBP: Garcia, Gabriel 1 ; Tamiya, Trayden 1
Batting:
2B: RUIZ, Poncho 2 ; FONDTAIN, TJ 1 ; RODRIGUEZ, Alex 1
RBI: RUIZ, Poncho 2 ; CARRIGG, Cole 1 ; FONDTAIN, TJ 2 ; BETHANCOURT, Tino 1 ; RODRIGUEZ, Alex 1 ; MILLER, Caden 1
SH: MONTOYA, Shaun 1 ; JOHNSON, Deron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WEEMS, Irvin 1 ; CARTER, Xavier 1 ; RUIZ, Poncho 2 ; CARRIGG, Cole 2 ; LEONHARDT, Brian 1 ; FONDTAIN, TJ 1
SB: WEEMS, Irvin 1 ; CARTER, Xavier 1 ; CARRIGG, Cole 1
CS: WEEMS, Irvin 1 ; CARRIGG, Cole 1
HBP: CARTER, Xavier 1 ; LEONHARDT, Brian 1 ; BETHANCOURT, Tino 1
