Falcons Fight but Come Up Short to Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif., - The Falcons (15-23, 7-9) put up a strong fight but came up one-run short, 9-8, to Fresno State (18-19, 11-5) on Thursday evening. The AF batters tallied 12 hits while the pitchers struck out five.

At the plate, Zach Peters led for Air Force, finishing 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and one run scored. Christian Taylor, Walker Zapp, Chase Spencer, T.J. Oster, and Ben Niednagel all recorded one RBI a piece.

Dylan Rogers took the start on the mound and threw one strikeout and gave up five runs in 3.2 innings. In relief, Gunner Gilmore went 2.1 innings, tied his career high of four strikeouts and allowed one run to score. The third pitcher, Joey Collier (1-2), gave up two runs in one full inning pitched. Charlie Russell closed out for the Birds and allowed one run.

The Bulldogs opened scoring early, leading 4-0 in the bottom of the first.

In the top of the second inning, Air Force responded with four runs to level the board. Zach Peters, Tripp Garrish, and Luke Elmore opened the frame with consecutive singles. Chase Spencer logged a productive out with a sacrifice fly that sent Peters across the plate. The fourth single of the inning came from T.J. Oster, who advanced to second on a Bulldogs' error and enabled Garrish to score. Ben Niednagel sent a single up the middle and sent a pair of runners home.

The Falcons shifted into the lead for the first time, 5-4, in the top of three. After Christian Taylor notched a single up the middle, Zapp sent him around the bags on a double deep down the left line.

To tie it at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth, Fresno State tallied an RBI double. Gunner Gilmore entered with the lead run on second and two away, and closed the frame with a strikeout.

Gilmore and his defense held FSU scoreless through the sixth inning.

The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead in the bottom of seven, at 8-5.

The bottom of the eighth frame saw Fresno State up 9-5.

Air Force sealed the score at 9-8 in the top of the ninth. To lead off the inning, Spencer recorded an infield single, advanced after Oster drew a walk, and both base runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. Niednagel walked to load the bases and Taylor followed with an issued walk, sending Spencer across the plate. With two outs and one strike, Peters put a single through the left side, allowing Oster and Niednagel to score, but a fly out to left field stranded a pair of Falcons on base.

The Falcons will face Fresno State in game two of the Mountain West series on Friday April 18 at 6:05 p.m. PT/7:05 p.m. MT.

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