Sunday, April 6
11 am MT
Air Force Academy
10-19, 3-7
4
vs
16
San Diego State University
10-20, 6-4
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2
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4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
San Diego State
2
1
4
1
0
0
2
3
3
16
27
2
Air Force
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
4
11
2
Air Force Baseball Splits Twin Bill with San Diego State
4/6/2025 8:32:00 PM | Baseball
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - Air Force baseball (11-19, 4-7) split the Mountain West doubleheader with San Diego State (10-21, 6-5), on Sunday afternoon at Erdle Field. Across the two games, Falcon batters notched 27 hits with 20 RBIs, while the pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts.
Game One: San Diego State 16, Air Force 4
At the plate, Walker Zapp finished 2-for-4 and accounted for one RBI, while Tripp Garrish and T.J. Oster recorded one RBI a piece.
The starting pitcher, Dylan Rogers (0-3), threw 2.1 innings, surrendering seven runs while striking out a pair of Aztecs. Josh Shropshire took over for a new career-high three full innings and gave up just one run off three hits. Over 1.2 innings pitched, Charlie Russell tallied two strikeouts but surrendered three earned runs. To close out the final two innings for Air Force, Marcus Downing made his fourth appearance of the season and gave up four runs.
San Diego State opened scoring early, jumping on the board for a 2-0 lead in the top of one.
The Aztecs tacked on one more, in the top of the second, for a 3-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the second frame, the Falcons trimmed the deficit to 3-1. Garrish was issued a leadoff walk and took second on a single from Luke Elmore. A single to the shortstop by Chase Spencer juiced the bases, enabling Garrish to head home on a wild pitch.
Between the top of the third and fourth innings, SDSU extended their lead to 8-1.
The Falcons answered with two runs off three hits in the bottom of the fifth frame but still trailed 8-3. Ben Niednagel drew a walk to open the inning and was sent to third on an Alex Adams double down the left line. With one out, Walker Zapp singled to right field, bringing Niednagel home. An RBI single hit by Garrish plated Adams.
In the top of seven, the Aztecs stretched into a 10-3 lead.
San Diego State continued to add runs to the board, scoring three for a 13-3 advantage in the top of the eighth inning.
The bottom of the same frame saw Air Force plate their final run of the game, 13-4. To start the inning, Elmore notched a single to left field and shifted to third on an erroneous fielder's choice. Oster completed the job with an RBI ground out that scored Elmore.
SDSU locked the score in at 16-4 with a trio of runs in the top of the ninth.
Game Two: Air Force 18, San Diego State 8
The designated hitter, Tripp Garrish, batted 3-for-4 with a trio of RBIs and scored one run. Chase Spencer logged an impressive day at the plate after going 2-for-5, recording three RBIs, and plating a pair of Falcon runs. Every batter in the lineup tallied at least one RBI in the book. Christian Taylor, Walker Zapp, Zach Peters, and Ben Niednagel all accounted for two RBIs each, while Alex Adams, Luke Elmore, and T.J. Oster notched one.
Cranz Smelcer took the start on the mound and threw a career-high five full innings. The freshman struck out three Aztecs and allowed three earned runs. Following an appearance from Davis Rhyne, the winning pitcher Joey Collier (1-0) went 1.2 innings, giving up no runs and striking out two for his first career win. Closer, Patrick Davidson, appeared in the final inning and allowed two earned runs to score.
Once again, SDSU was the first team on board, 2-0, in the top of one.
The next inning, the Aztecs plated one run for a lead of 3-0.
AF answered with a pair of runs, trimming the deficit to 3-2, in the bottom of the second inning. Garrish got the ball rolling with a lead off double to left field and scored when Spencer sent a two-strike triple to right. An Oster RBI ground out enabled Spencer to cross the plate.
The bottom of three saw the Falcons shift into their first lead of the day, 4-3. With one away, Taylor sent a double tight down the left line and took third on a single from Elmore. Taylor took advantage of a throwing error on the Aztec's catcher to head home, while Elmore scored on a single from the next batter, Garrish.
After a pair of scoreless innings, San Diego State reclaimed the lead at 6-4 in the top of five.
A five-run bottom of the seventh enabled AF to shift back into the lead, 9-6. The second batter of the frame, Niednagel, was issued a walk, stole second base, and went home on a triple to center field by Adams. Following a walked Taylor, a single to left from Zapp was enough to send Adams across the plate. Elmore singled and Taylor was able to score on a fielding error by SDSU's center fielder. An RBI fielder's choice by Garrish saw Zapp go home, while Peters followed with an RBI ground out.
The Aztecs crept up on the Falcons, 9-8 but were down by one run in the top of the eighth frame.
Air Force marked an eventful bottom of the eighth, plating nine runs off six hits for a final score of 18-8 to ensure the run-rule win. The frame opened with a single from Oster, a walked Niednagel, and a bunt single by Adams. With the bases full of Falcons, a Taylor single to right center scored a pair of the runners. Zapp drew a walk to reload the bags and saw a wild pitch advance the runners, but Adams was thrown out at home. The third walk of the inning was issued to Elmore for another bases-loaded situation. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Garrish singled to the shortstop to send one run home. After Garrish was substituted for pinch runner, Cam Anstey, Peters walked in a run, and Spencer came in clutch with a two RBI single. With two outs, Niednagel added a pair of runs to the board with a single to right field. Bases were filled once again after Adams walked and Taylor was hit by a pitch. Zapp completed the frame after drawing a four-ball RBI walk.
The Falcons are looking to win the series in game three against the Aztecs on Monday April 7 at 11 a.m. MT.
Game One: San Diego State 16, Air Force 4
At the plate, Walker Zapp finished 2-for-4 and accounted for one RBI, while Tripp Garrish and T.J. Oster recorded one RBI a piece.
The starting pitcher, Dylan Rogers (0-3), threw 2.1 innings, surrendering seven runs while striking out a pair of Aztecs. Josh Shropshire took over for a new career-high three full innings and gave up just one run off three hits. Over 1.2 innings pitched, Charlie Russell tallied two strikeouts but surrendered three earned runs. To close out the final two innings for Air Force, Marcus Downing made his fourth appearance of the season and gave up four runs.
San Diego State opened scoring early, jumping on the board for a 2-0 lead in the top of one.
The Aztecs tacked on one more, in the top of the second, for a 3-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the second frame, the Falcons trimmed the deficit to 3-1. Garrish was issued a leadoff walk and took second on a single from Luke Elmore. A single to the shortstop by Chase Spencer juiced the bases, enabling Garrish to head home on a wild pitch.
Between the top of the third and fourth innings, SDSU extended their lead to 8-1.
The Falcons answered with two runs off three hits in the bottom of the fifth frame but still trailed 8-3. Ben Niednagel drew a walk to open the inning and was sent to third on an Alex Adams double down the left line. With one out, Walker Zapp singled to right field, bringing Niednagel home. An RBI single hit by Garrish plated Adams.
In the top of seven, the Aztecs stretched into a 10-3 lead.
San Diego State continued to add runs to the board, scoring three for a 13-3 advantage in the top of the eighth inning.
The bottom of the same frame saw Air Force plate their final run of the game, 13-4. To start the inning, Elmore notched a single to left field and shifted to third on an erroneous fielder's choice. Oster completed the job with an RBI ground out that scored Elmore.
SDSU locked the score in at 16-4 with a trio of runs in the top of the ninth.
Game Two: Air Force 18, San Diego State 8
The designated hitter, Tripp Garrish, batted 3-for-4 with a trio of RBIs and scored one run. Chase Spencer logged an impressive day at the plate after going 2-for-5, recording three RBIs, and plating a pair of Falcon runs. Every batter in the lineup tallied at least one RBI in the book. Christian Taylor, Walker Zapp, Zach Peters, and Ben Niednagel all accounted for two RBIs each, while Alex Adams, Luke Elmore, and T.J. Oster notched one.
Cranz Smelcer took the start on the mound and threw a career-high five full innings. The freshman struck out three Aztecs and allowed three earned runs. Following an appearance from Davis Rhyne, the winning pitcher Joey Collier (1-0) went 1.2 innings, giving up no runs and striking out two for his first career win. Closer, Patrick Davidson, appeared in the final inning and allowed two earned runs to score.
Once again, SDSU was the first team on board, 2-0, in the top of one.
The next inning, the Aztecs plated one run for a lead of 3-0.
AF answered with a pair of runs, trimming the deficit to 3-2, in the bottom of the second inning. Garrish got the ball rolling with a lead off double to left field and scored when Spencer sent a two-strike triple to right. An Oster RBI ground out enabled Spencer to cross the plate.
The bottom of three saw the Falcons shift into their first lead of the day, 4-3. With one away, Taylor sent a double tight down the left line and took third on a single from Elmore. Taylor took advantage of a throwing error on the Aztec's catcher to head home, while Elmore scored on a single from the next batter, Garrish.
After a pair of scoreless innings, San Diego State reclaimed the lead at 6-4 in the top of five.
A five-run bottom of the seventh enabled AF to shift back into the lead, 9-6. The second batter of the frame, Niednagel, was issued a walk, stole second base, and went home on a triple to center field by Adams. Following a walked Taylor, a single to left from Zapp was enough to send Adams across the plate. Elmore singled and Taylor was able to score on a fielding error by SDSU's center fielder. An RBI fielder's choice by Garrish saw Zapp go home, while Peters followed with an RBI ground out.
The Aztecs crept up on the Falcons, 9-8 but were down by one run in the top of the eighth frame.
Air Force marked an eventful bottom of the eighth, plating nine runs off six hits for a final score of 18-8 to ensure the run-rule win. The frame opened with a single from Oster, a walked Niednagel, and a bunt single by Adams. With the bases full of Falcons, a Taylor single to right center scored a pair of the runners. Zapp drew a walk to reload the bags and saw a wild pitch advance the runners, but Adams was thrown out at home. The third walk of the inning was issued to Elmore for another bases-loaded situation. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Garrish singled to the shortstop to send one run home. After Garrish was substituted for pinch runner, Cam Anstey, Peters walked in a run, and Spencer came in clutch with a two RBI single. With two outs, Niednagel added a pair of runs to the board with a single to right field. Bases were filled once again after Adams walked and Taylor was hit by a pitch. Zapp completed the frame after drawing a four-ball RBI walk.
The Falcons are looking to win the series in game three against the Aztecs on Monday April 7 at 11 a.m. MT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SIPILA, Marko (3-2)
L: Rogers, Dylan (0-3)
S: RODGERS, Peyton (3)
Batting:
2B: BATES, Finley 1 ; SMITH, Jonathan 1 ; RUTTER, Drew 1 ; JACKSON, Jake 4 ; KELLY, Zane 2 ; ESCOBAR, Evan 1
3B: JACKSON, Jake 1
RBI: SMITH, Jonathan 1 ; ARAMBULA, Daniel 1 ; NOONAN, Nevan 2 ; RUTTER, Drew 1 ; JACKSON, Jake 5 ; KELLY, Zane 3 ; SIPE, Evan 1 ; ESCOBAR, Evan 2
SH: RUTTER, Drew 1 ; SIPE, Evan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BATES, Finley 2 ; SMITH, Jonathan 1 ; ARAMBULA, Daniel 1 ; NOONAN, Nevan 3 ; RUTTER, Drew 2 ; JACKSON, Jake 3 ; KELLY, Zane 2 ; SIPE, Evan 2
SB: NOONAN, Nevan 1
Batting:
2B: Adams, Alex 1
RBI: Zapp, Walker 1 ; Garrish, Tripp 1 ; Oster, T.J. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Adams, Alex 1 ; Garrish, Tripp 1 ; Elmore, Luke 1 ; Niednagel, Ben 1
CS: Elmore, Luke 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
UT
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LHP
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RHP
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RHP
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OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
UT/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
UT
/ Baseball
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