Falcon Baseball Clinches MW Series in Game Three, 12-10, Over the Aztecs

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - The Falcons (12-19, 5-7) secured a 12-10 rubber match win to take the series, 2-1, over Mountain West opponent San Diego State (10-22, 6-6) on Monday afternoon at Erdle Field. The AF pitching staff struck out seven Aztecs combined, while the batters tallied ten hits and 11 RBIs.

Ben Niednagel led at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with a trio of RBIs and one run scored. The catcher, Walker Zapp, accounted for two RBIs, two runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases after going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple. Alex Adams also recorded two RBIs and plated one run.

In his first start of the season, Ethan Dillinger went 1.2 innings and struck out three Aztecs but allowed one earned run off four hits. Gaines Estridge took over for 4.1 innings, tallying a trio of strikeouts and giving up a pair of runs. Following appearances by Bowen Brantingham, Sam Hentges, and Gunner Gilmore, the closer, Patrick Davidson entered for 1.1 innings. The sophomore picked up his fifth win of the season after throwing one strikeout and giving up no runs to San Diego State.

The Aztecs opened the series finale with a 2-0 lead, in the top of one with damage limited by two Dillinger strikeouts.

Air Force answered in the bottom of the second inning, shifting into a 3-2 lead. Tripp Garrish started with a single to the shortstop and was followed by a hit Chase Spencer. Following a double steal, Garrish took a wild pitch opportunity to score the first Falcon run of the day. After T.J. Oster drew a walk, Niednagel placed a sacrifice bunt towards the left line to send Spencer across the plate.

The bottom of the fourth saw the Birds score two runs off two hits, for a 5-2 advantage. Spencer led off with a single towards the shortstop and stole second. With one out, Niednagel notched his second triple of the season, scoring Spencer. A ground out from Alex Adams gave Niednagel enough time to make it home.

The Air Force defense went three up, three down in the top of five to hold the Aztecs.

The Falcons plated a trio of hits, extending into an 8-2 lead, in the bottom of the same frame. In four pitches, Zapp drew a walk and stole second. Back-to-back walks to Garrish and Zach Peters filled the bags for Air Force. Spencer walked in a run and Oster followed with a sacrifice fly. On a single to left field, Niednagel sent Peters across the plate, before Spencer was thrown out on the play at second.

San Diego State answered with a pair of runs off two hits in the top of six, trimming their deficit to 8-4.

A lead off solo home run, the only long shot of the series, put the Falcons up 9-4, in the bottom of the seventh.

The Aztecs powered through the top of the eighth inning, plating six runs off four hits to assume a 10-9 lead.

Air Force marked a critical bottom of the eighth, scoring three to reclaim the lead at 12-10. Following a pitching change for SDSU, Adams opened the frame with a single through the left side and advanced to second on an overthrown pick off attempt. Christian Taylor joined him on base after drawing a walk and both runners scored on a Zapp triple to right center field. Luke Elmore added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly, putting Zapp across the plate.

In the top of the ninth, Davidson defended the Falcon lead with a looking striking out and a pair of fly outs.

Air Force will host non-conference opponent Northern Colorado on Wednesday April 9 at Erdle Field. The two teams will pick up their tied 10-10 game that began on February 25 at 2 p.m. MT and follow with a full game.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.