March 21, 1999
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State baseball team let a two run lead slip away in the bottom of the ninth inning and lost to Air Force, 14-13 on Saturday in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The loss was the fourth straight conference defeat for the Aztecs (14-14 overall; 4-4 Western Athletic Conference).
Trailing, 11-8 through six innings of play, SDSU scored five runs in the top of the seventh to take a 13-11 lead. Aztec junior third baseman Matt Ricardy doubled in sophomore catcher Brandon Rogers and freshman designated hitter Ben Leuthard to tie the score with two outs in the seventh. Senior second baseman Javier Ramos gave SDSU the lead by doubling in Ricardy. A single by sophomore shortstop Edgar Gonzalez brought Ramos in with the insurance run, but it would not be enough.
After Aztec junior reliever Ben Nelson held the Falcons (15-14 overall; 2-3 WAC) scoreless in the seventh, and sophomore lefty Mike Garber did likewise in the eighth, SDSU brought in senior closer Jeff Dufek.
Air Force tied the game with two quick runs off Dufek in the bottom of the ninth, and snatched the win with a bases-loaded single from sophomore first baseman Ryan Carville.
Aztec sophomore center fielder Robert Womack led the charge in defeat for SDSU, going four-for-five with two runs batted in and a stolen base, while Leuthard hit the first home run of his collegiate career in the loss.
Win-Diehl (2-3)
Loss-Dufek (2-1)
Save-None
2B-SDSU-Rogers, Ricardy, Ramos (2); AFA-Thiessen, Carville, Humphrey, Davis,
Hillberg, Shannon
3B-SDSU-None; AFA-Boomsma
HR-SDSU-Leuthard; AFA-None
SB-SDSU-Womack; AFA-Thiessen