March 22, 2007
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - After seeing an early lead slip away, San Diego State exploded for eight runs in the seventh inning and went on to a 12-9 win over Air Force Thursday afternoon at Falcon Field in Colorado Springs. The win was the Mountain West Conference opener for San Diego State, which won for the fourth straight time and improved to 16-11 overall. The loss dropped the Falcons to 5-19 on the year and 0-4 in league play.
The Aztecs got off to a quick start with three runs in the opening frame on a two-run single by Nick Romero, who also later scored on an error by Air Force center fielder Daniel Walker on Cameron Johnson's single up the middle. SDSU made it a 4-0 lead two innings later on a triple by Troy Hanzawa and an RBI double by Romero.
The Falcons began their comeback in the bottom of the third as Karl Bolt hit a three-run homer off SDSU starter Steven Hirschfeld. Catcher Josh Meents homered in the next inning to knot the score at 4-4.The home side also scored single runs in each of its next two at bats to take a 6-4 lead after six innings.
In the top of the seventh, San Diego State sent 12 men to the plate, scoring eight times on five hits, three walks and a pair of Air Force errors to regain the lead at 12-6. The Aztecs connected for three triples in the inning, one each from Brandon Glover, Hanzawa (his second of the game) and Romero. In addition, Brandon Decker hit a two-out bases-loaded double to left that brought home the final three runs of the inning.
SDSU reliever Mike Koons was the beneficiary of his team's rally as he picked up the win to improve to 2-1 on the season. The go-ahead runs came at the expense of Falcon right-hander Mike Ruvolo (0-1), one of four Air Force hurlers in the inning, as he lost for the first time in 2007.
Despite the Aztecs taking a six-run lead in the seventh, the contest was far from over as the Falcons struck for a single run in the bottom of the inning and added two more in the eighth on Bolt's second homer of the game, a two-run blast to left.
San Diego State brought on freshman closer Stephen Strasburg to begin the ninth, and after issuing a leadoff walk, he struck out the next three batters to secure the victory and notch his fourth save.
The Aztecs' 18 hits were a team-high this season and the team's run total was one shy of its best in 2007. Hanzawa and Romero were the offensive stars for SDSU, collecting four hits apiece. Hanzawa had a single, double, two triples, three runs scored and two RBI while Romero had a pair of singles, double, triple, two runs scored and four RBI. Eight Aztec starters collected at least one hit.
San Diego State and Air Force will continue their three-game series on Friday, Mar. 23, with game time set for 2:00 p.m. (MDT) at Falcon Field.