May 9, 2009
SAN DIEGO - For the second straight day San Diego State pitchers kept the Air Force offense under wraps as the Aztec defeated the Falcons, 5-2, Saturday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. This time it was the trio of starter Ryan O'Sullivan and relievers Goldy Simmons and Addison Reed that limited the Academy to a pair of unearned runs on three hits.
O'Sullivan, who won for the third time in his last three starts to improve to 4-2 on the year, walked only one and had a season-high six strikeouts over his seven innings of work. Along the way he scattered three hits and surrendered the two unearned runs that briefly allowed the Falcons to tie the score early in the game.
The Aztecs (33-13, 12-8 MWC) opened the scoring in the second inning, taking a 2-0 lead after the firs two batters of the inning were retired. A single to right by Jomel Torres was followed by Matt Parker's first collegiate home run, a shot to center field by the redshirt sophomore catcher.
Air Force (14-33, 3-14 MWC) wasted little time, however, in knotting the score as it tallied twice in its next at bat. A two-out Aztec throwing error and walk put two men on before Matt Alexander laced a two-run double to right center to tie the contest at 2-2.
San Diego State re-took the lead one inning later when Mitch Blackburn tripled and came home on a double by Torres to make it 3-2.
The Aztecs added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth that began with back-to-back one-out singles by Cory Vaughn and Blackburn that put runners at first and third. Blackburn stole second with two outs and Parker came through again, this time driving in both runners with a base hit up the middle.
All five SDSU runs came off Falcon starter Alex Truesdale (2-8), who went seven innings. He was touched up for 10 hits, but struck out five and did not surrender a walk.
Aztec junior right-hander Goldy Simmons came on in the top of the eighth to retire the side in order. Closer Addison Reed then tossed a perfect ninth inning, getting the final two outs of the game on strikeouts. The save was Reed's nation-leading 17th of the season as he tied the San Diego State record set by Royce Ring during the 2002 campaign.
Mitch Blackburn (triple, two runs) finished the afternoon with three hits while Matt Parker (HR, run, 4 RBI) and Jomel Torres (double, run, RBI) had two apiece for the Aztecs.
Air Force and SDSU will conclude their three-game weekend series with a contest on Sunday (May 10) scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. (PT) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.