May 9, 2010
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State scored 10 runs over the middle three innings to break open a 2-2 contest as it went on to defeat Air Force, 17-9, Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. In the process, the Aztecs completed the three-game sweep of the Falcons to improve to 25-23 overall and 10-8 in the Mountain West Conference.
For the third day in a row, the visitor jumped out to the early 1-0, this time scoring a run in the opening frame on a two-out walk to Addison Gentry and an RBI double off the bat of Garrett Custons.
SDSU responded with a pair of runs in the bottom if the inning as a bases-loaded walk to Cory Vaughn brought home the first run with the second scoring a on a double play one batter later.
After a scoreless second, Air Force (11-37, 1-15 MWC) tied the game at 2-2 in the third on walk and two singles off Aztec starter Corey Black. The freshman right-hander would toss seven innings on the day, allowing a total of seven runs on five hits and four walks while tying his season high of nine strikeouts. It was enough for him to claim the win as he improved to 2-1 on the year.
The tie score lasted just one inning as the Aztecs scored four times in both the fourth and fifth innings and added two more in the sixth to open a 12-3 advantage. Included in that scoring outburst were a two-run homer by Ryan O'Sullivan and a solo blast from Brandon Meredith.
Not ready to concede defeat just yet, Air Force struck for five runs in the top of the eighth. Black began the inning on the mound, but after allowing giving up a walk, two hit batters and a single, was lifted in favor of junior Steven Moranda. The junior right-hander fared little better as he gave up back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly although he was victimized by a fielding error as well.
With the score now at 12-8 in the same inning and runners on first and third with one out, Ryan Wynveen was called in from the bullpen. He immediately induced pinch hitter Alex Bast to line into a double play to shortstop to end the rally. Wynveen would finish the contest and although he gave up a run in the ninth was credited with his first save.
As quickly as the Falcons had rallied in the top of the eighth, the Aztecs answered with five runs of their own in the bottom of the same inning to restore their nine-run lead. Senior Guy Willeford capped off the scoring with a three-run homer deep over the right center field fence, his first of the season. Willeford finished the games with three hits and five RBI.
Cory Vaughn also recorded three hits including a double, RBI and three runs scored. Vaughn finished the three games against the Falcons with a .714 batting average as he went 10-for-14 with 11 RBI during the series.
Four other Aztecs had two hits apiece during Sunday's contest including Jomel Torres (two RBI), Brandon Meredith (three runs scored), Blair Moore (four runs scored) and Josh Chasse (two runs scored).
Up next for San Diego State is its final road swing of the 2010 season as it will travel to Provo, Utah, to face MWC foe Brigham Young in a three-game series that gets underway on Thursday, May 13, at 6:00 p.m. (MT) at Larry H. Miller Field.