March 20, 2015
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, San Diego State roared back to score the next 14 runs against Air Force as the Aztecs defeated the Falcons, 14-2, Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the win SDSU improves to 17-5 overall and 5-2 in the Mountain West.
Air Force (9-11; 5-5 MW) got on the board in its first at bat as a triple and sacrifice fly gave the visitors the quick 1-0 lead against Aztec starting pitcher Bubba Derby. After that, however, the Falcons had only one runner reach as far as second base as Derby allowed just three hits over the next six innings along with a walk and 10 strikeouts. His effort earned him the victory as he improved to 3-1 on the season.
SDSU tied the game in the bottom of the second as Chase Calabuig singled with two outs and advanced to third when Air Force pitcher Griffin Jax's pickoff attempt got past Falcon first baseman Tyler Saleck. David Hensley then plated Calabuig with a single to left to make it a 1-1 contest.
The Aztecs took the lead with three more runs in the next inning courtesy of a two-out two-run triple by Andrew Brown and an RBI single from Ryan Muno.
SDSU double its run total with four more in the bottom of the fifth with the final pair coming as a result of a two-run home run by Seby Zavala. It was the Aztecs catcher's team-leading fourth homer of the year and gave the home team an 8-1 lead.
San Diego State put the game away with six runs in the bottom of the eighth to go up 14-1. Those six runs came with the aid of four hits, four walks, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly.
SDSU lifted Derby after seven innings with junior right-hander Brian Heldman retiring the side in order in the eighth. The Falcons got a consolation run in the top of the ninth on Saleck's RBI double against Aztec reliever Mitch Bluman.
France (two RBI, three runs scored), Sheehan (RBI, two runs scored) and Hensley (two RBI) ended the evening with three hits apiece for San Diego State. Brown and Zavala had one hit each, but both drove in three runs in the contest.
San Diego State and Air Force will continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday, March 21, when they square off for a game scheduled to get underway at 2:00 p.m. (PT) at Tony Gwynn stadium.