May 13, 2016
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - After finding itself unable to rally in the completion of a suspended game and dropping an 11-7 decision to Air Force, San Diego State came back to defeat the Falcons, 4-2, in the scheduled opening game of the weekend series between the teams at Tony Gwynn Stadium Friday evening.
In SDSU's win, junior left-hander Dominic Purpura tossed a complete game, the first by an SDSU pitcher this season. He allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and sis strikeouts. The six K's represented an Aztec career high for Purpura, who picked up the victory to improve to 3-2 on the year.
The Aztecs (15-33, 7-17 MW) jumped on top early with a pair of runs in the opening frame. Back-to-back walks to Justin Wylie and Chase Calabuig plus an infield bunt single by Alan Trejo loaded the bases with no outs. Tyler Adkison was then hit by pitch to force in the first run before Spencer Thornton's sacrifice fly to center brought home the second to give the home team a 2-0 advantage.
The Falcons (26-21, 10-14 MW) fought back to tie the game with single runs in both the second and fifth frames. In the second, a ground out to first brought home Nic Ready from third base after he and Tyler Zabojnik had started the inning with back-to-back singles. In the fifth it was an RBI single by Adam Groesbeck that scored Russell Williams, who had doubled with two outs.
The 2-2 tie did not last long, however, as San Diego State put a run on the board in the bottom of the fifth. A walk to Wylie was followed by a passed ball sending the SDSU infielder to second. He advanced to third on Calabuig's fly ball to center before Trejo's single to right gave the Aztecs a 3-2 advantage.
SDSU added an insurance run in its half of the eighth when Wylie's single up the middle scored Jordan Verdon from third after he had started the frame with a single and went to third on CJ Saylor's double to left.
Purpura then closed out the game, pitching around a one-out walk in the top of the ninth to secure the win.
Five Aztecs ended the game with two hits apiece led by Wylie (two runs scored, RBI) and Trejo (RBI), who reached base four times each by drawing a pair of walks.
Earlier in the evening, the teams completed a suspended game that was halted in Colorado Springs during SDSU's visit there in mid-March due to travel commitments. The contest was picked up with the Falcons leading 10-7 in the top of the eighth with SDSU at bat, two outs and a runner at first.
Air Force pitcher Nick Biancalana proceeded to shut the Aztec offense down over the final 1.1 innings. He allowed just a two-out walk in the ninth as he was credited with his second save of the season after tossing a total of four innings in the game.
The Falcons added a run to their total in the bottom of the eighth to provide the final 11-7 score line. Trent Monaghan (4-2) recorded the win after having tossed the first five frames in Colorado Springs. SDSU's Brett Seeburger (0-2) was on the line for the pitching loss.
San Diego State and Air Force will continue their weekend slate of games with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 14, with a seven-inning contest set to get underway at noon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Falcons will be the home team for that game as it is the makeup of a contest that was snowed out in Colorado Springs. A nine-inning game will follow approximately 30 minute after the completion of the opener.