May 14, 2017
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - San Diego State scored three times in each of the first three innings, then doubled down with six in the top of the fifth en route to a 17-5 victory over Air Force Sunday afternoon at Falcon Field in Colorado Springs, Colo.
With the victory, the Aztecs improved to 36-16 overall and 19-8 in the Mountain West as they moved closer to securing a 40-win season for the third time in the last four years. SDSU also suddenly finds itself just one game behind league leader New Mexico, which was swept in a three-game series at Fresno State this weekend.
The loss dropped Air Force's ledger to 25-24 overall and 12-17 in conference play as they concluded their 2017 Mountain West schedule. The loss leaves the Falcons in fifth place in the league standings, two games behind Nevada (11-15 MW) in the loss column with the Wolf Pack scheduled for a three-game series at league-leading New Mexico next weekend.
Danny Sheehan and Jordan Verdon led the Aztec offense as both finished the day with four hits. Verdon had a double with three RBI and two runs scored while Sheehan drove in two runs and scored three times.
In addition, right fielder Tyler Adkison and catcher Hunter Stratton had two hits and four RBI apiece as each connected for a home run. Adkison's long ball was his 14th of the season, this one a three-run shot during the six-run fifth inning.
Stratton's homer was an opposite field shot by the left-handed hitter and was also a three-run shot in the top of the fifth. It was his second of the season.
In addition, third baseman David Hensley had three hits in the contest with a double and three runs batted in.
On the mound, Aztec senior right-hander Cody Thompson limited Air force to five runs (four earned) over his seven innings of work as he scattered six hits and three walks while tying his season high with six strikeouts. The effort earned him his second win of the season against no defeats.
Senior lefty Marcus Reyes tossed the final two innings, allowing just a pair of singles as he closed out the victory.
San Diego State will now return home to prepare for a mid-week contest against the University of San Diego set for Tuesday, May 16, at 6:00 p.m. PT at Tony Gwynn Stadium.