SAN DIEGO – Visiting Air Force combined for eight runs in the final two innings on Friday to deal San Diego State a heart-breaking 10-8 defeat in the opener of a weekend series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
In a highly anticipated matchup of two of the Mountain West's best pitchers, the Aztecs' Troy Melton and the Falcons' Paul Skenes, neither starter figured in the decision, as Air Force overcame an 8-2 deficit to escape with the improbable win.
Melton set a career-high with 11 strikeouts in seven innings of work, allowing just one earned run on seven hits before giving way to Robert Brodell to start the eighth.
Offensively, the Aztecs (14-34, 6-16 MW) were led by Cole Carrigg's 4-for-4 effort at the plate, as the sophomore shortstop scored two runs and drove in another, while Poncho Ruiz (3-5) and TJ Fondtain (2-4) finished with RBIs apiece.
SDSU loaded the bases off Skenes in the fourth, as Carrigg singled to left, while Brian Leonhardt and Fondtain each drew a walk. Moments later, Carrigg trotted home from third when Tino Bethancourt was hit by a pitch, while Caden Miller followed with an RBI single to plate Leonhardt, giving the host school a 2-0 lead.
However, the Aztecs squandered a chance to increase their advantage, as Fondtain was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from second, while Skenes induced a pop up to prevent further damage.
The Falcons (22-22, 11-11 MW) countered with a run in the fourth when Braydon Altorfer drew a two-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and alertly circled the bases when Jay Thomason reached on a single behind the bag at second.
Air Force promptly tied the score at 2-2 in the fifth when Sam Kulasingam smacked a two-out double down the right-field line and took third on a bobbled ball before crossing the plate on Blake Covin's infield hit.
SDSU reclaimed a 4-2 lead in the fifth when Carrigg singled home Ruiz, who previously doubled into the left-field corner to score Irvin Weems. Earlier, Weems beat out an infield hit himself and promptly stole second when Skenes struck out Shaun Montoya.
Later in the seventh, the Aztecs seemingly gave themselves some additional breathing room at 8-2 after plating four markers on four hits, highlighted by Fondtain's two-run double down the left-field line. Ruiz also drove in Xavier Carter with a run-scoring single, while Alex Rodriguez knocked in Fondtain with a two-bagger of his own.
The Falcons responded with a four-spot in the top of the eighth, capitalizing on three SDSU errors to go with a trio of hits. Jake Greiving scored on Thomason's groundout after greeting Brodell with a leadoff single, followed by Altorfer's double to left. Moments later, Trayden Tamiya reached on a throwing error at shortstop, allowing Altorfer to cross the plate.
Tamiya subsequently took second on a failed pickoff attempt and quickly scored on Kulasingam's single to left. In the interim, Aerik Joe drew a walk, moved to second on Kulasingham's hit and ultimately raced home after stealing third as a throw to the bag went awry.
Clinging to an 8-6 lead, Kelena Sauer (1-6) replaced Brodell to start the ninth, but Air Force quicky loaded the bases when Gabriel Garcia was hit by pitch, while Greiving and Altorfer walked. Thomason soon stepped to the plate and drew another walk on four pitches, bringing in Garcia, while Matt Thompson, who pinch ran for Greiving, raced home after Tamiya reached on a fielder's choice, knotting the scored at 8-8.
Sauer retired Joe with a swinging strikeout, but Jason Booker plated Altorfer with a single through the right side, while Tamiya eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the visitors a sudden 10-8 lead.
Zach Argo entered in the bottom of the inning and promptly struck out the side to record his first save of the year. Despite giving up one hit and a walk in the eighth, the Falcons' third reliever of the night Nathan Price (1-0) was credited with the victory. In that frame, Ruiz roped a two-out double, while Carrigg was intentionally walked. However, the Aztecs came up empty when Price induced a lineout to right.
Skenes struck out five through the first six innings, yielding four runs on seven hits and three walks before giving way to Kyle Moats (2/3 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 1 SO and Duke Benge (1/3 IP, 1 H), respectively.
Thomason (3 RBIs) and Kulasingam totaled three hits apiece to lead Air Force, while Tamiya finished with a pair of RBIs.
Both teams stranded nine runners apiece.
The Aztecs and Falcons continue their weekend series on Saturday, starting at 6 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Drop 10-8 Heartbreaker to Air Force
