USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – In a battle of the top two teams in the Mountain West, San Diego State opened its weekend series at Air Force on a sour note Friday, dropping a 4-2 decision at Falcon Field.
With the loss, the Aztecs (20-25, 14-10 MW) slip into second place in the conference standings, one-half game behind the Falcons (24-26, 15-10 MW), while San José State (24-22, 15-11 MW) sits in third, followed by Fresno State (24-24, 13-14 MW).
Despite maintaining an 11-6 advantage in hits, SDSU was unable to capitalize on its opportunities after stranding 14 base runners on the day.
Runs came at a premium for much of the game, as Air Force nursed a 1-0 lead through six innings. However, the Falcons drew first blood in the bottom of the fourth when Jeff Thomason scored on Chase Spencer's sacrifice fly. Previously, Thomason led off with a single to center, while Jake Greiving drew a walk, with both runners advancing on Trayden Tamiya's sacrifice bunt.
The score remained unchanged until the Aztecs finally broke through with a run in the top of the seventh for the equalizer. Irvin Weems led off with a double but was tagged out at third on Shaun Montoya's fielder's choice grounder to the left side. Moments later, Montoya advanced to third on TJ Fondtain's single to left before racing home on Caden Miller's RBI groundout to short.
The deadlock proved to be short-lived, as Air Force tallied three markers in the bottom of the frame to vault in front for good. Spencer led off with a double off Fondtain, which prompted a call to the bullpen for Ricky Tibbett. Shortly thereafter, Spencer took third on a balk and ultimately scored on a wild pitch to put the host school up 2-1.
SDSU seemed poised to get out of the inning with minimal damage after Matt Thompson struck out and Aaron Reyes lined out to second. However, the Falcons gave themselves some separation with two additional runs. Blake Covin laced a single to center and circled the bases on Aerik Joe's double to left center, while Sam Kulasingam followed with an RBI single through the left side.
The Aztecs threatened in the ninth but managed to push across just one run. With one out, Montoya was hit by a pitch and stole second before racing home on Fondtain's single to left. Miller followed with another base hit but with the go-ahead run at the plate, reliever Sawyer Hawks averted disaster by inducing a lineout and a groundout to end the game.
Despite allowing two runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings, Hawks (2-0) picked up the victory, while Fondtain (6-3) absorbed the hard-luck loss. The Aztec starter yielded two runs on three hits in six-plus innings, offsetting a trio of walks with six strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Fondtain's counterpart Jake Sansing tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering six hits and a pair of walks to go with three strikeouts.
SDSU put two runners aboard in three straight innings from the third through the fifth, but Sansing avoided trouble on each occasion.
Adding to the Aztecs' frustration was a bases-loaded situation in the sixth when Sansing appeared to be on the ropes, but the visitors were unable to score. With one out, Poncho Ruiz singled through the left side, while Xavier Gonzalez doubled to right before Trevor Fox drew a walk.
However, Hawks took the mound at this juncture and extinguished the threat with a strikeout and a fielder's choice grounder to third.
Fondtain, Miller and Cole Carrigg compiled two hits apiece to lead SDSU, while Joe finished with two of his own in the opposite dugout.
San Diego State and Air Force resume their series on Saturday with game two, starting at noon MT/11 a.m. PT.
Aztecs Fall in Series Opener at Air Force, 4-2
