PUEBLO, Colo. – With temperatures hovering in the 40s for much of the day, San Diego State suffered a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Air Force Saturday, falling in the opener by a 10-3 count before dropping a 7-5 decision in the nightcap at Rawlings Field on the CSU-Pueblo campus.
The teams were forced to play their Mountain West series in Pueblo this weekend due to heavy snowfall in the Colorado Springs area earlier in the week.
With the results, the Aztecs slip to 6-12 on the season and 2-6 in conference play, while the Falcons raise their record to 8-9 and 4-1 in MW action.
SDSU was victimized by the big inning in both defeats, as Air Force erupted for six runs in the fifth of Saturday's opener before scoring five runs in the sixth of game two to help key their victories.
GAME ONE
In the opener, the Aztecs out-hit the Falcons, 6-4, but were plagued by 11 walks, including nine by starter Jacob Riordan (2-1), who allowed seven runs (four earned) on just one hit while striking out four in 4 2/3 innings.
Air Force's first three runs were unearned, including two in the third when Sam Kulasingam reached on an error and later scored on Chris Stallings double-play grounder to short. In the interim, Jake Greiving drew a walk and ultimately raced home on a wild pitch.
Leading 3-0, the Falcons essentially put the game out of reach in the fifth, plating six runs on just two hits while capitalizing on three walks and two addtional wild pitches.
Kulasingam scored on Stallings' RBI groundout, while Thomason and Greiving crossed the plate on those errant offerings. Moments later, Chase Spencer stole home, while Aerik Joe followed with a two-run double, giving the hosts a 9-0 advantage.
The Falcons added to their total in the sixth when Spencer singled and was subsequently caught in a rundown between first and second on a stolen base attempt long enough to bring home Stallings, who previously singled and stole second himself.
SDSU finally broke its scoring drought in the ninth when Jake Jackson walked with the bases loaded, while Evan Sipe and Xavier Gonzalez followed with RBIs via single and groundout, respectively. Finley Bates reached on an infield single to reload the bases shortly thereafter, but Air Force's third reliever of the game Davis Rhyne induced a grounder to end the game.
Bates led the Aztecs with three hits, while Sipe, Irwin Weems and Tino Bethancourt finished with one each.
Air Force starter Seungmin Shim (2-1) offset three hits and three walks with 11 strikeouts in seven innings to earn the victory, while Riordan was saddled with the loss.
GAME TWO
SDSU also found itself in pursuit mode throughout the nightcap, as the Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the first when Jay Thomason circled the bases on Shaun Montoya's dropped fly ball in deep right field.
Air Force threatened in each of the next four innings, but Aztec starter Omar Serrano repeated fought himself off the ropes with clutch pitching, including a fielder's choice grounder in the fifth that left the bases loaded.
However, SDSU's good fortune evaporated in the sixth when the Falcons scored five runs on three hits, two walks and a hit batter off four Aztec relievers.
Aerik Joe sparked the barrage with a two-run triple and ultimately crossed the plate on Sam Kulasingam's fielder's choice grounder. Shortly thereafter, Christian Taylor drove in a pair with a double to right, giving the hosts a 7-0 advantage. However, the Aztecs' Jadon Bercovich prevented further damage by striking out Chase Spencer and inducing a popout to Landon Boyd with runners at second and third.
SDSU broke through with a run of Falcon starter Dylan Rogers in the eighth when Drew Rutter's groundout to first plated Manoah Chapman. Previously, Chapman led off with a single and advanced on Evan Sipe's base hit and Finley Bates' grounder to third.
The Aztecs finally got the big blast they needed in the ninth when Colby Turner launched a grand slam with no outs off Air Force's second reliever of the inning, Gaines Estridge.
Earlier, SDSU loaded the bases off Jimmy Hebenstreit when Jacob McCombs walked, while Jake Jackson and Shaun Montoya followed with singles. Turner then stepped to the plate and belted an Estridge's offering over the fence in left.
However, the Aztecs were stymied when Doyle Gehring entered and retired the next three batters on consecutive fly balls and a strikeout to pick up the save.
Rogers (3-1) earned the victory after giving up one run on six hits without a walk while fanning eight batters in eight innings. Conversely, Serrano (1-2) absorbed the hard-luck loss.
Turner tied the Falcons' Joe for game-high honors with three hits.
UP NEXT
At press time, San Diego State and Air Force are scheduled to remain in Pueblo for the series finale on Sunday, March 17, with an approximate starting time of 11:30 a.m. MT/10:30 a.m. PT.
Aztecs Toppled in Doubleheader vs Air Force
