Late rally falls short against Falcons

Thursday, April 6

USAF Academy, CO

2 P.M. PT

Fresno State

15-13, 0

Air Force

12-19, 0

Fresno State

Air Force

Photo by: Xochitl Ortega

Late rally falls short against Falcons

4/6/2023 5:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Holly Cassina / Strategic Communications Coordinator

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – The Fresno State baseball team dropped the series opener 10-5 against the Air Force Falcons on Thursday at Falcon Field.

With the loss, the 'Diamond Dogs now hold a 15-13 record (7-5 Mountain West), while the Falcons advance to 12-9 (6-7 MW).

HOW IT HAPPENED:
On the first pitch of the bottom of the third inning, the Falcons led off with a line drive directly over Travis Welker's head, who leaped to snag the first out of the three-frame inning.

The scoring started in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Falcons had a consecutive single, double, triple and home run that brought in four total runs. AFA scored an additional two runs in the bottom of the fifth after back-to-back singles and a wild pitch.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Grady Morgan hit his second big fly of the season to right field and put the 'Dogs on the board for the first time in the game with the home run.

Bobby Blandford rocketed a double to right field to lead off the top of the seventh and was boosted to third and across the plate by pinch-hitter Marco Pirruccello and Tommy Hopfe for the second Diamond 'Dog run of the game. Freshman Murf Gray earned his first career triple to left field but was left stranded at the end of the inning.

After Air Force took a 10-2 lead by adding two runs in both the seventh and eighth, the 'Dogs rallied in the top of the ninth with four big hits to start the inning.

Blandford led off with a single and Marco Pirruccello launched his first career home run over the towering 24-foot wall in right field. Tommy Hopfe followed up with a solo shot to center field that put the 'Dogs within five, but the late surge came up short.

NOTES:

Ixan Henderson reached the 50-strikeout milestone in the bottom of the first inning against the Falcons.
Right fielder Grady Morgan crushed his second home run of the season with a solo shot that cleared the 24-foot right field wall at Falcon Field. Morgan also had a triple in the game.
Reining Mountain West Freshman of the Week Murf Gray hit his first career triple.
Marco Pirruccello smashed the first home run of his career in the top of the ninth.

UP NEXT: The 'Dogs return to Falcon Field on Friday with first pitch at 2 p.m. PT.

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