March 29, 2018
San Jose, Calif.--- The Air Force Falcons (10-14, 4-6 MW) outlasted a San Jose State (9-15, 2-7 MW) comeback in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Spartans, 5-4, in the Mountain West series-opener at Falcon Field in Colorado Springs, Colo.
In the Spartans' ninth down 5-2 with one out, Brett Bautista (1-for-5, R) reached on a fielder's choice grounder to third baseman Jacob Booker whose throw beat Kellen Strahm (1-for-5) at second for the second out. On the play Aaron Pleschner (4-for-4, R) who opened the inning with a single advanced to third and ran home on a throwing error from second baseman Colby Brown (3-for-4, R, RBI) to first baseman Nic Ready (1-for-4) in Brown's attempt for a game-ending double play. The error left the Spartans trailing, 5-3.
Bautista stole his fourth base of the season taking second to get in scoring position. Shane Timmons (2-for-5, R, RBI) then doubled down the right field line and scored Bautista to bring the Spartans within one run of tying it up.
The San José State comeback bid fell just short when Chris Williams (0-for-5, R) grounded out to first.
Josh Goldberg (2-3) pitched his second complete game of the season throwing 106 pitches and striking out four batters.
The Spartans turned a critical double play in the Falcons' eighth when Air Force had the bases loaded. Travis Wilkie (0-for-2) grounded to Pleschner, for a 6-4-3 double play. However, the game-winning hit from Brown with one out in the eighth inning dug the Spartans a 5-2 hole.
San Jose State took its only lead of the game in the fourth when Ruben Ibarra (1-for-4, RBI) doubled to right center with two outs to score Williams and make it, 2-1. However, the Falcons would answer right back to score twice in the bottom of the fourth.
The winning pitcher was Nick Biancalana (2-1) who pitched 8.1 innings allowing four doubles Thursday afternoon.
Jake Gilbert earned his first save of the season getting the last two outs. He allowed one hit in the ninth inning.
The Spartans return tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. (PT) to play game two against Air Force.
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