Air Force Academy

May 14, 2011

Box Score | Photo Gallery

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force baseball rallied back to down UNLV 7-6 in Mountain West Conference action Saturday at a rain-soaked Falcon Field. The win improved the Falcons to 18-32, 3-16 and dropped the Rebels to 31-20, 8-11.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth and the scored tied at 6-6, third baseman Matt Thorne doubled to the fence in left-center, scoring right fielder Jon McMahon from second as the Falcons poured out of the dugout in celebration of the walkoff win.

Closer Stephen Colangelo (1-2) picked up his first-career win, pitching the final 1.1 innings for the Falcons. Falcon starter Evan Abrecht went 6.1 innings, striking out four. Kincaid Koehler and Matt Zettler also pitched in relief for AFA.

UNLV reliever Zack Hartman (4-1) took the loss. Starter Joe Robinson pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three unearned runs.

The game started off as a pitchers' duel as both Abrecht and Robinson didn't allow a run through the first four innings. Air Force broke up the scoreless game with three runs in the fifth to take an early lead.

UNLV got on the scoreboard with a run in the sixth. The Rebels then plated four runs in the seventh to go ahead 5-3. The Falcons then tied the game up with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Air Force thought they had the game wrapped up with a run in the eighth, as Patrick Lobo had a pinch-hit single that knocked in Alex Bast from third after Bast had just tripled. The Rebels were able to push across a run in the ninth, however, to re-tie the game up at 6-6.

Air Force had nine hits in the game. Garrett Custons continued to hit well for the Falcons, going 3-for-5 with a run and RBI. Bast drew a pair of walks and scored twice. The Falcons also had a solid catching performance from senior Parker Mayo, who threw out two of UNLV baserunners attempting to steal.

UNLV had 13 hits in the game. Scott Dysinger, Ryan Scott, Rance Roundy and Danny Higa had two hits each for the Rebels.

The rubber match of the three-game series is set for tomorrow at noon.