March 18, 2011
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – A seven-run fifth inning highlighted Air Force baseball’s 12-4 win over Portland Friday afternoon at Falcon Field. The win lifted the Falcons to 8-10 on the season and dropped the Pilots to 8-7.
Trailing 4-2, the Falcons batted around in the fifth, racking up five hits and seven runs to jump ahead 9-4. Air Force tacked on three more runs in the eighth.
Junior right-hander Evan Abrecht (5-0) continued his outstanding pitching, allowing four runs in eight innings of work to remain undefeated on the season. Abrecht tossed seven scoreless innings in the start for the Falcons, with his only blemish being a grand slam given up to Portland’s Ben Grubb in the second inning. Sophomore Stephen Colangelo closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.
Air Force had 11 hits in the game, led by sophomore catcher Garrett Custons. Custons went 3-for-4 with three runs, a double and a leadoff home run to start the game for the Falcons.
Freshman designated hitter Seth Kline also had a solid day at the plate, with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs. Matt Thorne, Vai Schierholtz and Patrick Lobo also drove in two runs each for the Falcons, with Thorne also hitting a triple.
Portland had nine hits on the day, led by Grubb’s grand slam. Starting pitcher Chris Johnson (1-1) took the loss, allowing five runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
The Falcons and Pilots return to action tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
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