Anonymous | Posted: 9 Apr 2009 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020

Falcons Rally In Extra-Innings

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PROVO -- A two-out RBI single in the top of the 11th inning gave Air Force a 5-4 win over the BYU baseball team at Miller Park on Thursday.

The Cougars managed to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth after surrendering the lead to the Falcons. In the chilly night air BYU struggled to bring in runs, leaving four runners on base through the final three innings.

“I don’t think we were prepared mentally,” BYU head coach Vance Law said. “Air Force is a great team and they just battled tonight.”

Jordan Muir received his first loss of the season. He came out of the bullpen to pitch 3.2 innings, surrendering only the winning run.

The Cougars trailed 2-0 through five innings. BYU starting pitcher Jeremy Toole struggled through the first inning, loading the bases after two outs and walking in a run. Toole settled into a groove, but after giving up a double a throwing error brought around another Falcon run.

Toole threw seven complete innings allowing three runs, two earned, off of seven hits, six walks and six strikeouts.

The first five innings proved unfruitful for the Cougar offense, but a persistent approach at the plate yielded success. With two outs in the sixth inning, the Air Force pitcher misfired on a pickoff attempt to first base that advanced Steve Parker to third. Brandon Relf hit a high fly ball that fell off of the glove of the second baseman, allowing Parker to score.

Michael Bowen singled to put two runners on before a misjudged fly ball from Kasey Ko landed just inside of the left field line to bring in both runners.

The Falcons evened the game at 3-3 with an RBI double before the Cougars ran into a jam in the eighth. A single and two walks loaded the bases and the third walk of the inning brought in the go-ahead run.

Back-to-back singles put a runner in scoring position for Bowen, who singled to right field to tie the game 4-4.

With both teams at a standstill the game entered extra innings. The Cougars got their best shot at bringing in a run when Falcon pitcher Aaron Kurcz walked three batters to load the bases. Andrew Law laid a bunt down the third base line, in a safety squeeze that bounced foul, before striking out to end the 10th inning.

In the top of the 11th a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt gave Air Force a runner in scoring position, and the runner scored on a single to center.

BYU was unable to generate a run in the bottom half of the frame, hitting into a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.

The Cougars, now 18-13 overall and 5-5 in Mountain West Conference play, return to Miller Park on Friday at 7 p.m. for game two of a three-game series against Air Force, now 11-20 and 2-5.


Air Force Academy at BYU

Apr 09, 2009 at Larry H.Miller Field

Air Force Academy 5 (11-20,2-5 MWC)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

------------------------------------------------------

RANDHAWA, K.J. ss........ 6 0 0 0 0 3 4 5 0

GENTRY, Addison 1b....... 5 0 1 1 1 1 10 1 2

ALEXANDER, Matt dh....... 5 4 2 0 1 2 0 0 3

AUSBUN, Ben lf........... 2 0 2 1 2 0 1 0 0

MOSS, Tytus pr.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

MAYO, Parker c.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0

WALKER, Daniel cf........ 5 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 1

LUPO, Jack c/lf.......... 5 1 3 2 1 1 5 1 1

McMAHON, Jon 2b.......... 4 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 5

ROBERTS, Blair 3b........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2

SCHIERHOLTZ, Vai ph/3b.. 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0

CARTER, Nathan rf........ 2 0 1 0 3 0 3 0 0

ALLEN, Casey p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

PETRO, Jake p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

KURCZ, Aaron p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Totals................... 39 5 11 4 10 11 33 14 14

BYU 4 (18-13,5-5 MWC)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

------------------------------------------------------

McNAUGHTON, Sean lf...... 6 0 2 0 0 3 3 0 0

BANKS, Stetson cf........ 6 0 1 0 0 3 1 0 0

WALTON, Kent dh.......... 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

PARKER, Steve 3b......... 4 2 2 0 1 1 0 4 0

RELF, Brandon ss......... 4 1 1 0 1 0 2 3 2

BOWEN, Michael rf........ 5 1 3 1 0 0 2 0 0

KO, Kasey 1b............. 4 0 1 2 1 1 9 2 1

MUSSO, J.T. c............ 3 0 1 0 0 0 8 1 1

AYOSO, Bryce ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

NACAPOY, Chad c......... 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0

LAW, Andrew 2b........... 5 0 1 0 0 1 5 4 4

TOOLE, Jeremy p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

OSLUND, Marc p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

MUIR, Jordan p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals................... 43 4 12 3 4 10 33 15 11

Score by Innings R H E

----------------------------------------------

Air Force Academy... 101 000 110 01 - 5 11 4

BYU................. 000 003 010 00 - 4 12 1

----------------------------------------------

E - RANDHAWA(12); McMAHON(6); ALLEN, C.(2); KURCZ(3); MUSSO(4). DP - AF 2;

Cougars 1. LOB - AF 14; Cougars 11. 2B - AUSBUN 2(7); CARTER(3); KO(7). HBP

- WALTON. SH - MAYO(3); WALKER(3); McMAHON(1). SB - LAW, An.(12). CS -

CARTER(4); McNAUGHTON(3).

Air Force Academy IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP

--------------------------------------------------

ALLEN, Casey........ 6.1 7 3 0 1 4 25 27 99

PETRO, Jake......... 1.0 2 1 1 0 2 5 5 17

KURCZ, Aaron........ 3.2 3 0 0 3 4 13 16 74

BYU IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP

--------------------------------------------------

TOOLE, Jeremy....... 7.0 7 3 2 6 6 25 32 116

OSLUND, Marc........ 0.1 1 1 1 2 0 1 4 15

MUIR, Jordan........ 3.2 3 1 1 2 5 13 16 53

Win - KURCZ (3-3). Loss - MUIR (0-1). Save - None.

HBP - by ALLEN, C. (WALTON). PB - MAYO(3). Pitches/strikes: ALLEN, C. 99/65;

PETRO, J. 17/12; KURCZ 74/41; TOOLE 116/71; OSLUND 15/6; MUIR 53/31.

Umpires - HP: Rich Padilla 1B: Bradley Hungerford 3B: Glen Ballangao

Start: 7:06 pm Time: 3:32 Attendance: 865

Weather: 52 degrees, partly cloudy

Play-by-Play

Air Force Academy 1st - RANDHAWA grounded out to ss (0-1). GENTRY flied

out to lf (1-2). ALEXANDER singled to right field (2-0). AUSBUN walked (3-0);

ALEXANDER advanced to second. WALKER singled to first base (2-2); AUSBUN

advanced to second; ALEXANDER advanced to third. LUPO walked, RBI (3-1); WALKER

advanced to second; AUSBUN advanced to third; ALEXANDER scored. McMAHON flied

out to cf (0-0). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.

BYU 1st - McNAUGHTON singled to center field (0-1). BANKS flied out to

cf (0-1). WALTON hit by pitch (2-0); McNAUGHTON advanced to second. PARKER

singled to left field (0-1); WALTON advanced to second; McNAUGHTON advanced to

third. RELF grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b (1-1); PARKER out on the

play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Air Force Academy 2nd - ROBERTS grounded out to p (0-0). CARTER doubled

to left field (3-2). RANDHAWA struck out swinging (1-2). GENTRY struck out

looking (2-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

BYU 2nd - BOWEN popped up to 2b (0-1). KO struck out swinging (2-2).

MUSSO singled up the middle (3-2). LAW, An. flied out to lf (0-1). 0 runs, 1

hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Air Force Academy 3rd - ALEXANDER walked (3-2). AUSBUN doubled to right

field (0-0); ALEXANDER advanced to third, scored on a throwing error by c,

unearned. WALKER out at first 3b to 2b, SAC, bunt (0-0); AUSBUN advanced to

third. LUPO struck out swinging (2-2). McMAHON walked (3-2). ROBERTS struck out

looking (0-2). 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.

BYU 3rd - McNAUGHTON singled to shortstop (0-2). BANKS struck out

swinging (2-2). WALTON popped up to ss (0-0). McNAUGHTON out at second c to ss,

caught stealing. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Air Force Academy 4th - CARTER walked (3-2). CARTER out at second c to

ss, caught stealing. RANDHAWA grounded out to 2b (1-2). GENTRY flied out to lf

(1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

BYU 4th - PARKER flied out to rf (1-2). RELF grounded out to ss (0-0).

BOWEN singled to left field (1-0). KO grounded out to p (2-2). 0 runs, 1

hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Air Force Academy 5th - ALEXANDER struck out swinging (0-2). AUSBUN

walked (3-1). WALKER singled to left field (0-1); AUSBUN advanced to second.

LUPO grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b (0-1); WALKER out on the play.

0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

BYU 5th - MUSSO grounded out to p (1-2). LAW, An. grounded out to ss

(0-1). McNAUGHTON struck out swinging (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0

LOB.

Air Force Academy 6th - McMAHON grounded out to 2b (0-2). SCHIERHOLTZ

pinch hit for ROBERTS. SCHIERHOLTZ grounded out to 2b (0-0). CARTER grounded

out to ss (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

BYU 6th - SCHIERHOLTZ to 3b. BANKS struck out swinging (2-2). WALTON

grounded out to p (0-0). PARKER walked (3-0). PARKER advanced to second on a

throwing error by p, advanced to third. RELF reached on a fielding error by 2b

(3-2); PARKER scored, unearned. BOWEN singled to left field (0-0); RELF

advanced to second. KO doubled to left field, 2 RBI (3-2); BOWEN scored,

unearned; RELF scored, unearned. MUSSO grounded out to 3b (0-0). 3 runs, 2

hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.

Air Force Academy 7th - RANDHAWA flied out to rf (1-1). GENTRY singled

to center field (3-2). ALEXANDER reached on a fielder's choice (0-1); GENTRY

out at second ss to 2b. AUSBUN doubled to right center, RBI (1-0); ALEXANDER

scored. MOSS pinch ran for AUSBUN. WALKER struck out swinging (1-2). 1 run,

2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

BYU 7th - MAYO to c for MOSS. LUPO to lf. LAW, An. flied out to cf

(1-0). PETRO, J. to p for ALLEN, C.. McNAUGHTON struck out swinging, out at

first c to 1b (1-2). BANKS flied out to rf (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,

0 LOB.

Air Force Academy 8th - OSLUND to p for TOOLE. LUPO singled to shortstop

(0-1). McMAHON out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, bunt (1-0); LUPO advanced to second.

SCHIERHOLTZ walked (3-2). CARTER walked (3-1); SCHIERHOLTZ advanced to second;

LUPO advanced to third. MUIR to p for OSLUND. RANDHAWA struck out swinging

(2-2). GENTRY walked, RBI (3-0); CARTER advanced to second; SCHIERHOLTZ

advanced to third; LUPO scored. ALEXANDER struck out swinging (2-2). 1 run,

1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.

BYU 8th - WALTON struck out swinging (1-2). PARKER singled through the

left side (0-0). RELF singled to right center (2-0); PARKER advanced to third.

KURCZ to p for PETRO, J.. RELF advanced to second on a passed ball. BOWEN

singled to right field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI (3-1); RELF

advanced to third; PARKER scored. KO out at first 1b to 2b (1-2). AYOSO pinch

hit for MUSSO. AYOSO fouled out to lf (3-2). 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2

LOB.

Air Force Academy 9th - NACAPOY to c for AYOSO. MAYO grounded out to 3b

(3-2). WALKER struck out swinging (0-2). LUPO singled to center field (2-1).

McMAHON popped up to ss (0-0). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

BYU 9th - LAW, An. singled to shortstop, advanced to second on a

throwing error by ss (1-1). McNAUGHTON struck out swinging (3-2). LAW, An.

stole third. BANKS struck out swinging (1-2). WALTON flied out to rf (0-0).

0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Air Force Academy 10th - SCHIERHOLTZ struck out swinging (1-2). CARTER

walked (3-1). RANDHAWA struck out swinging (1-2). GENTRY flied out to lf (0-0).

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

BYU 10th - PARKER struck out swinging (2-2). RELF walked (3-1). BOWEN

fouled out to c (1-0). RELF advanced to second on a throwing error by p. KO

walked (3-2). NACAPOY walked (3-2); KO advanced to second; RELF advanced to

third. LAW, An. struck out looking (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 3

LOB.

Air Force Academy 11th - ALEXANDER singled to center field (1-2). MAYO

out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, bunt (1-0); ALEXANDER advanced to second. WALKER

flied out to rf (0-1). LUPO singled to center field, RBI (0-0); ALEXANDER

scored. McMAHON grounded out to 3b (1-0). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1

LOB.

BYU 11th - McNAUGHTON grounded out to ss (2-1). BANKS singled up the

middle (3-2). WALTON grounded into double play p to ss to 1b (1-1); BANKS out

on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

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