Baseball Falls To Air Force, 19-17

Saturday, April 8

Colorado Springs, Colo.

1:00 PM MT

University of Utah

Air Force

4/8/2000 12:00 AM | Baseball

April 8, 2000

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Utah baseball team (14-21, 5-9 MWC) surrendered a nine-run first inning to Air Force (17-17, 3-8 MWC), and the Falcons held on to even a three-game series, 19-17.

Despite out hitting the Falcons, 21-16, Utah couldn't overcome the big first stanza by the Falcons. Utah committed three errors and gave up only two earned runs in the inning, but six hits mixed in with the miscues dug the Utes a big hole.

The score was 13-7 going into the bottom of the sixth, when Air Force struck again with a five run outburst. Down 18-7, Utah didn't fold though. The Utes responded with six runs in the seventh to close the gap. Jed Chrisman started the inning with a double in the left center gap. He advanced to third when Brit Pannier reached second on a Falcon error to put runners in scoring position. Donald Hawes battled a nine-pitch at-bat, before depositing a three-run home run into the left field seats. Donnie Saba doubled and Adam Castleton was hit-by-a-pitch to set up another three-run bomb by Nate Weese.

Utah held Air Force to one run the rest of the way and scored two in each of the next two innings, but fell just shy of a remarkable comeback.

In the Ute ninth, Weese and Mike Goff drew walks to lead off the inning. Chrisman hit his third double of the day, a two-run shot to left center. Pannier walked, and with two men on and no outs, Falcon closer David Diehl recorded two strikeouts and a ground out to secure the win.

Hawes had four hits, two doubles to go along with the home run, and five RBI's. Chrisman and Pannier posted three hits each, while Goff, Weese, Castleton, and Sam Swenson recorded multi-hit games with two.

The series concludes tomorrow at noon at Falcon field, before the Utes come home for a doubleheader against Southern Utah April 11.