April 24, 2009
Final Stats
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - In a game where seven home runs were hit, the final one proved to be the difference as UNLV lost to Air Force, 7-5, in the opener of a three-game Mountain West Conference series Friday afternoon at Falcon Field.
With the score tied at five, Ben Ausbun hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning off of Rebel reliever Chad Nading, capping a four-run rally by the Falcons and propelling them to the victory.
UNLV dropped to 20-21 overall and 5-8 in league games, while Tanner Peters (5-3) took the loss, as he was charged with all seven runs, giving up eight hits, including four home runs. Air Force improved to 14-24 and 3-7 in league games, with Casey Allen (1-2) earning the win.
The teams exchanged one-out solo home runs in the opening inning, with Bryan Resnick going deep for the Rebels and then Addison Gentry following suit as well, giving fans a taste of what was to come on a windy afternoon. UNLV retook the lead in the top of the second on another round tripper, this one a three-run shot coming off the bat of Kyle Kretchmer that made the score 4-1. Jesse Wight doubled to center field and Scott Berke drew a walk, setting the table for Kretchmer, and the big lefty went opposite field for his third home run of the year.
Air Force used the solo home run to score runs in the bottom of the second and third innings, with Daniel Walker and Ausbun hitting them, pulling the Falcons to within one at 4-3.
Resnick continued the home run parade, hitting his second solo shot of the game, this one down the right-field line to give the Rebels a two-run lead at 5-3. It was the first time in his career that Resnick pounded two home runs in the same game, and it moved his season total to four, which is a career high for the second baseman.
The lead would stay at two until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the Falcons rallied to take a two-run lead, with the final two runs of the frame coming on yet another home run. Matt Alexander hit a two-run single to tie the game and then Ausbun hit his second home run of the game to give AFA a 7-5 lead.
UNLV had chances to tie the game in the final two innings, including putting two men on with one out in the top of the eighth, but that threat ended with Berke grounding into a double play. In the top of the ninth Kretchmer singled to left field to open the frame and pinch runner Lane Nakamura moved up to second on a wild pitch from Aaron Kurcz. But the Falcon closer got a ground out, struck out Chad Claus on a close called third strike on a 2-2 count and then got J.J. Sferra to pop out to end the game, giving Kurcz his ninth save of the season.
Kretchmer and Resnick each finished with two hits and between them drove in all five of UNLV's runs, and the Rebels collected nine hits as a team and committed a pair of errors. Air Force had nine hits as well on the afternoon, paced by Ausbun, who was one of four Falcons with two hits.
UNLV and Air Force continue their series tomorrow, with the first pitch from Falcon Field set for noon (PT), and Andrew Beresford will take the mound for the Rebels opposed by Alex Truesdale of the Falcons.
