SPORTS>>Baseball: Air Force falls to Akron

By Nick Arseniak
U.S. Air Force Academy Assistant Sports Information Director

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (AFNEWS) — Defensive miscues and stagnant hitting led to Air Force dropping a 6-1 baseball contest to Akron (2-1) Feb. 25 at the 2007 Service Academies Spring Classic at USA Stadium. The Falcons went 0-3 at the tournament and fall to 4-7 on the season.

The loss spoiled another stellar pitching effort, this time from Falcon starter Jake Petro. Petro turned in one of his best performances ever as a Falcon, holding Akron to one unearned run in 6.1 innings of work on five hits. With cold, windy and wet weather, the Falcons struggled defensively, committing a season-high five errors, all coming in the last four innings.
With the game tied at 1-1 after seven innings, Akron broke the game open by scoring three runs in the eighth--two off of back-to-back wild pitches and an infield single.

The Falcons were held to six hits in the game. Karl Bolt and Ben Ausbun both had two hits for the Falcons. David Miller took the loss in relief for the Falcons, allowing three runs in two-third of an inning’s work. Akron scored the first run of the game in the seventh inning. Ryan Frazee drew a one out walk and then reached second on a fielding error. Frazee then came around to score on Phil Bednar’s two-out single up the middle.

Air Force responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. Ben Ausbun singled to lead off the inning and came around to score on Shea Hall’s ground out. Akron added two more runs in the ninth off two hits and an error to make it a 6-1 game. The Zips had 11 hits in the game, led by Kurt Davidson, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Akron starter Steven Zemanek earned the win, allowing one run on six hits, while striking out four in seven innings pitched.

The Falcons return to action March 1, taking on Gonzaga at the Banana Belt Classic in Lewiston, Idaho.