SAUGET, Ill. - After
being rained out on Saturday, play resumed in the Saint Louis Tournament on
Sunday as Western Illinois (5-10) and Air Force (4-12) met at GCS Stadium. The
Falcons used impressive pitching and a four-run seventh to collect a 7-3
victory.
Leatherneck starter Dustin Hunter picked up a no-decision
after allowing three runs on four hits over five innings of work. Nick Smith
(2-1) relieved Hunter and held the Falcons scoreless in the sixth before
allowing four runs in the decisive seventh inning.
Air Force starter Evan Abrecht (1-0) recorded the win by
allowing three runs (two earned) over seven innings on the mound. Abrecht
struck out five Leathernecks and allowed all seven Western Illinois hits. Mike
Kazakoff and Alex Baker combined for two hitless innings to secure the Falcon
victory.
Dan Dispensa (2-for-3) collected the lone multi-hit effort
for the Leathernecks, his seventh of the season. Dispensa's leadoff double in
the sixth inning turned into Western Illinois' final run of the contest.
Austin Cowen (1-for-3) drove in two runs in the first inning
and now owns a team-high 13 RBI this season. Ryan Cowhey (1-for-4) and Rich
Mascheri (1-for-2) also scored runs for the Leathernecks. Cowhey has reached
base in 10 consecutive contests and Mascheri is riding a five-game hitting
streak.
Hunter needed five pitches to get through the first and the
Leatherneck offense awarded their starter with a two-run bottom half of the
inning. Cowen drove a two-RBI single down the right field line and Western
pounded out four hits in the inning.
Air Force answered in the top of the second with a solo home
run from Alex Bast. Hunter limited the damage to just the one run despite
loading the bases on three-straight walks.
The Falcons tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single to right
in the third inning. Leatherneck catcher Manny Reyes took a big hit on Cowhey's
throw and the ball was dislodged in the process.
Air Force took a 3-2 lead with an RBI double from Seth Kline
in the fifth inning. Dispensa doubled to left field to begin the sixth and Cowen
sacrificed him to third before Matt Igara tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
Air Force strung together back-to-back singles to start the
seventh before David Thomas hit a ground-rule double to plate two runs and give
the Falcons a 5-3 lead. Gabe Long relieved Smith and hit a batter with the
bases loaded to give Air Force a 6-3 advantage. Jake Schomaker's RBI groundout
extended the Falcons' lead to four runs.
Steve Kedroski reached on an error to lead off the seventh
and Reyes' single through the right side put two Leathernecks on base with one
out. Cowhey followed with a groundout to the pitcher and Mascheri ended the
inning with a fly out to left field.
Western Illinois was retired in order in the eighth inning
and Marcuzzo was erased on a double play in the ninth. Dan Russell threw 1 2/3
scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
The Leathernecks will begin a 13-game home stand with Saint
Louis on Tuesday (March 20) at 3:30 p.m. at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.
#WIUAthletics
