2-RUN HOMER WINS IT

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Feb 27, 2008 | by BETHANY RHODES

PUEBLO - Air Force got its first win of the season in dramatic fashion Tuesday when Matt Alexander hit a two run walkoff homer to beat Northern Colorado 5-3 in 10 innings at the Runyon Sports Complex.

The blow by Alexander, the Falcons' designated hitter, also scored Jake Allen, who had singled.

"It was just awesome," said Alexander, "but it was really a team win; there's really nothing else you can say."

Down 3-2, the Falcons began their ninth-inning rally by loading the bases with a single by Ben Ausburn, a hit batsman (Jason Griggs) and a bunt by Jon McMahon. Nathan Carter drew a walk to score Daniel Walker who came in as a pinch-hitter for Ausburn.

Northern Colorado pitcher Sean Peery got three quick outs in his fourth inning of work to send the game into extra innings.

"This was a really good win, it was important for our confidence," Air Force coach Mike Hutcheon said.

The Falcons (1-3) had their first home game moved from the academy because of the weather.

Pitcher Jake Petro started the game for the Falcons and gave up two runs on two hits in the first two innings. Michael Ruvolo closed out the game, giving up one walk and striking out two in three hitless innings.

"Anytime you have good pitching and good defense you have a chance to win and, as you can see, we didn't have any errors," Hutcheon said.

With Air Force down 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Carter hit a double to center field. An infield error by Northern Colorado allowed Carter to move to third and he eventually scored on a fly ball to center by Chay Derbigny with two outs. Derbigny was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Northern Colorado (2-3) began a rally in the top of the seventh. Chad Murray doubled and went to third on a balk by the Falcons' Colin Shepherd. A single by Andy Mees scored Murray and gave the Bears a 3-2 lead.

Later in the inning, Carter was hit in the head by a pitch from Sean Peery.

The freshman center fielder, who was the fourth batter in the game to be struck, took his base and then stole second.

"I wasn't really thinking," said Carter, who went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs. "I was just shocked that I actually got hit."