Snow prevents third game as Nevada sinks in Mountain West standings, Nowaczewski throws second complete game in three weeks
After winning two-straight series and sliding into postseason position, Nevada lost two games at Air Force in painful fashion over the weekend.
A spring snowstorm in Colorado Springs wiped out Saturday’s game and allowed the two squads to only play a pair of
games.
Execution with the bases loaded determined the series. On Friday, Air Force came through with the bases juiced in the bottom of the ninth and walked off with a grand slam. On Sunday, Nevada was unable to get it done with the bases saturated in the top of the ninth and suffered a 4-3 loss.
The Wolf Pack (13-29, 9-14) has now lost three-straight and stumbled into fifth place. The Falcons (22-20, 10-13) leapfrogged Nevada into fourth place. Only the top four teams earn a spot in the Mountain West Tournament, a change that was made this year. Previously, all seven teams went.
Reed’s Mark Nowaczewski got the start and got through eight innings for the third-straight week, but was saddled with the loss. After earning MW Pitcher of the Week accolades in consecutive weeks, Nowaczewski gave up four runs on 11 hits over eight innings. He struck out a career high seven batters and walked three.
It was technically his second complete game in three weeks because the Falcons did not bat in the bottom of the ninth.
Dillan Shrum’s RBI double with no outs in the top of the ninth pulled Nevada within 4-3. Then with the bases loaded, two outs, and cleanup hitter Mike Echavia at the plate, the game ended with a groundout to second.
Nevada plays a non-conference game at Sacramento State Tuesday night then flies across the country to Clemson next weekend to finish its non-conference slate.
The Tigers are 34-11, 16-8 in the ACC and were ranked No. 3 in the Coaches Poll before getting swept at North Carolina over the weekend.
Air Force 10, Nevada 7
Designated hitter Tyler Jones bombed a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to hand Nevada a 10-7 loss in game one Friday afternoon.
Jones’ blast capped a five-run rally after the Wolf Pack pushed a run across in the top of ninth to take a 7-5 lead.
Starting pitcher Trevor Charpie went eight innings, allowing five runs (all earned) on 13 hits and was in line for the win before the bullpen failed to record in out in the bottom of the ninth. Charpie threw 112 pitches.
The Pack was outhit 18-11, benefitting from four Air Force errors. Of Nevada’s seven runs, only two were earned.
Grant Fennell was 3-for-4 with a double and scored three times.
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