By Michael KlitzingAssistant Sports Editor
Less than 24 hours after Air Force pitcher Erik Fisher came out ofthe bullpen to douse the flames of a San Diego State rally, thesenior was right back on the mound at Tony Gwynn Stadium, Sunday,trying for a repeat performance — this time as a starter.
He would not fare so well the second time around.
SDSU (18-8, 2-1) ripped the righthander for five runs in twoinnings as the Aztecs toppled Air Force (13-10, 1-2)14-5 to take therubber match of the three-game series.
“That felt real good,” Aztecs catcher Josh Allen said. “We didn’tswing at our pitches last night, but coach had a good talk with usand told us what we needed to get done.”
Doneand done.
Allen himself drove across the first run of the day, ripping anRBI triple into the right-center field gap in the first inning.
The floodgates were open.
After only three frames, the Aztecs held a 10-2 lead. ShortstopTaber Lee — hitting in the leadoff spot rather than his familiarnine-hole — spearheaded the assault on the afternoon, deliveringthree hits, three RBI and three runs in five at-bats.
Aztecs head coach Jim Dietz gives partial credit to the barrage onthe questionable decision to pitch Fisher without rest.
“We had (Fisher) on the gun last night at about 93,” he said.”Today he was only throwing 80-something. They shot their wad lastnight to get the win.”
Whatever the reason, the outburst was more than enough support forstarting pitcher, Mike Moat, who gave up five runs in 6 1/3 inningsto record his third win of the season.
Gloves are overrated
Many have noted that Lee bears a striking resemblance to formerNirvana drummer Dave Grohl. Sunday, however, the junior looked morelike former Giants outfielder Kevin Mitchell.
With one out in the fourth, Lee made a one-handed catch with hisback to the infield on a Price Paramore pop-up. That one hand was hisbare hand.
He wasn’t done.
In the ninth, the shortstop gave the fans an encore as a grounderup the middle took a bad hop off the infield dirt. Lee snagged itagain with his bare hand and fired across the diamond for the out.
“I’ve never practiced that,” he said. “It’s all instincts. Thefirst one was up in the sun, so I had to make a quick reaction andthe last one hit a rock.
“The only thing I could do was get it with my bare hand.”
Streak snapped
Heading into Saturday’s game, SDSU was riding a 10-game homewinning streak.
A little sloppiness put a stop to that.
Starting pitcher Rory Shortell was betrayed by two errors as AirForce put four runs on the board in the top of the fifth.
SDSU mounted a rally in the bottom of the eighth, cutting AirForce’s lead to one. But Fisher entered for the Falcons and retiredJosh Hill and Riley Barrett to end the threat. He would close out the7-6 win in the ninth.
On Friday night, Chris Dunwell threw 8 innings, giving up just arun on two hits to notch his third win of the season, 2-1.
“That’s the best game I’ve caught from Dunwell this year,” Allensaid. “He was throwing great, and then Royce Ring came in and shovedit.”
As usual, Ring struck out the side in the ninth for his eighthsave. He has yet to surrender a run in 12 appearances this season.
Baseball today
The Aztecs square off with USC tonight at 6 p.m. at Tony GwynnStadium.
