Air Force opened its 50th season of baseball in grand fashion, sweeping Colorado Christian in a doubleheader Feb. 4 at Falcon Field. Air Force took game one, 5-1, and game two, 2-1.

Three Air Force pitchers combined to allow just one run on nine hits, all singles, while striking out 19 in 14 innings pitched.

In game one, junior Mitch Brown produced one of the best pitching performances in recent Air Force history, tossing a one-hit seven-inning shutout. Brown struck out a career-high 11 batters and allowed just three runners the entire game.

Sophomore Chay Derbigny made a stellar debut for the Falcons, going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Senior Price Paramore had the lone extra base hit on the day, hustling for a double on a ball hit up the middle.

In game two, seniors Kyle DePierre and Paul Vignola combined to hold the Cougars to one run on eight hits in the 2-1 win.

DePierre earned the win for Air Force striking out six in five innings pitched. DePierre allowed six hits, two walks and surrendered one run. Paul Vignola pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh innings to pick up his first career save.

The Falcons’ two hits came from Geno Salazar and Jon Polston.

Air Force returns to action Feb. 8, hosting Northern Colorado at Runyon Field in Pueblo at 3 p.m.