Air Force Academy
New Mexico
Air Force With 10-4 Win at New Mexico
3/23/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Air Force baseball (9-12, 3-4 MW) defeated New Mexico (8-12-1, 2-5 MW), 10-4, in a Mountain West road game Friday night at Santa Ana Star Field in Albuquerque, N.M. Air Force extended its win streak to three games and are 8-4 over its last 12.
The Falcons took the lead with a three-run third inning and senior Nick Biancalana (1-1) pitched 5.1 scoreless innings in relief to lift the Falcons to the win.
Tied 2-2, Air Force scored three runs in the third inning to take the lead for good. The Falcons out-hit New Mexico 17-8, hitting three triples on the night.
Senior third baseman Ryan Robb went 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Senior shortstop Tyler Zabojnik went 2 for 5 with three runs scored. Junior catcher Rob Dau went 2 for 4 with a triple and three RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Ashton Easley tripled and homered and drove in three runs.
After New Mexico plated two runs in the first, the Falcons scored two in the second on a two-run triple by Daniel Jones. The Falcons scored three in the third to go up 5-2. New Mexico responded with two runs in the fourth to pull to within one run.
The Falcons scored five unanswered the rest of the game to pull away. Air Force plated two in the fifth and runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
Tyler Mortenson pitched 3.2 innings in the start for Air Force. Biancalana relieved Mortenson in the fourth and close out the game. The senior held New Mexico to three hits, while striking out five.
Justin Slaten (1-5) allowed seven runs in 4.1 innings in the start for New Mexico. Center fielder Jared Mang led the Lobos with two runs right fielder Chris Dunn added two RBIs.
Game two of the three game series is tomorrow. First pitch is 2 pm MT.
