Falcons Edged By Midshipmen in Freedom Classic Opener

KINSTON, N.C. – The Air Force Academy baseball team was edged out by Navy, 2-1, in the opening game of the Freedom Classic at Grainger Stadium Friday evening, Feb. 22. The Falcons (2-3) got brilliant pitching from its two hurlers, but could not scrape together the necessary runs on its seven hits.

Senior Tyler Mortenson and sophomore Luke Chilcutt combined to go the distance, as Mortenson went the first five, and Chilcutt the final four. Mortenson was the hard luck loser, as he only gave up one earned, while striking out three. Chilcutt had a career-best five strikeouts over his four scoreless innings of work, while only giving up two hits.

The offense only finished one hit behind the Midshipmen (1-3), but left 11 on base. Senior Nic Ready collected a three-hit game, all singles, while fellow senior Drew Wiss knocked in the lone run on an RBI single in the seventh.

The Falcons offense struggled to get much going over the first four innings, only mustering two hits. Meanwhile, Navy scored one in the first and an unearned run in the third to lead 2-0.

In the fifth, Ready smacked his second single of the day, and got into scoring position with a steal, but was stranded. Chilcutt entered in the top of the sixth, and immediately went 1-2-3 to get to the seventh. After stranding a pair of runners in the top of the seventh, the game went to the stretch with the 2-0 tally.

In the bottom of the seventh, junior Ashton Easley drew a leadoff walk, and immediately stole second. Two batters, later, Wiss ripped the RBI single to center, scoring Easley, and making it 2-1.

Chilcutt continued to mow down Navy hitters in the eighth and ninth, but the Falcons could not muster any more offense over the final two innings, resulting in the tough one-run defeat.

Game two of the Freedom Classic against Navy resumes tomorrow, Feb. 23. First pitch against the Midshipmen at Grainger Stadium is set for noon MT.

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