Falcons Run by Northern Colorado in Midweek Action, 9-6

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy baseball team rolled to a 9-6 win over in-state rival Northern Colorado Tuesday afternoon, March 12, at Falcon Field. The Falcons moved to 8-5 on the season before getting back into conference play this weekend.

The Falcon offense spread nine hits across the diamond to score its nine runs. They also drew five walks to provide plenty of base traffic, and they took full advantage with 10 stolen bases. It was the most steals in a single game since swiping 10 against Colorado College back on May 4, 1979.

Leading the way on offense was junior Ashton Easley, who had a three hit day, including his second home run of the season, while scoring three runs and stealing three bases. Senior Nic Ready hit his first homer of the season, a two-run blast to left field, for his lone hit of the day. It was the 38th of his AF career. Senior Gabe Martinez had a two RBI day with a double, while fellow senior Rob Dau had two hits, with an RBI double as well.

On the mound, freshman Zach Argo went the first five innings without allowing a run, while striking out six and only yielding two hits, to earn the first win of his AF career. He is now sporting a miniscule 0.90 ERA over his first three appearances, totaling 10 innings. In relief, sophomore Joe Martinez III recorded the first strikeout of his career in the 0.2 innings he threw, while junior Shawn Kelley earned his second career save after closing out the final three innings, striking out three.

Air Force struck first in the first inning, scoring three runs off two hits. The runners came across on RBI ground outs from Martinez and senior Drew Wiss. The third runners scored on a double steal play, in which senior Colby Brown stole second, and Easley swiped home on the throw.

Following a scoreless second, AF tallied two more in the third on an RBI double from Martinez and a sac fly from Brown, making it 5-0 early in the contest. Argo surrendered his first hit in the top of the fourth, but he was erased on a Dau caught stealing to keep the shutout into the bottom of the fourth.

There, the Falcon bats added some pop, as Ready and Easley went back-to-back with towering home runs to open up an 8-0 lead into the fifth inning. Argo then struck out two more in the top of the fifth to bring the game into the sixth.

The Bears broke the shutout in the top of the sixth, getting a pair on a double. Martinez III limited the damage though with two big outs to the seventh.

Kelley then entered to pitch in the seventh, and faced the minimum there thanks to another caught stealing from Dau. The Falcons tacked on some insurance in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double from Dau, making it 9-2 into the final frame. UNC made the score closer with a three run homer in the top of the ninth, but Kelley was able to lock down the save and preserve the three run victory.

Air Force will remain at home this weekend for a three game set against MW foe Fresno State. Game one against the Bulldogs at Falcon Field will begin Friday, March 15, with a 3 p.m. first pitch.

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