Falcons Breeze by Nevada in Series Opener, 13-3

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy baseball team used a complete team effort in a 13-3 drubbing of Nevada in the series opener, Friday evening, April 26, at Falcon Field. The Falcons (18-22, 8-12 MW) scored 11 runs over the first three innings and never looked back to take the opener of the three game conference series.

Air Force used 14 hits to score its 13 runs, including a single game season best four home runs. Senior Nic Ready had two of them in a two-hit, four RBI day. It was the fifth two-home run game of his career. Senior Rob Dau had the third, a two run shot, in a two hit, three RBI day, while sophomore Christian Gambale had the final one, a solo job, in a two hit game as well. Freshman Alexander Pup had a team best three hits, all singles, as well as an RBI.

On the mound, senior Jake Gilbert continued his stellar campaign as he earned his fifth win after going the first six, allowing just two earned runs while striking out six, tying a career best. He maintained his sub-2.00 ERA as it sits at 1.98 over 54.2 innings. In relief, junior Shawn Kelley and sophomore Joe Martinez III went the final three, all scoreless. Kelley struck out two over his two innings of work.

The Falcons jumped all over the Wolf Pack (23-18, 10-12 MW) in the first inning, as a Ready three run homer and Dau two run shot made it 5-0 after just one inning. After a scoreless second, Nevada got on the board in the top of the third with an unearned run, making it 5-1, but that did not last long.

In the bottom of the third, AF used six consecutive hits to score six runs and open up a 10 run lead, 11-1. Dau got it started with an RBI single, followed by a single by Gambale to put two on with one out. Pup then singled to drive in Dau and make it 7-1.

AF wasn't done yet, though, as senior Colby Brown kept the line moving with an RBI single, making it 8-1 and prompting a pitching change. Following the pitching change, freshman Gabriel Garcia drove in run number four with a base knock. Senior Drew Wiss capped the big inning with a two run single to make it 11-1 into the fourth inning.

The Wolf Pack got one back in the top of the fourth with a two out single, but Gilbert limited the damage to keep it 11-2 into the fifth. He sent down Nevada almost in order there to keep the steady lead at the midway point. Their final run scored in the top of the sixth, an RBI ground out, but Gilbert got out of the frame, ending his day.

Ready hit home run number two on the day in the bottom of the sixth to out the lead back up to 12-3. It was the 44th home run of his career, putting him three behind the all-time Academy record.

Kelley then entered in the top of the seventh and worked a clean inning aided by a double play. After the stretch, Gambale then launched a solo homer in front of the scoreboard in left field to put the lead back up to 10, 13-3. Kelley and Martinez then combined to black the Pack in the eighth and ninth to seal the win.

Air Force and Nevada return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon, April 27, for game two of the three game series. First pitch from Falcon Field is set for 1 p.m. MT.

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