Easley's Walk Off Home Run Lifts Falcons Over Wolverines, 16-15

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy baseball team won a wild game in walk off fashion as a two-run home run from junior Ashton Easley was the difference in a 16-15 win over Utah Valley, Monday evening, April 8, at Falcon Field. Air Force trailed by one into the ninth when Easley launched the two-run homer over the tall wall in center field.

The walk off home run was the first one for the Falcons (14-15) since Tyler Jones had a walk off grand slam to defeat Nevada, April 28, 2017. The home run capped off Air Force's best offensive game of the season, as the 16 runs represents a new season high, and the most runs scored since putting up 21 against New Mexico last season, May 13.

Air Force's offense out-hit the Wolverines (7-24), 17-11, including six extra base hits to two. Leading the way in his first career Air Force start was freshman catcher Braydon Altorfer, as he had three hits and four RBIs, including his first career double and home run, a three run blast. Easley finished the game with two hits and three RBIs, while senior Nic Ready added three hits and two RBIs, including his third triple of the season.

On the mound, freshman Nathan Price earned his team-best fourth win of the season after going the final two innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Sophomore Joe Martinez III had his best outing as a Falcon, going 3.2 in relief, allowing just one earned run on two hits, while striking out a career-best five.

The first two innings went by quickly, with only a couple hits from either side, but no runs scored. UVU broke the ice in the top of the third, getting four runs, one unearned, to leap ahead 4-0 early on. Air Force got one back in the bottom of the third, as Easley drove in a run on a single up the middle to make it 4-1 into the fourth.

Inning four was also quick, taking it to the fifth with the three run deficit. That is where the Falcons stormed back with an eight run frame as they batted around. Altorfer led off with a single, and senior Drew Wiss tripled him in to make it 4-2. After a hit by pitch, junior Tommy Gillman singled in Wiss to get it to one run, and UVU went to the pen.

After the pitching change, Ready tripled in a pair to get AF its first lead of the game, 5-4, as well as give him over 200 RBIs for his AF career. One batter later, senior Colby Brown singled in Ready to extend the advantage, but the Falcons were not done there. Another HBP put two on for Altorfer, who led off the inning, and the rookie blasted a three-run home run to dead center to cap off the eight run inning, and make it 9-4 into the sixth.

UVU got a pair back in the top of the sixth, one unearned, to keep it close, 9-6. Air Force once again had the immediate response, however, as they struck for five more in the bottom of the sixth. The first two scored on a Wolverine throwing error, making it 11-6. With the extra life, sophomore Cole Blatchford doubled in a pair more to put it at 13-6. The final run came in on an Altorfer double, his fourth RBI of the day, to make it 14-6.

The Wolverines did not go quietly, though, striking for seven of their own in the top of the seventh, to make it a one run game, 14-13, into the stretch. After Air Force went quietly in the bottom of the seventh, UVU retook the lead in the top of the eighth on a two out, two run double, making it 15-14 with two more trips to the plate for AF.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Falcons got runners to first and second, but could not drive them home. After Price went three up, three down in the top of the ninth, it set up the bottom of the ninth heroics. Wiss led off with a single through the right side. After UVU brought in their closer to face Easley, the junior took his 0-1 pitch to deep center field for the walk off two run bomb.

Air Force and Utah Valley will play game two of the two game midweek series tomorrow afternoon, April 9, at Falcon Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. MT.

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