Walk off Walk Propels Air Force to Series Win Over Butler

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy baseball team concluded its non-conference slate in style with a walk off walk by senior Drew Wiss to complete an 8-7 win in 10 innings, Sunday afternoon, May 12, on Mother's Day. Air Force (24-25) won the weekend series over the Bulldogs (25-23), and finished the non-conference schedule with a 14-12 record.

Wiss was the hero, as his walk off walk was his third of the game and team leading 34^th of the season. Junior Ashton Easley led the offense with a pair of hits, both doubles, as well as two runs driven in. Senior Nic Ready had the other big knock, a two run homer, which was his 12^th of the season and 49^th of his career.

WALK OFF WALK WISS!!!

Drew Wiss draws a bases loaded walk and we win the game and the series!#LetsFly pic.twitter.com/UVwXSoh9gq
— Air Force Baseball (@AF_Baseball) May 12, 2019

On the mound, freshman Nathan Price earned his sixth win of the season after pitching the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one run on two hits. Before him, junior Jeff Gerlica had a solid outing, as he tossed 3.1 innings in relief, allowing just one unearned run and striking out two. After Gerlica and before Price, sophomore Luke Chilcutt fired 1.1 scoreless with a pair of Ks.

The first two innings went by quick, but Butler broke the stalemate in the third with a five spot to take an early lead. In the bottom of the fourth, AF broke the shutout with a mammoth two run blast from Ready to make it 5-2 into the fifth.

In the fifth, Easley drove in a pair with a bloop double, and one batter later, a BU error allowed the tying run to cross, making it 5-5 with four to play in regulation. The Bulldogs were quick to respond, however, as they plated a run on a sac fly in the top of the sixth to get back ahead. AF had the response in the bottom half, as senior Gabe Martinez led off reaching on an error, and later scored on a wild pitch, keeping the tally even at 6-6.

The seventh went scoreless, sending it to the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth, AF took its first lead of the game, as freshman Alexander Pup doubled down the right field line to make it 7-6 into the ninth. The Falcons were unable to hold the lead though, as Butler used a double and triple to knot the game at seven, and send it to extras. It was just the second extra inning game for AF this season.

Price went a quick 1-2-3 in the top of the tenth, setting up the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Cole Blatchford led off with an infield hit, and following a sac bunt and strikeout, he remained on second with two outs. BU then intentionally walked a batter, and junior Tommy Gillman drew a four pitch walk to bring up Wiss with the sacks full. The veteran was as patient as ever, and a low pitch on a 3-1 count allowed the winning run to score on the walk off walk.

There is now one series remaining in 2019, and it is a big one as the Falcons will host the San Jose State Spartans in a three game Mountain West Conference set at Falcon Field. Game one of the series gets underway with a 1 p.m. first pitch, Thursday, May 16.

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