Furious Rally Leads Falcons to 8-5 Win Over Campbell

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Air Force Academy baseball team used a late inning rally to defeat Campbell, 8-5, Sunday evening, March 1, at Segra Stadium on the final day of the Armed Forces Invitational. The Falcons scored all eight of its runs in the sixth through eighth innings to complete a four run comeback.

Air Force was led on offense by senior co-captain Ashton Easley, as his three-RBI triple in the eighth was the game-winning hit. He finished with a three-hit day, those three RBIs, a run scored, and two stolen bases. He now has 53 steals for his career, which ranks tied for fourth all-time at the Academy. Fellow senior Tommy Gillman also had a three-RBI day to tie his career-best, including a two-RBI double in the seventh which tied the game.

On the mound, sophomore Nathan Price went the final 3.2 innings to pick up his first win on the season. He held the Camels scoreless, and struck out two. Freshman Jason Shuger earned the first start of his young career and took a no decision after pitching the first 4.2, allowing just one earned run and striking out two. He has a team-leading 16 Ks over his first 14 collegiate innings.

Air Force's offense couldn't get much traction over the first five innings, tallying a few base hits but nothing else. Meanwhile, Campbell scored single runs in the second and fifth to lead 2-0 into the sixth. In the sixth, AF got on the board after Easley led off with a walk, stole second, and then got to third on the throw. The next batter, Gillman, drove him in on an RBI ground out to make it 2-1.

Campbell didn't waste any time responding, however, as they tallied three runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 5-1 with three to play.

That's when AF went to work on Campbell's taxed bullpen. AF drew three straight walks to lead off the top half of the seventh. Then a wild pitch, another walk, and another wild pitch plated two and made it a 5-3 game. Then Gillman delivered the big blow, doubling off the wall in right to plate two more and knot the game up at 5-5 into the stretch.

After entering in the sixth, Price worked around a pair of his in the bottom of the seventh to maintain the lead. The Falcons then grabbed the lead in the top of the eighth, as Easley laced a two out triple off the wall in center to drive in three runs and make it 8-5.

From there, Price does what he does best, tossing scoreless eighth and ninth innings, with very little base traffic, to lock down the 8-5 victory and cap a 2-2 weekend at the Armed Forces Invitational.

The Falcons return to the diamond for a two game midweek series against Wichita State, Tuesday-Wednesday, March 3-4, at Eck Stadium. First pitch of the first game against the Shockers is set for 2 p.m. MT.

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