Falcons Defeat Army in Freedom Classic Opener, 4-1

KINSTON, N.C. – The Air Force Academy baseball team claimed victory in the Freedom Classic series opener over Army West Point, 4-1, Friday evening, March 5, at Grainger Stadium. AF got 12 strikeouts from its pitchers, and 10 hits from its offense to cruise to the win over the Black Knights.

Senior John Byrnes earned the Friday night start, and was dazzling in a career-high six innings of work. The tall righty only allowed one run on five hits, while striking out six batters to earn the win. He now has 16 strikeouts over his first 16 innings of work in 2021, to go along with a 3.38 ERA.

AF only needed one pitcher in relief, as junior Rob Martin tossed the final three innings for the first save of his Falcon career. Martin only allowed one hit, while tying his season and career-best with six punch-outs.

Offensively, six Air Force hitters combined for the 10 hits. Senior Christian Gambale led the way with a 3-for-3 day, which included a stolen base and a run scored. Junior Braydon Altorfer added a pair of knocks, along with an RBI, while freshman Paul Skenes tallied a pair of singles as well.

The Falcons struck first with a run in the bottom of the first. AF got a pair on after junior Gabriel Garcia was hit by pitch and Gambale singled. Altorfer followed with a single of his own to drive in Garcia and make it 1-0 early on.

Byrnes cruised through the first three innings, only allowing a couple base runners while notching three strikeouts. In the bottom of the third, AF upped its lead to 4-0 on a pair of sac flies and an RBI single from senior Cole Blatchford. AF had seven hits through the first three frames.

Army got the bats going in the top of the fourth, as they got a single and double to put two in scoring position with no outs. Byrnes was able to work around the trouble, only allowing one run on an RBI ground out, keeping it a three-run lead. The Falcons loaded the bags up in the bottom of the fourth but Army got out of the jam to keep the score as is.

Byrnes kept cruising in the fifth with a second 1-2-3 inning. In the sixth, an Army runner got to third, but Byrnes worked around it with two more Ks to up his total to six on the evening and send the game to the seventh.

Following the AF pitching change, Army proceeded to load up the bases in the top of the seventh on two walks and a single. Despite the golden opportunity, Skenes used a back pick to get the runner on first to end the threat and maintain the three-run lead into the eighth.

Martin returned for the eighth and rebounded nicely with a 1-2-3 inning, which included two strikeouts. He then came back out for the ninth, looking for the three-inning save. Despite allowing a base runner, Martin tallied two more Ks to get his total to six on the day and complete the first save of his career, as well as the 4-1 series opening victory.

The Falcons and Black Knights will return to the diamond tomorrow, March 6, for game two of the Freedom Classic. First pitch is set for noon MT.

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