Falcons Cannot Overcome Early Deficit in Setback at Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Air Force Academy baseball team fell behind early, and could not catch up in a 7-4 defeat at Kansas, Wednesday, April 14, at the Hoglund Ballpark. The Jayhwaks scored all seven runs in the first two innings, and fended off an AF comeback in the late innings.

The Falcons tallied nine hits on the afternoon, led by yet another three-hit day from freshman Paul Skenes, his third-straight three-hit game and fifth on the season. He added double and a walk, and has upped his batting average to .373 on the year. Senior Cole Blatchford drove in all four runs, his second four-RBI effort of the season. Two of the runs came in on a two-run homer, his second long ball of the season and seventh of his career.

On the mound, three Falcon relievers combined to blank the Jayhawks on offense over six innings, led by four scoreless innings from junior Connor Bright. He only allowed two hits and struck out two. Behind him, juniors Zach Argo and Rob Martin both tossed 1-2-3 frames, Martin's coming with a pair of Ks.

Kansas was the first to score, as they plated three runs in the bottom of the first to jump ahead early. They added four more in the second to take a commanding 7-0 lead into the third.

In the top of the third, AF loaded the bases with no outs on two singles and a walk. Blatchford got the Falcons on the board with a sac fly. Despite getting the sacks loaded again, a line out to left field ended the frame with just the one run scored.

Bright tossed scoreless third and fourth innings, leading to the Falcons tacking on more runs in the top of the fifth on a two-run homer from Blatchford to close the gap to 7-3 at the midway point. Bright then tossed his third and fourth-straight scoreless frames to keep the four-run game with three innings to play.

Argo then entered from the pen and tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to keep the deficit within striking distance with two more turns at the plate. AF went 1-2-3 in the eighth, but Martin came on and retired the Jayhawks in order, making it 12 straight KU hitters the AF bullpen got out, to maintain the 7-3 tally into the ninth.

In the ninth, AF got two on with one out after a pair of walks, and the leadoff walk came in to score on another sac fly from Blatchford to make it 7-4. Despite having the tying run on deck, Kansas was able to close out the three-run game.

The Falcons will be right back in action this Friday-Sunday, April 16-18, for a three-game set against Dallas Baptist. The series will be played at DBU's Horner Ballpark.

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