Falcons get back in win column, beat Wildcats 4-3

MANHATTAN, Kan.- Air Force snapped a six-game losing streak on Wednesday, as Doyle Gehring notched his fifth save of the season to close out the 4-3 win.

Gabriel Garcia paced the Falcons lineup, finishing 3-5 with a solo home run. Garcia's solo shot, a line drive homer to the opposite field in the 3rd inning, was his second of the season. Jake Greiving, the other Falcon with multiple hits, was 2-5 with a run scored.

Aerik Joe's two-out RBI double down the right field line broke a 3-3 tie in 7th, as the Air Force shortstop ended his day 1-4.

Kyle Moats made his first start of the season, proving to be an effective opener. Moats went 4.0 IP, allowing just two hits and one run to go with two strikeouts. Duke Benge, who entered in the 6th, set the tone for the back-end of the Air Force bullpen. Benge, the winning pitcher, scattered two hits, producing double-plays in his two innings of work.

Zach Argo followed Benge and worked around a bases-loaded jam in the 8th. Gehring didn't let a two-out walk evolve into further trouble, as the sophomore picked up his 5th save of 2022 while striking out a pair in the 9th.

Air Force started strong, as singles from Sam Kulasingam, Garcia, and Greiving eventually led to the first run of the afternoon. Garcia's solo home run and a two-out throwing error from Kansas State pitcher Collin Rothermel brought the Falcons lead to 3-0 in the 3rd.

Kansas State scored the next three runs, as the Wildcats eventually tied the game in the 6th following a RBI single.

In the top of the 7th, two-out walks from Braydon Altorfer and Jay Thomason brought Aerik Joe to the plate. After working the count full, Joe lined a double past the reach of the first baseman, scoring Altorfer and giving Air Force a 4-3 lead.

Argo's 8th inning proved to be a rollercoaster ride. The senior issued a leadoff walk, but a fly out and strikeout saw the tying run still at first.

Argo then allowed a single and hit a batter, as the bases were suddenly loaded with two outs. With KSU's Orlando Salinas at the plate, a backup slider popped in and out of Altorfer's mitt and was misjudged by Cole Johnson, the runner at third. Altorfer recovered the baseball, and waited at the plate as Johnson was tagged out trying to score.

Gehring opened the 9th with a strikeout and a lineout before missing the strike zone in a 3-2 count. With a runner on first and two away, a slow grounder to shortstop was bobbled on Joe's transfer from his glove to his throwing hand, putting the tying run on second. Even so, Gehring slammed the door, getting a swinging strikeout to end the ballgame.

Next, Air Force returns to Falcon Field for a three-game series with New Mexico, starting Friday, March 25.

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