Lobos stun Falcons in 9th, Air Force falls 13-12

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- Holding a 12-6 lead entering the final inning, Air Force saw New Mexico score seven times in the 9th resulting in Friday's 13-12 loss.

Sam Kulasingam needed just one hit to surpass Bradley Haslam as the record-holder for total hits in a single season, and the sophomore did so in the 4th, launching a solo home run to encompass his 1-6 day. Now with 96 hits this season, Kulasingam will have the chance to pad his place in the record books for as long as Air Force's schedule may last.

Gabriel Garcia led all Falcons in hits on Friday, going 4-5 with a RBI. His lone run batted in came via a solo home run in the 9th to give the Falcons a 12-6 lead. Garcia also doubled while scoring four runs.

Paul Skenes managed a pair of home runs as part of a 3-5 night, driving in a team-high four runs. Friday marks Skenes' third multi-homer game of the spring.

Jay Thomason remains a tough out, as the Air Force third baseman ended his evening 3-5 with a double, while Jake Greiving drove in three runs as part of a 2-3 night at the plate.

Starter Doyle Gehring didn't have his best command, lasting just 1.2 innings while surrendering seven hits and five runs. Rob Martin entered in the 2nd and was brilliant for much of his 6.2 innings in relief. Martin didn't allow a run until the 8th, a solo home run to cut the Falcons advantage to 11-6.

Martin opened the 9th with his team up six runs, but after inducing a fly out to open the inning, three-consecutive batters reached before the senior allowed a grand slam to New Mexico's Lenny Junior Ashby. The four-run home run forced Martin's exit, with the Falcons still leading 12-10.

Zach Argo was called upon with one out in the 9th, trying for his third save of the season. The senior allowed a single, a walk, and an infield single to load the bases with still one out. After forcing a strikeout, Argo saw a bloop single fall into right-center field, allowing the tying runs to score. The ball was then muffed in the outfield, allowing the winning run to score at the end of the play.

With the loss, the Falcons need to either win tomorrow's regular season finale, or have Fresno State lose in order to clinch the final seed of the Mountain West Tournament.

The concluding game of the regular season is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, with first-pitch slated for 12 pm MT.

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