Pitching leads Falcons to 4-1 win to end Freedom Classic

KINSTON, N.C.- Seungmin Shim provided six innings of one-run ball in the final game of the Freedom Classic, as Air Force ended the weekend with a 4-1 win over Navy.

Shim was terrific while recording a career-best seven strikeouts. The junior southpaw scattered three hits and three walks while having not allowed a hit through his first five innings.

Shim has allowed just two runs (1.50 ERA) over his first 12 innings of the 2023 season.

Sam Kulasingam was 1-3, though his lone hit was a big one. After Matt Thompson led off the game with a single to right field, Kulasingam tripled into right-center to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead two batters into the afternoon.

Following Kulasingam, Jake Greiving lined a double over the head of the Navy centerfielder to score Kulasingam and extend the lead to 2-0. Later in the inning, Chase Spencer singled up the middle to score Greiving, extending his hit-streak to five games in the process.

The Falcons immediately led 3-0 after the first half inning.

Thompson finished with his second multi-hit game of the weekend, going 2-4 with a double.

Shim held Navy scoreless until the 6th, as a leadoff double eventually came around to score to trim the Falcons lead to 3-1. However, with two runners on, Shim struck out consecutive Midshipmen to limit the damage.

In the 8th, Jay Thomason lifted his third home run of the season, a solo shot to pad the Air Force lead to 4-1.

Sawyer Hawks picked up his second save of the season, overwhelming the Midshipmen. The sophomore closed the final three innings, striking out five of the 11 batters he faced.

Next, Air Force travels to Lubbock to take on #24 Texas Tech for a midweek series, starting Tuesday, February 28.

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