Bats break out as Falcons salvage split against Bulldogs

RUSTON, La.- After being held to just three hits on the Tuesday, the Birds were angry, as Air Force saw its lineup propel its side to a much-needed 12-10 win over Louisiana Tech.

It was a big day for Jay Thomason, who was 3-6 (HR, 2B, 3 RBI) and fell a triple short of the cycle. Thomason launched his seventh long ball of the spring in the 3rd, a two-run blast to give Air Force an initial 3-1 lead. Thomason remains tied with New Mexico's Reed Spenrath for the conference lead in home runs. Wednesday marks Thomason's first three-hit game since February 19.

Trayden Tamiya was plugged into the two-hole of the Falcons lineup for the first time this season and relished the role. The senior reached base in four of his six plate appearances, managing a 3-5 day with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Tamiya now has nine multi-hit games in his 18 starts.

Following an 0-12 spell over his last four games, Matt Thompson provided three RBI as part of a 2-5 day. Thompson drove home a run in the 6th with a RBI base-hit, and later doubled home two more runs in the 8th. His three RBI ties a career-high.

Jake Greiving was 1-2 with a walk and two RBI, as he singled home the first Falcon run of the game in the 3rd. The junior also lifted a sac fly in the 6th. Blake Covin had his first multi-hit game of the season, going 2-3 with a double and a walk. Aerik Joe poked a RBI single in the 8th to highlight his 1-4 day at the plate.

After going hitless in five at-bats, Sam Kulasingam snapped his 12-game hitting streak. However, his walk in the 4th inning extended his on-base streak to 14-consecutive games.

The Falcons struck out a season-low two times, while Air Force's 12 runs match the club's 2023 season-high.

Freshman Ben Weber made his first collegiate start on the mound and was up to the task. The Minnesota product pitched 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Jason Shuger earned his first win since May 15, 2021, pitching 2.0 shutout innings while picking up two strikeouts in between.

A pair of home runs encompassed Ryan Stohr's line, as the senior surrendered four runs on three hits with two walks over his 3.0 innings on the mound. Chase Spencer entered in the 9th with a 12-6 lead, though an error, a single and a walk led to his exit from the ballgame. Duke Benge was tasked with compiling the final three outs, and following a two-run double to the first batter he faced, Benge managed to retire the following three hitters to secure a series split for the Falcons. Benge is now one only three pitchers in Division I with at least 11 appearances this season.

As a result of inclement weather forecasted for Colorado Springs, the Falcons will now travel to San Jose State this weekend to take on the Spartans in Mountain West action. The series begins Friday, March 17 with first-pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm MT.

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