Air Force rallies to Senior Day win, reclaim first in MW standings

COLORADO SPRINGS- The Falcons scored eight runs over their final three turns at the plate, propelling Air Force to a 16-10 win on Senior Day while moving a half a game ahead of the Aztecs to solidify the top spot in the Mountain West standings.

It was yet another ho-hum afternoon for Sam Kulasingam, who's 4-5 line provided 3 RBI and three runs scored, as the junior has now reached base in 48-consecutive games. The Falcons first baseman provided a game-tying RBI single in the 4th, as well as an RBI double in the 7th and a bases-loaded walk in the 8th.

Sunday marks Kulasingam's second fourth-hit game of the 2023, and the first since the season opener.

Jay Thomason launched his 18th home run of the spring in the 4th to put Air Force up 6-4. Thomason finished the day 3-4 with 5 RBI, as his 18 home runs are tied now with Lance Massey for fourth-most in a single season in Air Force program history. Thomason's 65 RBI also match Gabriel Garcia for fifth-most in a single season in program history.

Chase Spencer was 3-5 with two doubles, a triple and a stolen base, driving in two runs. Spencer also made a phenomenal diving catch in right field, as he concluded the weekend 4-8 with three walks and three RBI.

Jake Greiving was 2-5 with a RBI, while Aerik Joe extended his on-base streak to 27 games with a RBI triple.

On Senior Day, a pair of C1C's made a huge impact, as Trayden Tamiya and Matt Thompson combined for five hits in nine at-bats with two RBI, as each also stole a base. Blake Covin was hitless, but provided a RBI sac bunt in the the 4th.

Walker Zapp entered the game as a defensive replacement in the 5th and ended the day 2-3 with with a double and a RBI. The double was the first extra-base hit of the freshman's collegiate career.

Dylan Rogers was able to gut out 4.1 IP, allowing nine hits to go with eight runs (seven earned) with three walks and three strikeouts. Seungmin Shim managed 0.2 innings, allowing a run on two hits.

After a back-and-forth offensive surge saw the Falcons trailing 9-8 in the 6th, Coach Kaz called upon Sawyer Hawks to try to keep the Aztecs at bay, as San Diego State had managed nine runs between the 3rd and 5th innings.

Hawks answered the call, striking out two of the three batters he faced to eventually nab his third win of the spring, as Air Force claimed a permanent lead in the bottom half of the inning.

Duke Benge piggybacked off of Hawks to maintain Air Force's momentum on the mound, as the senior's final appearance at Falcon Field was critical to the Sunday win.

Benge tossed 3.0 innings, allowing just a single run in the 9th while surrendering just two hits with a strikeout. Benge earned the first save of his career in his concluding home appearance.

The win moves the Falcons back to the top of the conference standings with three Mountain West games remaining.

Next, Air Force will conclude the regular season in Las Vegas, as the Falcons will square off with UNLV for a three-game series beginning Thursday, May 18.

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