Air Force can't create comeback in MW Final loss to SJSU

FRESNO- One win away from its second-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth, Air Force was unable to keep pace with a hard-charging Spartans lineup, as the Falcons 2023 season came to a close following Sunday's 12-9 loss.

Sam Kulasingam reached the 100-hit mark for the second-consecutive season, as the two-time Mountain West Player of the Year was 2-3 with two walks. Kulasingam concludes his junior campaign with a .426/.537/.655 slash line, a program record-tying 28 doubles, and with more than twice as many walks (50) than strikeouts (24). Kulasingam is the only player in Air Force history to record multiple 100-hit seasons.

His on-base streak will stretch into his senior year, a streak that now spans 55-consecutive games. Kulasingam reached base in all but one game this season, the lone exception being Air Force's February 20 loss at Oklahoma. He was eventually named to the All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of the ballgame after reaching base in 17 of his 20 plate appearances in four tournament games.

Jake Greiving led the Falcons with three hits in four at-bats including a double, with the junior providing a sacrifice fly as part of a four-run opening inning.
Jay Thomason closed the Mountain West Tournament with 8 RBI after a 1-4 line on Sunday. The Alabama native brought home a run with a ground-rule double in the 1st. Thomason's 21 home runs this season are tied for the most home runs in a single season in program history, becoming the first player in program history to record 20+ home runs and 20+ doubles.

Thomason was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Leaving it all on the field, Chase Spencer managed his fourth three-hit game of the year while with 2 RBI. The sophomore plated a run with a base-hit in the 1st before roping a run-scoring double in the 3rd to tie the game at 6-6. Spencer also scored from second on a wild pitch to close the Falcons four-run 1st.

Spencer had heck of a four-game run at the Mountain West Championship, going 5-12 with 3 RBI, 4 BB's, and 4 SB's.

In his final collegiate game, Blake Covin was 1-5 with a two-run single in the 7th, earning All-Tournament honors as part of his 8-16 weekend.

Doyle Gehring was tasked with the start after tossing 4.0 scoreless innings on Friday, and after his lineup spotted him four runs from the jump, the junior posted a clean 1st inning with two strikeouts. However, in the 2nd, Gehring had trouble finding the strike zone before allowing a three-run homer. The righty would finish having only secured three outs while being responsible for five runs.

After a four-run 1st inning, the Falcons trailed 6-4 entering the 3rd.

Air Force quickly responded with two runs to tie the game in its half of the 3rd, but San Jose State would go on to plate six of the game's remaining nine runs.
Covin's two-run single in the 8th and Chris Stallings' solo home run in the 9th were not enough to fuel the comeback attempt.

Following the conclusion of the tournament, Sawyer Hawks was also named to the All-Tournament team after giving the Falcons 6.0 innings of one-run ball with a career-high 10 strikeouts in the tournament opener against San Diego State.

The Falcons conclude the 2023 season with a 28-31 record, as the Falcons 17 conference wins are second-most in program history. Air Force's five All-Conference selections are a program best.

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