Air Force pitches shutout, takes down Arizona 5-0

TUCSON- After surrendering 22 hits on Friday, the duo of Doyle Gehring and Sawyer Hawks limited Arizona to just two on Saturday, as the Falcons executed a team-wide effort to beat the Wildcats 5-0.

Gehring earned his fourth win of the spring on Saturday, as the junior provided his teammates with six scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits while striking out three. In spite of four walks, Gehring was largely effective pitching to contact, as the Wildcats managed just one extra-base hit.

The strapping right-hander did run into some trouble in the 3rd when Arizona created a bases-loaded situation. However, Gehring notched a looking strikeout in a full count to extinguish the threat.

Gehring's two hits allowed are a season-low, while the junior has posted a 2.25 ERA in his last two starts.

Jake Greiving was 3-4 while slugging his third home run in four games to start the scoring. Leading off the 2nd, Greiving lined an impressive opposite-field homer to left field to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Greiving is now the owner of a seven-game hitting streak, batting .535 (15-28) in that span.

Later in the 2nd, Matt Thompson and Chase Spencer each singled with Thompson winding up on third. Coach Kaz saw the double-steal executed without a hitch, as Thompson maneuvered home following a throw to second, as the Falcons moved ahead 2-0.

Spencer stole his second bag of the inning with two outs before a Wildcats error allowed him to score. Air Force exited the 2nd with a 3-0 lead.

Aerik Joe extended his on-base streak to 23 games with a single in the 4th, as well.

The score held until the 7th when Trayden Tamiya lifted a sacrifice fly to build a 4-0 lead.

Sawyer Hawks relieved Gehring in the bottom half of the 7th, and the sophomore was exceptional. Hawks left the attending faithful at Hi Corbett Field in little suspense, striking out five of the 10 batters he faced while allowing just one baserunner in his 3.0 innings.

For the second-consecutive night, Sam Kulasingam kept his on-base streak alive with an RBI base-hit in his final plate appearance, stamping the Air Force lead to 5-0. Kulasingam has now reached base in 44-consecutive games and in 47 of 48 games this season. The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year has also recorded at least one hit in last 11 games.

In the bottom half of the 9th, Hawks retired the side in order with a punchout, as he is now averaging 12.3 K/9. Air Force's closer also nabbed his 7th save in the process, third-most in the Mountain West.

Next, the Falcons will look to claim the series over the Wildcats on Sunday, May 7, with first-pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm MDT.

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