Falcons see big lead dissipate in Monday loss

WILMINGTON- Leading 6-1 in entering the 5th, Air Force couldn't manage to contain the Seahawks, as the hosts poured on 10 of the game's final 12 runs in the Falcons 11-8 loss.

The Air Force lineup did most of its heavy lifting in the first four innings, building what seemed to be a comfortable lead.

Jake Greiving carried over his momentum from the Freedom Classic into Monday's ballgame, finishing 2-4 with two RBIs. The senior lined a run-scoring single into right in the 1st to put the Falcons on the board, while his 9th inning solo shot gives him three home runs over the last three games.

It was a big night for Jay Thomason, as the C1C slugged his second long ball of the season in the 4th as part of a three-run inning for Air Force. The third basemen closed the night 3-5 with 4 RBIs, as Thomason also provided a two-run single in the 2nd.

As his bat gets going, Sam Kulasingam reached base in three of his six plate appearances, driving in a run and scoring once. Kulasingam served an RBI single up the middle in the 4th before Thomason brought him home with the two-run shot into left field.

Aerik Joe was 2-4 out of the leadoff spot, reaching base in three of his five plate appearances. His on-base streak now sits at 42 games.

As well, Chase Spencer was 1-5, though the centerfielder produced a highlight-reel assist in the 3rd to gun down a run at the plate.

In an afternoon designated as a "bullpen day", the Falcons unloaded six arms over nine innings to mixed results.

Jack Bello made his second start of the spring and cruised over his first 2.0 innings. After retiring six of the first seven hitters he faced, Bello was pulled after allowing the first two hitters of the 3rd to reach.

In his stead, Gaines Estridge allowed an inherited run to score, but did well to keep the damage to a minimum. Estridge allowed a hit and a walk, but was not responsible for an earned run.

Rhyne Davis entered to start the 4th, scattering a hit in his first inning to keep the Falcons 6-1 lead in tact. However, in the 5th, the tide began to turn.

Davis managed a strikeout and a groundout in the bottom of the inning, but a single, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with a lefty coming to the plate. Air Force opted for Ethan Dillinger to try to extinguish the threat, but the freshman saw a grand slam leave the park to put the Seahawks right back in the ballgame.

In the 6th, a two-out double saw the tying run come around to score, as an attempted pick-off by Dillinger was thrown off the helmet of the UNC-Wilmington runner, as he scampered home from second base to even the game.

The Seahawks rally sustained, as Jimmy Hebenstreit walked in the go-ahead run later in the inning.

Kyle Moats entered in the 7th, tossing a scoreless first frame, though the 8th was less kind to the senior southpaw. As the Seahawks loaded the bases with two outs, a two-run single, a run-scoring error, and another RBI knock saw UNC-Wilmington tally four late runs to build an 11-6 lead.

Greiving opened the final inning with a solo homer, trimming the lead to 11-7. Landon Boyd came off the bench to swat a two-out double, while T.J. Oster's RBI single a batter later cut the deficit to 11-8, bringing up Kulasingam as the potential tying run. To no avail, the senior was cut down on strikes to end the ballgame.

Air Force ended the game with 12 men left on base, having also allowed eight walks and four hit batters.

Next, the Falcons will travel to Sugar Land, Texas to take part in the Battle at the Ballpark, beginning with a matchup against Creighton on Friday, March 1.

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