Homers plague Air Force in loss to Auburn

AUBURN- After initiating an early one-run lead, the Falcons surrendered three home runs, making up for five of the Tigers eight runs, as Air Force was defeated 8-4 by #19 Auburn on Wednesday.

Chris Stallings drove in two of Air Force's four runs, as the senior reached base in four of his five plate appearances. Now owning a team-best 1.085 OPS, Stallings finished 3-4 with a double, walk, and a stolen base.

Jay Thomason lined a solo home run over the right field fence to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the 1st, marking his third home run of the season. Thomason reached the 40-homer plateau in his career with the solo shot, becoming just the fourth Air Force player to hit at least 40 career home runs.

With two doubles and an RBI, Sam Kulasingam closed his day 2-5. Aerik Joe also had two hits to keep his on-base streak alive at 46-consecutive games. Jake Greiving, Chase Spencer, Walker Zapp, and Ben Niednagel all recorded base-hits as well.

Tasked with maneuvering a difficult Auburn lineup, Patrick Davidson was given the baseball for his first collegiate start on the mound. After a scoreless first inning of work, Davidson would eventually surrender a three-run homer in the 2nd, as the Falcons suddenly trailed 3-1. Davidson, hit with the loss, was responsible for four hits, three runs, two walks, and two strikeouts in his 1.1 innings.

In what became a bullpen-heavy midweek affair, Ethan Dillinger entered in the 2nd to try to calm the Tigers offense. Dillinger would see a two-run home run leave the park in the 3rd, as Air Force trailed 5-2 after the first three innings.

Rhyne Davis didn't allow a hit in his 1.0 inning on the mound, though two hit-batters and a walk would eventually result in an Auburn run. Jimmy Hebenstreit did well in his 2.2 innings, though the C1C saw the third Tiger home run clear the centerfield fence in the 6th, as Air Force trailed 7-2.

Kyle Moats didn't allow an earned run in his lone inning on the mound, while Doyle Gehring worked around a base-hit to post a scoreless 8th.

Air Force tried to the close the gap in the 7th with the Falcons loading the bases in the inning. However, as he represented the tying run, Greiving flied out on the first pitch he saw to end the inning. In the 9th, Stallings' second RBI single of the afternoon saw the Falcons inch back to a one-swing game at 8-4, though consecutive strikeouts ended Air Force's first-ever matchup with Auburn.

The Falcons have now lost five in a row, as Air Force enters conference play at 4-8.

Next, the Birds will make their first foray in the Mountain West, traveling to defending-champion San Jose State for a three-game set beginning March 8.

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Team Stats

Chris Stallings

Aerik Joe

Sam Kulasingam

Jay Thomason

Players Mentioned

Patrick Davidson

Ethan Dillinger

Doyle Gehring

Jake Greiving

Jimmy Hebenstreit

Aerik Joe

Sam Kulasingam

Kyle Moats

Ben Niednagel

Chase Spencer

Chris Stallings

Jay Thomason

Walker Zapp

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