Sunday, April 21
USAFA, CO
12:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
16-21, 0
5
vs
6
University of New Mexico
19-18, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
New Mexico
0
0
0
1
3
0
0
0
2
6
12
1
Air Force
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
5
6
0
Photo by: Dylan Smith
Thomason ties home run record, Falcons split DH with Lobos
4/21/2024 8:27:00 PM | Baseball
COLORADO SPRINGS- The weekend weather saw Air Force and New Mexico compromise into a Sunday doubleheader, as Air Force was topped 6-5 in the first leg before exploding to an 18-7 win in the second game, giving the Falcons a crucial series win over the Lobos.
Game One (New Mexico 6, Air Force 5)
A last offensive gasp nearly saved the Falcons, though Jay Thomason's near game-tying home run fell just short of clearing the right field wall, as the Falcons dropped the first game of the doubleheader by a score of 6-5.
Thomason provided the only early runs for Air Force, as his two-run home run in the 3rd gave the Falcons an initial 2-0 lead. The home run was the 12th of the year for Thomason and his 49th career home run, placing him one shy of tying Nic Ready for the most all-time at Air Force. He finished 1-5 in Game One.
Chase Spencer was 1-3 with a two-run home run in the 9th. Spencer's home run trimmed the Falcons deficit to 6-4 in their final turn at the plate.
Sam Kulasingam followed Spencer in the 9th with a solo home run to right field, cutting the New Mexico lead to 6-5.
Zach Peters, Tripp Garrish, and Aerik Joe each provided base-hits as well.
Charlie Jones was 0-4, snapping a 17-game hitting streak and a 20-game on-base streak. The three Air Force home runs accounted for the only extra-base hits of the game for the Falcons.
Dylan Rogers, in his ninth start of the spring, cruised in his first look at the Lobos lineup, facing just one batter over the minimum over his first three innings. In the 4th, Rogers allowed a two-out RBI triple, though he kept the damage to minimum bu inducing a fly out to end the inning.
In the 5th, a single, hit-batter, and a three-run home run spelled the end for Rogers, who was relieved by Kyle Moats. The big Texan was responsible for four runs and seven hits over 4.1 innings pitched.
Effective out of the bullpen, Moats picked up the final two outs of the 5th before going into cruise control between the 6th and 8th innings. The senior left-hander retired the side in order in the 6th while also facing just two batters over the minimum in the 7th and 8th.
Moats allowed a leadoff single and two-out double in the 9th, both of which eventually came around to score. Moats closed his line at two runs and four hits over 4.1 innings of solid relief. Gaines Estridge allowed an inherited run to score, picking up the final out of the 9th.
Air Force trailed 6-2 in its last set of at-bats, as Joe worked a one-out walk before Spencer brought him home with a two-run home run to left field. Kulasingam matched Spencer with a solo home run of his own, as Thomason stepped into the box with his team trailing by just a run.
The slugger lifted an 0-1 pitch high and deep to right field, though the Lobos right fielder would make an uncomfortable grab up against the fence to end the ballgame.
Game Two (New Mexico 7, Air Force 18)
The Air Force offense rebounded after a groggy morning to manage 18 runs and an identical number of hits, initiating the 10-run rule to claim the series over New Mexico with an 18-7 win in seven innings.
Jay Thomason opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the 1st, connecting on his 50th career home run to tie Nic Ready for the most career home runs as an Air Force Falcon. Thomason becomes only the second player in Air Force history to reach the 50-homer plateau, finishing 1-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and a sacrifice fly.
Charlie Jones, after snapping prolonged hitting and on-base streaks, re-calibrated with a 3-5 afternoon, including a grand slam in the 2nd to award his dugout an 8-1 lead. Jones also lined an RBI single into left field in the 7th, as his five RBIs stand as a career single-game high.
Tripp Garrish and Christian Taylor each slugged their first-career home runs in the doubleheader finale, as the pair posted a combined 5-8 line with five RBIs. Garrish launched a solo home run in the 2nd, while Taylor led off the 7th with a solo homer of his own.
Taylor's three hits are a new single-game career-high.
Sam Kulasingam was 2-4, scoring three times, while Zach Peters managed a couple of doubles and two RBIs to encompass his 2-5 line.
All nine hitters in the Falcons starting lineup recorded at least one hit, as Air Force's four home runs become a new season-best.
Ben Weber was given an 8-1 lead after two innings, and the sophomore did well with the advantage. Weber's day was done after allowing four runs and six hits over 4.0 innings pitched. The right-hander surrendered a solo home run in the 2nd before facing eight batters in a three-run 4th.
Doyle Gehring entered in the 5th with a 13-4 lead, though he wasn't his usual self. The Falcons closer was tagged for three runs as the result of three hits and four walks over his 2.0 innings.
Sam Hentges allowed just one hit in his lone inning of work.
The win moves Air Force to 10-7 in Mountain West play, as the Falcons remain in a comfortable second-place within the conference standings.
Next, Air Force will travel to Greeley to play Northern Colorado on Tuesday, April 23 in the two sides final ballgame of the spring. First-pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm MT.
Game One (New Mexico 6, Air Force 5)
A last offensive gasp nearly saved the Falcons, though Jay Thomason's near game-tying home run fell just short of clearing the right field wall, as the Falcons dropped the first game of the doubleheader by a score of 6-5.
Thomason provided the only early runs for Air Force, as his two-run home run in the 3rd gave the Falcons an initial 2-0 lead. The home run was the 12th of the year for Thomason and his 49th career home run, placing him one shy of tying Nic Ready for the most all-time at Air Force. He finished 1-5 in Game One.
Chase Spencer was 1-3 with a two-run home run in the 9th. Spencer's home run trimmed the Falcons deficit to 6-4 in their final turn at the plate.
Sam Kulasingam followed Spencer in the 9th with a solo home run to right field, cutting the New Mexico lead to 6-5.
Zach Peters, Tripp Garrish, and Aerik Joe each provided base-hits as well.
Charlie Jones was 0-4, snapping a 17-game hitting streak and a 20-game on-base streak. The three Air Force home runs accounted for the only extra-base hits of the game for the Falcons.
Dylan Rogers, in his ninth start of the spring, cruised in his first look at the Lobos lineup, facing just one batter over the minimum over his first three innings. In the 4th, Rogers allowed a two-out RBI triple, though he kept the damage to minimum bu inducing a fly out to end the inning.
In the 5th, a single, hit-batter, and a three-run home run spelled the end for Rogers, who was relieved by Kyle Moats. The big Texan was responsible for four runs and seven hits over 4.1 innings pitched.
Effective out of the bullpen, Moats picked up the final two outs of the 5th before going into cruise control between the 6th and 8th innings. The senior left-hander retired the side in order in the 6th while also facing just two batters over the minimum in the 7th and 8th.
Moats allowed a leadoff single and two-out double in the 9th, both of which eventually came around to score. Moats closed his line at two runs and four hits over 4.1 innings of solid relief. Gaines Estridge allowed an inherited run to score, picking up the final out of the 9th.
Air Force trailed 6-2 in its last set of at-bats, as Joe worked a one-out walk before Spencer brought him home with a two-run home run to left field. Kulasingam matched Spencer with a solo home run of his own, as Thomason stepped into the box with his team trailing by just a run.
The slugger lifted an 0-1 pitch high and deep to right field, though the Lobos right fielder would make an uncomfortable grab up against the fence to end the ballgame.
Game Two (New Mexico 7, Air Force 18)
The Air Force offense rebounded after a groggy morning to manage 18 runs and an identical number of hits, initiating the 10-run rule to claim the series over New Mexico with an 18-7 win in seven innings.
Jay Thomason opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the 1st, connecting on his 50th career home run to tie Nic Ready for the most career home runs as an Air Force Falcon. Thomason becomes only the second player in Air Force history to reach the 50-homer plateau, finishing 1-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and a sacrifice fly.
Charlie Jones, after snapping prolonged hitting and on-base streaks, re-calibrated with a 3-5 afternoon, including a grand slam in the 2nd to award his dugout an 8-1 lead. Jones also lined an RBI single into left field in the 7th, as his five RBIs stand as a career single-game high.
Tripp Garrish and Christian Taylor each slugged their first-career home runs in the doubleheader finale, as the pair posted a combined 5-8 line with five RBIs. Garrish launched a solo home run in the 2nd, while Taylor led off the 7th with a solo homer of his own.
Taylor's three hits are a new single-game career-high.
Sam Kulasingam was 2-4, scoring three times, while Zach Peters managed a couple of doubles and two RBIs to encompass his 2-5 line.
All nine hitters in the Falcons starting lineup recorded at least one hit, as Air Force's four home runs become a new season-best.
Ben Weber was given an 8-1 lead after two innings, and the sophomore did well with the advantage. Weber's day was done after allowing four runs and six hits over 4.0 innings pitched. The right-hander surrendered a solo home run in the 2nd before facing eight batters in a three-run 4th.
Doyle Gehring entered in the 5th with a 13-4 lead, though he wasn't his usual self. The Falcons closer was tagged for three runs as the result of three hits and four walks over his 2.0 innings.
Sam Hentges allowed just one hit in his lone inning of work.
The win moves Air Force to 10-7 in Mountain West play, as the Falcons remain in a comfortable second-place within the conference standings.
Next, Air Force will travel to Greeley to play Northern Colorado on Tuesday, April 23 in the two sides final ballgame of the spring. First-pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm MT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: RUSSELL, Brett (3-0)
L: Rogers, Dylan (4-4)
S: BANNISTER, Wil (3)
Batting:
2B: ASBY, Will 1
3B: WOOD, Tye 1
HR: ASBY, Will 1
RBI: ASBY, Will 4 ; HOLLAND, Jake 1 ; WOOD, Tye 1
SH: KINKADE, Konner 1 ; WALKER, Khalil 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ASBY, Will 2 ; HOLLAND, Jake 1 ; DIXON, Devon 2 ; WALKER, Khalil 1
CS: WOOD, Tye 1
HBP: WALKER, Khalil 1
Batting:
HR: Spencer, Chase 1 ; Kulasingam, Sam 1 ; Thomason, Jay 1
RBI: Spencer, Chase 2 ; Kulasingam, Sam 1 ; Thomason, Jay 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Spencer, Chase 1 ; Kulasingam, Sam 2 ; Thomason, Jay 1 ; Joe, Aerik 1
SB: Kulasingam, Sam 1 ; Garrish, Tripp 1 ; Joe, Aerik 2
HBP: Spencer, Chase 1 ; Peters, Zach 1 ; Joe, Aerik 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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OF
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RHP
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LHP
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1B
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LHP
/ BaseballUT/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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UT
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/ Baseball
Falcons win on senior day over New Mexico
Sunday, May 11
Lobos top Falcons to even series
Saturday, May 10
Falcons big 8th inning leads to win over Lobos
Friday, May 09
Falcons fall in series finale to Nevada
Sunday, April 27
