Shim goes seven strong, Gehring earns save in 3-1 win

COLORADO SPRINGS- To begin a crucial three-game series, Air Force rode the arms of pitchers Seungmin Shim and Doyle Gehring, as the pair was responsible for just one run and six hits in the Falcons 3-1 win over the Bulldogs.

Shim, as he's been for all of his final collegiate spring, was outstanding. The big lefty surrendered just five hits over 7.0 innings, picking up six strikeouts and 10 groundouts over the course of 108 pitches. His lone blemish was a solo home run in the 7th. Shim has now completed at least seven innings in eight of his 14 starts, lowering his season ERA to 3.31, the lowest mark in the Mountain West Conference among qualified pitchers.

Gehring was tasked with the two-inning save, completing the mission. The senior closer did allow one hit while plunking a pair of batters, but Gehring struck out three of his six outs to secure his conference-leading ninth save of the spring. Gehring earned his 17th career save on Thursday, as he now passes Steve Carson for sole possession of the second-most saves in Air Force program history.

In what became a pitcher's duel, Tripp Garrish was the lone Falcon to produce multiple hits, though his two-run double in the 3rd proved to be the most impactful swing of the ballgame. With two outs, the sophomore lined the first pitch of the at-bat off the wall in left-center to score a pair of runs, giving Air Force an early 2-0 lead. Garrish also dropped down a bunt single in the 2nd.

Zach Peters was 1-3, though his bunt in the 7th added a vital insurance run for the Falcons. In what became a safety squeeze, Peters dropped down a difficult bunt to score Jay Thomason, though Thomason was initially ruled out at the plate. However, after a coach's challenge, Thomason was ruled safe after obstruction of the plate was deemed the result of the out. Peters' RBI extended the Air Force lead to 3-1.

Sam Kulasingam was 1-5, as his single up the middle in the 4th becomes his 296th career hit, placing him just four shy of Nic Ready's program record of 300. Thomason was 1-2 with a double and was twice hit by a pitch. Charlie Jones was 1-4 with a single.

The win moves Air Force to 16-12 in the Mountain West, placing the Falcons in a three-way tie for first place with Fresno State and New Mexico, as the Lobos play later this evening.

Next, Air Force and Fresno State will resume the series on Friday, May 17 at 1:00 pm MT.

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