Air Force wins thriller, secures MW Tournament berth

COLORADO SPRINGS- In a thrilling affair, Sam Kulasingam poked a walk-off single into left field in the bottom of the 9th, as Air Force earned it's third-consecutive berth in the Mountain West Tournament following Friday's nail-biting 14-13 win.

Kulasingam was one of two Falcons to manage three hits on Friday, as the senior was 3-5 with a double and 2 RBIs. His double in the 4th gave Air Force its first lead of the day, breaking a 4-4 tie. His 77th career double ties him with Garrett Custons for the most all-time as a Falcon. As well, now with 299 career hits, Kulasingam enters Saturday one hit shy of tying Nic Ready for the most hits in an Air Force career.

Following a 3-4 day at the plate with three extra-base hits, Jay Thomason became the Mountain West's all-time home run leader on Friday, as his two-run home run in the 4th tied the game at 4-4. Thomason also homered in the 6th, launching a solo shot. He later tripled in the 8th.

Now with 56 career home runs, Thomason surpassed Sean McNaughton, who set the previous career record of 54 in 2010. In 51 games this season, Thomason now owns a staggering 1.236 OPS, as 38 of his 72 hits this season have gone for extra bases.

Charlie Jones was 2-5, launching his eighth home run of the last nine games. The sophomore lined a solo homer over the right field fence in the 1st as part of a two-run opening inning for the Falcons. In the 4th, Jones' two-run double created a 7-4 Air Force lead. With three more RBIs on Friday, Jones has driven in 19 runs in the last nine games.

As he tends to do, Chase Spencer played an important role in the win. The Air Force center fielder managed a 2-5 line with 3 RBIs, as his three-run home run in the bottom of the 7th regained the Air Force advantage after the Bulldogs stunned the home side with a 7-run top of the inning. Spencer also made a terrific leaping grab in center field to erase an extra-base hit in that same 7th.

Tripp Garrish was 2-3 with a solo home run and a double. The Falcons designated hitter scored three times, including the game-winning run. Aerik Joe lined an RBI single into left in the 7th, igniting the four-run inning.

Walker Zapp was 2-5, while Zach Peters added a base-hit as well.

Fresno State built a 4-0 lead following its first turn at the plate, though Air Force would go on to score nine unanswered runs between the 1st and 6th innings. Bowen Brantingham entered in the 2nd and proceeded to give the Falcons 2.2 scoreless innings.

The freshman scattered four hits with a strikeout.

Gaines Estridge tossed a scoreless 5th and 6th, not allowing a hit in either inning. The quality relief by the pair of C4C's allowed the Falcons to create a 9-4 lead after six full innings.

However, a seven-run Bulldogs outburst in the 7th saw Air Force suddenly trail 11-9. Even so, the Falcons scored four runs of their own in their half of the 7th, immediately regaining a 13-11 lead.

Doyle Gehring, who picked up his ninth save yesterday, was in line for the win today. It wasn't meant to be though, as he saw the first two Bulldogs of the 9th reach base. In his first relief appearance of the year, Ben Weber trotted into the game trying to retain Air Force's two-run lead.

Weber retired the first two hitters he faced, though a double into center field would see the tying runs score.

In the bottom of the 9th, Garrish walked and Zapp singled before Joe's sacrifice bunt saw him reach base anyways, as the Fresno State pitcher was unsuccessful in his throw to first base. Spencer did pop up with the bases loaded, but Kulasingam's line drive single into left-center field sealed the Falcons sixth win in their last eight games.

With results still to follow, Air Force's 17 conference wins are most in the Mountain West. The Falcons can claim their first-ever regular season Mountain West championship with a win on Saturday.

Next, the Falcons will honor its graduating class on Saturday, May 18, with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 pm MT. The Senior Day ceremony will begin at roughly 11:30 am MT.

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