Air Force Baseball Claims First Win of the Season Over Navy, 3-2

KINSTON, N.C., - The Falcons (1-5), propelled by significant pitching, took their first win of the season, 3-2, over Navy (0-4), on Friday afternoon at Grainger Stadium. Air Force batters recorded seven hits, two doubles, a pair of sacrifice hits, and two stolen bases. The pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts and only allowed two runs off five hits.

"It was a well-fought game with awesome pitching on both sides, a typical gritty Friday night between our two Academies," said head coach Mike Kazlausky. "This game showed the determination and resilience of both sides and makes me proud that all of these men are willing to do something bigger than baseball, something that is to protect America."

Dylan Rogers took the start on the mound and went a full seven innings. The senior allowed the only two unearned runs given up by Air Force, off just five hits. Rogers tied his career-high in strikeouts, sitting down nine Midshipmen. The closer, Patrick Davidson, earned his first career win and moved to 1-0 after throwing 1.1 innings with one strikeout and defending the Falcon lead.

Kazlausky expressed, "Rogers and Davidson were outstanding and got big outs during their outings."

At the plate, Walker Zapp went 1-for-5 with a double and a crucial RBI. T.J. Oster and Alex Adams both finished batting 1-for-4 with one RBI a piece. The designated hitter, Tripp Garrish batted 1-for-3 with two walks, a run scored, and a stolen bag. Cam Anstey and Ben Niednagel both plated a run for the Falcons.

In the bottom of one, Air Force recorded a 1-2-3 frame, with back-to-back ground outs and a looking strikeout from Rogers.

Defense kept Navy scoreless in the bottom of the fourth after Niednagel, Oster, and Anstey combined for a double play and a fly out to center closed the inning.

Rogers retired three-straight batters in the bottom of five, marking two strikeouts and a foul out to Zapp.

For the first time this season, the Falcons scored first and led Navy, 1-0. With two down in the top of the sixth, Tripp Garrish was issued a walk. Luke Elmore followed behind with a single hit to right field, advancing the runner to third. The next batter, T.J. Oster sent Garrish home with an RBI single.

The Midshipmen retaliated in the bottom of the same frame and capitalized on two Falcon errors to shift into a 2-1 advantage.

The top of seven saw Air Force answer by leveling the board at 2-2. Following a Navy pitching change, Anstey batted lead off and reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop. Niednagel did the job and advanced Anstey to second with a sacrifice bunt. The Midshipmen decided to change pitchers once more, however the Falcons were still able to score after Anstey took third on a wild pitch and Adams enabled him to head across the plate on an RBI single.

Falcon defense produced another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh.

After a scoreless eighth inning, AF powered ahead to break the tie and secured the win at 3-2 in the top of the ninth. To open the frame, Niednagel drew a walk and advanced on an Adams sacrifice bunt. Zapp came in clutch with an RBI double to score the winning run.

Davidson guaranteed his win by defending Air Force's lead and going three up, three down in the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout and a pair of fly outs.

Next up, Air Force will take on Navy in the second game of the Freedom Classic on Feb. 22 at Grainger Stadium in Kinston, N.C. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET/12 p.m. MT.

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