Air Force Powers Past South Dakota State, 15-2

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - Air Force (5-12) notches one in the win column after run-ruling South Dakota State (1-11), 15-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Erdle Field. The hitters marked 13 hits for a season-high 15 runs. The pitchers combined to strike out nine Jackrabbits and only allowed six hits.

The Falcons were a force at the plate, and were led by Ben Niednagel, who went 2-for-5 with a 5 RBI grand slam, his first homer of the season, and an RBI triple. The designated hitter, Tripp Garrish finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a two-run long shot. Walker Zapp hit 2-for-3 and recorded two RBIs with a scored a trio of runs scored.

In the first start of his Air Force career, Cranz Smelcer logged his first win and improved to 1-3. The freshman pitched a pair of career-highs after going four full innings and striking out six batters, while only allowing a single run off three hits. Gaines Estridge entered in relief for one inning and gave up no runs. Across one inning pitched, Bowen Brantingham recorded one strikeout and allowed one run off one hit. In his second appearance for the Falcons, Josh Shropshire threw a pair of strikeouts and did not allow a hit, to close.

In the top of the first, Smelcer went three up, three down with a pair of ground outs and a swinging strikeout.

After a scoreless first inning, AF was first to break onto the board, 1-0, in the bottom of two. The lead off, Alex Adams, singled to right center and took advantage of a wild pitch to take second. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Luke Elmore sent a single to right field, sending Adams home.

The Jackrabbits answered with one run in the top of the third frame to level the score at 1-1.

The Falcons would not let South Dakota State get comfortable, as they reclaimed the lead at 5-1, in the bottom of the same inning. Chase Spencer opened with a tight double down the left line and shifted to third on a wild pitch. Ben Niednagel's first triple of the season sent Spencer across the plate. The next batter, Walker Zapp plated Niednagel with a double and went home on a homer from Tripp Garrish.

In his final inning pitched, Smelcer sat down the Jacks with a pair of strikeouts and a pop up.

The bottom of the fourth saw AF extend their lead to 7-1 off two hits. Following a SDSU pitching change, Spencer drew a lead-off walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a Niednagel ground out. For his second RBI of the day, Zapp hit a single through the left side to score Spencer. After Zapp took second on a wild pitch, Garrish brought him around the bags with a double to left center field.

AF recorded a big eight-run bottom of the fifth to stretch into a 15-1 advantage. A pitching change for the Jacks resulted in back-to-back walks for Luke Elmore and Landon Boyd. South Dakota State put a new pitcher on the mound, but T.J. Oster drew a walk to load the bases. An RBI single from Spencer advanced the runners and sent Elmore across the plate. With bases still juiced, Niednagel launched a pitch over the wall in right center for a grand slam to clear the bags. To keep the inning going, Zapp singled and Garrish joined him on base after being hit by a pitch and was substituted for pinch runner, Kayden Bradshaw. On a fielder's choice from Adams, Bradshaw was thrown out but Zapp advanced to third. Another fielder's choice by Peters saw Zapp plate a run. Elmore singled to second, and a wild pitch shifted him and Peters into scoring position. After pinch hitter, Christian Taylor, was issued a walk, one more wild pitch advanced the runners and scored Peters. Oster plated Elmore for the Falcons' final run with an RBI single.

South Dakota State attempted to catch up, but scored just one run on a sacrifice fly for a final score of 15-2, in the top of the sixth frame.

Air Force prepares to open Mountain West play as they host Washington State for a three-game series, Mar. 14-16.

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