Falcons Come from Behind, Taking Game One Over Washington State, 15-14

PUEBLO, Colo., - Air Force (6-12, 1-0) secured a 15-14 come-from-behind win over Washington State (5-13, 0-1), at Rawlings Field on Friday afternoon. The batters marked 16 hits, the second-most hits in a game of the season, along with a notable five home runs and eight total extra base hits. The pitching staff struck out ten Cougars, in their first Mountain West Conference game of the season.

Luke Elmore logged a stellar day at the plate, not only hitting his first career homer, but marking two. The sophomore accounted for a team-high five RBIs and scored two runs. Zach Peters finished perfect at the plate, 3-for-3, with a career-high four RBIs and one home run. Alex Adams and Christian Taylor both recorded two RBIs. T.J. Oster also hit the first long shot of his career, while Walker Zapp batted 2-for-5 with a homer.

On the mound, Dylan Roger took his fifth start of the season, pitching 1.1 innings with a trio of strikeouts and allowed six earned runs. Davis Rhyne was the first Falcon to enter in relief and threw one strikeout and one earned run across one full inning. In his third appearance for Air Force, Josh Shropshire took over and marked a career-high 2.2 innings and a pair of strikeouts, with three runs allowed. The next pitcher, Joey Collier, tied his season-high with 2.0 innings on the mound, giving up no hits, no runs, and striking out one Cougar. Following an appearance from Charlie Russell, lefty Sam Hentges logged one inning, one strikeout, and no hits or runs allowed. Patrick Davidson earned his first career save after closing the final inning for Air Force and going three up, three down with a pair of strikeouts to hold the lead.

Washington State hopped on the board, 2-0, in the top of one.

The Falcons answered with one run in the bottom of the same frame to split the score, 2-1. With one out, Christian Taylor hit a double to left center and was joined on base by a walked Tripp Garrish. With a single to right center, Alex Adams plated Taylor.

In the top of the second, the Cougars scored five runs off five hits and two errors, extending into a 7-1 advantage.

Air Force plated one run but still trailed, 7-3, in the bottom of two. Back-to-back singles from Landon Boyd and T.J. Oster, along with a walk issued to Chase Spencer loaded the bases. Taylor brought Boyd and Oster home on an RBI single to center field.

WSU responded with one run, leading 8-3, in the top of the third inning.

Trimming the deficit in the bottom of the same frame, the Falcons plated a pair of runs, 8-5. Adams led off with a single and stole second. The following batter, Zach Peters sent a pitch over center field wall for two RBIs.

The top of the fourth saw the Falcon defense hold Washington State with a pair of fly outs and a fielder's choice to catch a Cougar at home.

In the bottom of four, a solo shot from Walker Zapp helped Air Force to close in on WSU, 8-6.

Washington State retaliated, extending their lead to 11-6, in the top of the fifth frame.

To make it a one-run game, 11-10, the Falcons scored four, in the bottom of five. Leading off, Adams reached base on an error by the Cougar's third baseman and stole second. After Peters drew a walk, Luke Elmore recorded his first career home run, clearing the bags. With one out, T.J. Oster sent a solo shot, also his first career homer, out of the park.

Following a scoreless sixth inning, Joey Collier retired the Cougars in order with a trio of ground outs.

WSU scored their final three runs in the top of eight, 14-10.

A big bottom of the eighth saw the Falcons take the lead for the first time, 15-14. A pair of singles from Zapp and Garrish put runners on the corners. An Adams double plated Zapp and a single hit by Peters sent Garrish home. Coming in clutch, Elmore homered for the second time to score the winning run.

Patrick Davidson closed for the Falcons, shutting down Washington State with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to Spencer in center field.

Air Force will play game two against Washington State on Saturday March 15, at Rawlings Field in Pueblo, Colo. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. MT.

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