Falcons Post Strong Performances to Defeat Oral Roberts, 9-3

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - Air Force baseball (15-22) closed out their homestand with a solid 9-3 small-ball win over Oral Roberts (20-14) on Monday afternoon at Erdle Field. Strong plate appearances helped the Falcons to 13 hits while the pair of pitchers combined to strike out six Golden Eagles while only allowing three runs.

At the dish, Zach Peters recorded a team-high three RBIs after going 1-for-4 with a double. Ben Niednagel finished 3-for-4 with a pair of bunt singles, one of which earned him an RBI. Alex Adams accounted for two RBIs while T.J. Oster and Van Klein marked one each.

The Falcons found success on the mound with both pitchers seeing career outings. Davis Rhyne (1-1) claimed the start and picked up his first career win after going four full innings with two strikeouts and allowing two earned runs. The only reliver for Air Force, Sam Hentges recorded a trio of career-firsts with a save after throwing five full innings with four strikeouts and no runs surrendered.

Oral Roberts took an early start, going up 1-0 in the top of the first.

Rhyne struck out two Golden Eagles in the top of two.

In the bottom of the second frame, the Falcons shifted into a 2-1 advantage. Chase Spencer opened the inning with a lead-off walk and went on to steal second. The next batter, Kayden Bradshaw laid a bunt single down to the pitcher and both runners advanced to scoring on an Oral Roberts error. With one away, Niednagel bunted for a fielder's choice but saw no outs, as Spencer scored before the catcher could tag him at home. Adams came up and recorded a sacrifice bunt for the second out, sending Bradshaw across the plate.

The board leveled at 2-2 after the Golden Eagles plated one run in the top of the third inning.

A solo shot to right field in the top of the fourth put ORU back in the lead at 3-2.

Air Force brought the power for a big bottom of four, putting up five runs off six hits with five consecutive singles to lead 7-3. The frame's first two batters both singled through the left side, out of reach for the infielders, while Niednagel laid a first-pitch bunt to third base and beat out the throw, loading the bases. Back-to-back RBI singles came from Adams and Oster. Following a Golden Eagles' pitching change, Peters cleared the bases with a double to deep left center.

Hentges entered for the Birds in the top of the fifth and did not give up a run for the rest of the game. He utilized his defense to go three up, three down in the top of six.

The Falcons scored their last pair of runs for a final score of 9-7 in the bottom of the seventh. Luke Elmore began the frame with a first pitch single up the middle, advanced to second on a Spencer single, and took third on a fielding error by ORU's centerfielder. Before a pitching change, Spencer stole second base. With one out, Klein marked a sacrifice bunt to score Elmore and another RBI bunt single by Niednagel sent Spencer home.

After wrapping up their homestand, Air Force heads west to face Fresno State in a Mountain West series from Thursday April 17-Saturday April 19.

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