Falcons Claim Game Three of Series at Fresno State, 8-3

FRESNO, Calif., - Air Force (16-24, 8-10) took game three of their Mountain West series at Fresno State (19-20, 12-6), 8-3, on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons tallied 13 hits while the pitching staff held the Bulldogs to just five with five strikeouts.

At the dish, Zach Peters finished 2-for-5 with pairs of RBIs and runs scored, while Christian Taylor and Luke Elmore also recorded two RBIs.

The starting pitcher, Patrick Davidson threw a trio of strikeouts and allowed two runs off three hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Davis Rhyne logged 3.1 innings on the mound with one strikeout and one run allowed.

In the bottom of the first, Davidson struck out two and utilized a ground out to Alex Adams for a clean frame on defense.

The Falcons locked in a strong 5-0 advantage off five hits in the top of the third. T.J. Oster opened the frame with a single, went to second on a wild pitch, and claimed third on a sacrifice bunt from Adams. The following batter Ben Niednagel drew a walk and Chase Spencer advanced both runners with an RBI single. A successful double steal saw Spencer move to second and Niednagel swipe home plate. Walker Zapp went to the dish and recorded an infield single to put runners on the corners. An RBI bunt double from Zach Peters sent Spencer to the plate. After Tripp Garrish loaded the bases on a walk, Christian Taylor placed a single through the left side, plating Zapp and Peters.

Fresno State hopped on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning but still trailed, 5-1.

The top of the fifth saw Air Force extend their lead to 6-1. The inning's lead off batter, Zapp singled to left field and advanced on a Garrish single. On a fielder's choice, Zapp moved to third while Garrish was thrown out at second. With two away, Luke Elmore logged an RBI single through the left side that allowed Zapp to cross the plate.

On a first pitch solo shot in the bottom of five, the 'Dogs trimmed their deficit to 6-2.

Air Force added an insurance run for a 7-2 lead in the top of the stretch. The designated hitter, Garrish, singled to right and took advantage of a wild pitch to move to second base. A Taylor single and a well-placed sacrifice squeeze from Elmore enabled Garrish to score.

FSU retaliated with a sacrifice fly, 7-3, in the bottom of the same inning.

Senior, Peters, went yard in the top of the ninth frame for his fifth homer of the season, extending the Falcon lead to 8-3.

Air Force heads over to Northern Colorado for a midweek matchup on Tuesday April 22 at 3 p.m. in Greely, Colo.,

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