Falcons Soar Past Nevada in Run-Rule Fashion, 15-5

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - The Falcons (17-25, 9-10) soared past Nevada (23-18, 10-9) in game one of the Mountain West series to run-rule the Wolf Pack 15-5, on a foggy Friday at Erdle Field. Strong pitching and plate appearances saw Air Force batters pick up 16 hits, highlighted by a pair of homers and four doubles, while the Falcon pitchers struck out six and only issued two walks.

Walker Zapp logged a stellar day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a trio of both runs scored and RBIs, along with a double and a home run. Second baseman T.J. Oster followed suite, scoring three runs, recording three RBIs, and hitting his second career long ball. Luke Elmore also produced a trio of RBIs and hit a double.

On the mound, Davis Rhyne took his second career start, striking out three batters and allowing four runs in two full innings. Dylan Rogers came out of the pen and earned the win for a record of 1-4. Across 5.1 innings pitched, the senior logged a trio of strikeouts and saw only a single unearned run score. The closer, Patrick Davidson recorded the final two outs in the top of the eighth with a pair of pop ups without allowing a run or a hit.

In the top of the first, Rhyne walked his first batter but brought the heat with three consecutive swinging strikeouts.

The Wolf Pack put four runs on the board to take an early lead in the top of two.

Air Force defense went three up, three down in the top of the third after Rogers entered the game.

After two scoreless frames, Nevada scored their final run of the game, in the top of the fifth, on a passed ball, 5-0.

The Falcons hopped on the board in the bottom of the same inning with three runs, 5-3. Christian Taylor opened with a single through the left side, stole second, and advanced to third base on an Alex Adams single. Down on one strike, Oster sent a shot over the left field fence for his second home run of the season and his career.

The bottom of the sixth inning saw the Birds even the board at 5-5. On the fifth pitch of the frame, Zapp launched a solo home run over the left fielder's head to make it a one-run game. Zach Peters followed with a first-pitch single through the right side and took advantage of a wild pitch to claim second base. With a runner in scoring position, Taylor doubled to centerfield and sent the tying run across the plate.

Air Force powered ahead in the bottom of the stretch and took their first lead of the afternoon, 10-5. The eventful inning was opened by an Oster single to right and a bunt single from Ben Niednagel. The third single in a row was hit by Chase Spencer and sent Oster around the bags to score. Both base runners took the opportunity to advance on a wild pitch, scoring Niednagel. After Zapp was issued a walk, Peters grounded into a fielder's choice that saw Spencer thrown out at the plate. A single from Tripp Garrish juiced the bases in time for Taylor to earn an RBI groundout. The last two runs of the frame came on a fielding error by Nevada's left fielder during Luke Elmore's at-bat, allowing Peters and Garrish to head home.

Davidson entered in relief with the bases juiced and one out, in the top of eight. He successfully closed the inning with three pitches that resulted in a pair of pop ups to Oster and Niednagel.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Falcons secured the 15-5 run-rule victory, notching five runs off four hits. Once again, Oster was the lead-off batter and reached base after being hit by a pitch. Niednagel recorded another bunt single before Spencer plated Oster with an RBI double to left center. After the Wolf Pack opted for a pitching change, Zapp picked up a pair of RBIs with a single placed perfectly in right centerfield. The junior moved all the way to third on a wild pitch and a fly out from Peters. The second out of the frame came in the form of a Garrish RBI ground out. With two away, Taylor drew a walk, stole second, and rounded the bases to end the game early on an RBI single hit by Elmore.

The Falcons and the Wolf Pack will meet for game two of the series at Erdle Field on Saturday April 26 at 1 p.m. MT.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.