Saturday, May 10
1:05 pm MT
Air Force Academy
19-31, 11-15
6
vs
9
University of New Mexico
29-19, 16-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
New Mexico
2
0
0
0
3
0
2
2
0
9
14
0
Air Force
1
1
1
0
2
0
1
0
0
6
12
1
AF Baseball Splits Series with New Mexico
5/10/2025 5:32:00 PM | Baseball
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - The Falcons (19-31, 11-15) fell short to New Mexico (30-19, 15-11), 9-6, on Saturday afternoon at Erdle Field. Air Force batters collected 12 hits while the pitchers combined to strike out four Lobos. As of today, the Falcons sit in a four-way tie for fifth place in the Mountain West Conference standings with San Jose State and San Diego State.
Zach Peters led at the dish, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a homer for a pair of RBIs and three runs scored, while Chase Spencer recorded two doubles and an RBI. Christian Taylor and Tripp Garrish accounted for one RBI each.
On the mound, Cranz Smelcer claimed the start, throwing four full innings with a trio of strikeouts and five runs allowed. Across 2.1 relief innings, Bowen Brantingham gave up just one earned run off a pair of hits. Following an appearance from Sam Hentges (2-2), Gaines Estridge took over for 1.1 innings and allowed two runs to score. To close, Gunner Gilmore threw one strikeout and one hit in 1.1 innings on the hill.
The Lobos opened scoring early with a two-run homer in the top of one, 2-0.
Air Force answered with one run in the bottom of the first, trimming the deficit in half, 2-1. Spencer opened the frame with a double down the left line and scored when Taylor hit a single through the left side.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Falcons leveled the board at 2-2. With two away, Ben Niednagel drew a walk and scored all the way from first on Spencer's second double of the day.
AF pulled ahead, 3-2, in the home half of the third. Walker Zapp led off the inning with a single but was thrown out on a fielder's choice that allowed Peters to reach first. Peters went on to steal second and was sent across the plate with a single to left field from Garrish.
The score held until New Mexico sent three consecutive home runs out of the park to take a 5-3 lead in the top of five.
The Falcons continued to fight and tied it up at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Zapp logged a one-out single before the Lobos called for a pitching change. The next batter, Peters, shot the second pitch he saw past the scoreboard in left field for a two-run homer.
UNM pulled back in front with a pair of runs in the top of the stretch, 7-5.
The bottom of the same frame saw Air Force make it a one-run game at 7-6. Following defense changes on New Mexico's side, Peters recorded a triple out to left center. Luke Elmore and Garrish were issued back-to-back walks to load the bases with Falcons. A double play from Alex Adams allowed Peters to cross the plate.
The Lobos secured their final 9-6 score with two runs off four hits, in the top of the eighth.
The rubber match between Air Force and New Mexico is slated for 12 p.m. MT on Sunday May 11 at Erdle Field. During pregame, the Falcons will honor their five graduating seniors with a special recognition ceremony at 11:35 a.m.
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Zach Peters led at the dish, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a homer for a pair of RBIs and three runs scored, while Chase Spencer recorded two doubles and an RBI. Christian Taylor and Tripp Garrish accounted for one RBI each.
On the mound, Cranz Smelcer claimed the start, throwing four full innings with a trio of strikeouts and five runs allowed. Across 2.1 relief innings, Bowen Brantingham gave up just one earned run off a pair of hits. Following an appearance from Sam Hentges (2-2), Gaines Estridge took over for 1.1 innings and allowed two runs to score. To close, Gunner Gilmore threw one strikeout and one hit in 1.1 innings on the hill.
The Lobos opened scoring early with a two-run homer in the top of one, 2-0.
Air Force answered with one run in the bottom of the first, trimming the deficit in half, 2-1. Spencer opened the frame with a double down the left line and scored when Taylor hit a single through the left side.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Falcons leveled the board at 2-2. With two away, Ben Niednagel drew a walk and scored all the way from first on Spencer's second double of the day.
AF pulled ahead, 3-2, in the home half of the third. Walker Zapp led off the inning with a single but was thrown out on a fielder's choice that allowed Peters to reach first. Peters went on to steal second and was sent across the plate with a single to left field from Garrish.
The score held until New Mexico sent three consecutive home runs out of the park to take a 5-3 lead in the top of five.
The Falcons continued to fight and tied it up at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Zapp logged a one-out single before the Lobos called for a pitching change. The next batter, Peters, shot the second pitch he saw past the scoreboard in left field for a two-run homer.
UNM pulled back in front with a pair of runs in the top of the stretch, 7-5.
The bottom of the same frame saw Air Force make it a one-run game at 7-6. Following defense changes on New Mexico's side, Peters recorded a triple out to left center. Luke Elmore and Garrish were issued back-to-back walks to load the bases with Falcons. A double play from Alex Adams allowed Peters to cross the plate.
The Lobos secured their final 9-6 score with two runs off four hits, in the top of the eighth.
The rubber match between Air Force and New Mexico is slated for 12 p.m. MT on Sunday May 11 at Erdle Field. During pregame, the Falcons will honor their five graduating seniors with a special recognition ceremony at 11:35 a.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MONTEFORTE, Presley (2-2)
L: Hentges, Sam (2-2)
S: WHITE, Tommy (1)
Batting:
2B: MANSY, Luke 1
HR: WOOD, Tye 1 ; ASBY, Will 1 ; ORIACH, Jordy 2
RBI: WOOD, Tye 1 ; ASBY, Will 2 ; ORIACH, Jordy 3 ; CARRIS, Akili 1 ; MCALISTER, Josh 1
SF: ASBY, Will 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WOOD, Tye 2 ; ASBY, Will 3 ; ORIACH, Jordy 3 ; WALKER, Khalil 1
SB: WOOD, Tye 1
Batting:
2B: Spencer, Chase 2
3B: Peters, Zach 1
HR: Peters, Zach 1
RBI: Spencer, Chase 1 ; Taylor, Christian 1 ; Peters, Zach 2 ; Garrish, Tripp 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spencer, Chase 1 ; Zapp, Walker 1 ; Peters, Zach 3 ; Niednagel, Ben 1
SB: Peters, Zach 1 ; Garrish, Tripp 1
CS: Oster, T.J. 1
HBP: Adams, Alex 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
UT/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
UT
/ Baseball
C
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