Friday, February 20
Founders Park | Columbia, SC
4 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
2-3
3
vs
5
Navy
4-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Navy
0
3
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
5
9
0
Air Force
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
3
5
0
Baseball Drops to Navy
2/20/2026 10:21:00 PM | Baseball
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Falcons (2-3) battled but fell to Navy (4-1), 5-3, on Friday at Founders Park to open Salute the Troops Weekend. Air Force totaled five hits, highlighted by a two-run homer from Landon Boyd, while the pitching staff struck out a season-high 14 batters.
Making his second start of the season, Gaines Estridge (1-1) turned in a career day on the mound. The sophomore threw a personal-best seven innings and recorded 10 strikeouts, but was charged with the loss after allowing three runs. Davis Rhyne worked one out in relief and surrendered one run, while Joey Collier closed the game with 1.2 innings and three strikeouts in his first appearance of the season.
At the plate, Boyd went 1-for-3 with his second home run of the year, driving in two runs. Christian Taylor added an RBI single for the Falcons.
Navy opened the scoring in the second inning with a home run, an RBI triple, and an RBI single to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
Estridge settled in on the mound, striking out two batters in a clean fourth inning as T.J. Oster induced a ground out to close the frame.
Navy extended its lead to 4-0 in the fifth on an RBI fielder's choice.
After a three-up, three-down top of the sixth, Air Force mounted its comeback. With two outs, Brooks Burdine drew a walk and stole second base before scoring on a full-count RBI single by Taylor. Boyd followed with a two-run blast to right-center, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
Estridge closed his outing by retiring the Midshipmen in order in the seventh, striking out all three batters he faced.
Air Force threatened again in the eighth as Ben Niednagel advanced to third base but was thrown out attempting to steal home.
The Mids added an insurance run in the ninth to push the lead to 5-3.
Collier entered the game with one out and the bases loaded and delivered in a clutch moment, striking out two to escape the jam.
The Falcons continue Salute the Troops Weekend against service academy rival Army Black Knights on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Founders Park. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. MT.
Making his second start of the season, Gaines Estridge (1-1) turned in a career day on the mound. The sophomore threw a personal-best seven innings and recorded 10 strikeouts, but was charged with the loss after allowing three runs. Davis Rhyne worked one out in relief and surrendered one run, while Joey Collier closed the game with 1.2 innings and three strikeouts in his first appearance of the season.
At the plate, Boyd went 1-for-3 with his second home run of the year, driving in two runs. Christian Taylor added an RBI single for the Falcons.
Navy opened the scoring in the second inning with a home run, an RBI triple, and an RBI single to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
Estridge settled in on the mound, striking out two batters in a clean fourth inning as T.J. Oster induced a ground out to close the frame.
Navy extended its lead to 4-0 in the fifth on an RBI fielder's choice.
After a three-up, three-down top of the sixth, Air Force mounted its comeback. With two outs, Brooks Burdine drew a walk and stole second base before scoring on a full-count RBI single by Taylor. Boyd followed with a two-run blast to right-center, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
Estridge closed his outing by retiring the Midshipmen in order in the seventh, striking out all three batters he faced.
Air Force threatened again in the eighth as Ben Niednagel advanced to third base but was thrown out attempting to steal home.
The Mids added an insurance run in the ninth to push the lead to 5-3.
Collier entered the game with one out and the bases loaded and delivered in a clutch moment, striking out two to escape the jam.
The Falcons continue Salute the Troops Weekend against service academy rival Army Black Knights on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Founders Park. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. MT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bendik, Brady (2-0)
L: Estridge, Gaines (1-1)
S: Stephens, Spencer (1)
Batting:
2B: Mitchell, Henry 1
3B: Walsh, Patrick 1
HR: Manning, Andrew 1
RBI: Klug, Chris 1 ; Manning, Andrew 2 ; Walsh, Patrick 1 ; Cripe, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Loudon, John 1 ; Manning, Andrew 1 ; Ceccarelli, Mason 1 ; Walsh, Patrick 1 ; Mitchell, Henry 1
CS: Loudon, John 1
HBP: Loudon, John 1 ; Izquierdo, Victor 1 ; DePerno, Ty 1
Batting:
2B: Burdine, Brooks 1 ; Oster, T.J. 1
HR: Boyd, Landon 1
RBI: Taylor, Christian 1 ; Boyd, Landon 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Burdine, Brooks 1 ; Taylor, Christian 1 ; Boyd, Landon 1
SB: Niednagel, Ben 2 ; Burdine, Brooks 2
CS: Niednagel, Ben 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ BaseballOF
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LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
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