Air Force Academy
2-8
Dallas Baptist University
8-4
Falcons Narrowly Drop to DBU
3/1/2026 4:38:00 PM | Baseball
Walker Zapp and Wyatt Hanoian each went for three hits and four RBIs, while Luke Elmore added three RBIs and launched his first home run of the season. Kayden Bradshaw drove in two runs, and Christian Taylor accounted for one.
Starting pitcher Bowen Brantingham worked four innings with four strikeouts, allowing six earned runs. Ethan Dillinger and Gunner Gilmore each tossed 0.1 innings with a strikeout. Davis Rhyne provided 2.1 innings of middle relief, striking out three while surrendering two runs. Patrick Davidson went one full inning with three runs allowed and one strikeout. In his collegiate debut, Jordan Watkins (0-1) fanned one but yielded the deciding run.
DBU jumped out early with a grand slam in the bottom of the second to take a 4–0 lead.
Air Force flipped the script in a thunderous top of the fifth, sending 13 batters to the plate, collecting six hits, swiping four bases, and erupting for a 9–6 advantage. After consecutive singles from Elmore and Hanoian and a sacrifice bunt by Ben Niednagel, Bradshaw's two-RBI single opened the scoring. With two outs following a pitching change, Zapp doubled home two more, then stole third and eventually stole home to tie the game. Taylor's RBI single pushed the Falcons ahead, and Elmore capped the frame by blasting a three-run homer over the left-center fence.
The Patriots answered immediately with another grand slam in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead, 10–9.
Air Force surged back in the sixth. After three straight hit batters loaded the bases, Zapp delivered again, driving in two with a single up the middle to put the Falcons ahead 11–10.
DBU countered with a solo homer to knot the score in the bottom of six, 11-11, then added another long ball later in the seventh to push back in front, 12–11.
The Falcons refused to fade. In the top of the eighth, Zapp and Landon Boyd drew walks and stole bases before Taylor walked to load the bags. Hanoian cleared them with a three-run double down the left-field line, giving Air Force a 14–12 lead.
Hanoian extended the Air Force lead, 15-12 in the top of the ninth after sending Zapp across the plate with a single to right.
DBU ultimately sealed the game with four runs in the bottom of the ninth for the 16–15 walk-off win.
Air Force continues the road swing on Monday, March 2, squaring off against UT Arlington Mavericks at Clay Gould Ballpark at 2 p.m. CT/1 p.m. MT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: A. Branson (1-0)
L: Watkins, Jordan (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Zapp, Walker 1 ; Hanoian, Wyatt 1
HR: Elmore, Luke 1
RBI: Zapp, Walker 4 ; Taylor, Christian 1 ; Hanoian, Wyatt 4 ; Elmore, Luke 3 ; Bradshaw, Kayden 2
SH: Boyd, Landon 1 ; Niednagel, Ben 1 ; Bradshaw, Kayden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zapp, Walker 3 ; Boyd, Landon 2 ; Taylor, Christian 2 ; Hanoian, Wyatt 2 ; Elmore, Luke 2 ; Bradshaw, Kayden 2 ; Campbell, Blake 2
SB: Zapp, Walker 3 ; Boyd, Landon 2 ; Taylor, Christian 1 ; Niednagel, Ben 1
CS: Niednagel, Ben 1
HBP: Garrish, Tripp 1 ; Hanoian, Wyatt 1 ; Bradshaw, Kayden 1 ; Campbell, Blake 2
Batting:
2B: K. Grady 1 ; A. Berghult 1
HR: C. Krauss 2 ; A. Berghult 1 ; C. Neville 2
RBI: K. Grady 1 ; R. Martin 1 ; B. Tryon 1 ; C. Krauss 7 ; A. Berghult 1 ; C. Neville 5
Base Running:
RUNS: K. Grady 2 ; J. Bennett 1 ; B. Tryon 3 ; C. Krauss 3 ; L. Underhill 1 ; A. Berghult 3 ; C. Neville 3
HBP: R. Martin 1
