Air Force Posts Explosive 16-5 Victory in Home Opener over UNLV

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - The Falcons (4-11, 1-0) made a statement during their home opener to run-rule UNLV (13-6, 0-1), 16-5, on Friday afternoon at Erdle Field. In their first Mountain West win of the season, the Air Force batters pounded out 12 hits, highlighted by a trio of homers, while three pitchers combined for five strikeouts.

Designated hitter Tripp Garrish led the offensive charge with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, scoring four runs and driving in four with a double and a home run. Landon Boyd, Wyatt Hanoian, and Luke Elmore each contributed three RBIs.

On the mound, Josh Holst started for the Falcons, tossing three innings with two strikeouts while allowing four earned runs. Freshman Trey Rutledge followed with a career-best three scoreless innings, striking out two to earn his first collegiate victory. Sam Hentges closed the game with a scoreless seventh inning with one strikeout.

Air Force struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Walker Zapp blasted his third home run of the season over the right-field wall to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.

UNLV answered in the top of two to take over, 3-1.

In the bottom of the same frame, Air Force trimmed the deficit to 3-2, with one run. Garrish led off with a first-pitch double and was advanced to third on a groundout from Elmore. The next batter, Blake Campbell, sent Garrish across the plate with a groundout to short.

The Rebels extended into a 5-2 lead and scored their last runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Momentum swung in the Falcons' direction as they put up four runs to take over at 6-5, in the bottom of four. Brooks Burdine opened the inning with a single and was joined on base by a hit batter, Kayden Bradshaw. An error on UNLV's third baseman loaded the bases in time for a fielder's choice RBI from Hanoian. Garrish sent Bradshaw home with a single and advanced with Hanoian on a wild pitch. With a single and an error on the shortstop, the pair of Air Force runners went home.

In the bottom of the fifth, AF pulled into an 8-5 advantage. Hanoian walked, took second on a wild pitch, and was sent across the plate when Garrish sent his second long ball out of the park.

The bottom of the sixth inning was explosive for the Falcon bats, as they put up an eight-spot to secure the run-rule victory. Following a UNLV pitching change, the first batter of the inning, Burdine was walked and stole second base. After Bradshaw drew a walk, Ben Niednagel laid down a critical bunt to load the bags. Though Burdine was thrown out at home on a Zapp fielder's choice, the bases were still full of Birds in time for Hanoian to record a two-RBI single to right center. On a Garrish single, Zapp scored from second and Hanoian made it to third. On the second pitch of his at-bat, Elmore kept the scoring alive with a single through the left side for a pair of RBIs. Elmore advanced to second on a balk and was met on base by a walked Campbell. Closing the game with a bang, Boyd fired a moonshot 470 feet over the right centerfield wall.

To keep the run-rule in effect, Hentges recorded a three up, three down top of the seventh.

The Falcons will face UNLV in a conference doubleheader on Saturday March 14, with game one beginning at 10 a.m. MT at Erdle Field.

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