Saturday, March 14
USAFA, CO
10 a.m. MT
Air Force Academy
5-11, 2-0
18
vs
16
UNLV
13-7, 0-2
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
UNLV Rebels
0
1
3
0
1
2
1
0
8
16
18
1
Air Force
0
1
0
5
5
0
0
1
6
18
16
0
Baseball Takes Both Games of Twin Bill to Sweep UNLV in First MW Series
3/14/2026 10:18:00 PM | Baseball
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - Air Force baseball (6-11, 3-0) had quite the day taking the twin bill, 18-16 and 15-11, to sweep UNLV (13-8, 0-3) in their first Mountain West series of the season on Saturday at Erdle Field. Across the doubleheader, the Falcons racked up 33 runs off 32 hits while the pitchers totaled 16 strikeouts.
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Air Force 18, UNLV 16
Though the Falcons led for much of the game, it wasn't until Luke Elmore recorded a three-run walk-off home run that the win was secured. The first baseman went 3-for-6 with five RBIs, a double, and a homer. Landon Boyd posted a career-high six RBIs after launching a grand slam, as the Falcons finished the day with four home runs.
Gaines Estridge got the start on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings with two strikeouts while allowing five earned runs. The first reliever, Ethan Dillinger, struck out three Rebels and gave up two runs in 1.1 innings. Davis Rhyne and Joey Collier each recorded 0.2 innings before Sam Hentges entered the game. Marcus Downing (2-0) threw the final inning and picked up his second win of the season.
UNLV struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
The Falcons answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 1-1. Tripp Garrish led off with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a bunt single by Blake Campbell. An RBI groundout from Boyd brought Garrish home.
In the top of the third, the Rebels regained the lead, moving ahead 4-1.
Air Force responded with five runs to take its first lead of the day, 6-4. Wyatt Hanoian reached on an error and advanced to second after Garrish drew a walk. Elmore doubled down the left-field line to score Hanoian. Campbell was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up Boyd's grand slam that traveled 380 feet over the right-center wall.
The Rebels cut the deficit to one run in the top of the fifth, making it 6-5.
The Falcons exploded for five more runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 11-5. Hanoian opened the inning with his first career home run, a 455-foot blast. Garrish drew another walk, stole his second base of the day, and was joined on base by Campbell, who was hit by a pitch. Boyd then singled through the right side to score Garrish before Brooks Burdine launched a 446-foot home run, his first career homer.
UNLV added runs in the sixth and another in the eighth to close the gap to 11-8.
Elmore drove in another run with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to give the Falcons a 12-8 lead.
The Rebels surged ahead in the top of the ninth, scoring eight runs to take a 16-12 lead.
Facing their final chance, the Falcons mounted an incredible comeback to walk off UNLV, 18-16. Pinch hitter Cam Anstey and Kayden Bradshaw reached base before Walker Zapp delivered an RBI single that brought both runners home. After a mound visit, Hanoian singled to drive in Zapp. Garrish then drew another walk to set the stage for Elmore, who ended the game with a three-run walk-off homer, his second long ball of the season.
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Air Force 15, UNLV 11
Kayden Bradshaw led the Falcons' offense with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, hitting for the cycle and driving in two runs. Catcher Walker Zapp added two runs, two hits, and three RBIs, while eight different starters recorded at least one RBI.
Right-hander Bowen Brantingham got the start, striking out four batters in 2.2 innings but allowing eight earned runs. Freshman Jordan Watkins (1-2) took over and delivered four strong innings of relief, striking out three while allowing no earned runs to earn his first collegiate victory. Gunner Gilmore pitched 1.1 innings in relief and allowed two runs before Patrick Davidson entered to close the final frame, striking out two batters to record his first save of the season.
UNLV jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning to begin the series finale.
The Falcons quickly answered, taking a 4-3 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Bradshaw drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a groundout. Zapp followed with a towering 486-foot home run, his fourth of the season, to score two runs. The next batter, Tripp Garrish, drew a walk, stole second, and executed a double steal with Luke Elmore to put both runners in scoring position. Cam Anstey then singled up the middle to bring them both home.
Air Force added another run in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 5-3 after Bradshaw tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
The Rebels regained the lead in the top of the third and added another run in the fourth to move ahead 9-5.t
Air Force responded with a five-run fourth inning to reclaim the advantage at 10-9. Landon Boyd doubled and advanced to third on a balk before Brooks Burdine lifted a sacrifice fly to score him. Bradshaw followed with a double and came around to score on a single from Ben Niednagel. After Zapp singled and Wyatt Hanoian walked to load the bases, Garrish drew a walk to force in a run. Elmore then delivered a single through the right side to drive in two more.
Bradshaw added to the Falcons' lead in the fifth inning with a two-run home run, pushing the score to 12-9.
Air Force scored its final runs of the series in the bottom of the seventh, extending the lead to 15-9. Back-to-back singles from Burdine and Bradshaw, along with a walk to Niednagel, loaded the bases. Zapp brought home one run with a groundout, and Hanoian followed with a triple that cleared the bases.
The Rebels threatened in the top of the eighth but ultimately settled the final score at 15-11.
Air Force returns to Erdle Field for a Monday matinee against St. Thomas on March 16 at 1 p.m. MT.
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Air Force 18, UNLV 16
Though the Falcons led for much of the game, it wasn't until Luke Elmore recorded a three-run walk-off home run that the win was secured. The first baseman went 3-for-6 with five RBIs, a double, and a homer. Landon Boyd posted a career-high six RBIs after launching a grand slam, as the Falcons finished the day with four home runs.
Gaines Estridge got the start on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings with two strikeouts while allowing five earned runs. The first reliever, Ethan Dillinger, struck out three Rebels and gave up two runs in 1.1 innings. Davis Rhyne and Joey Collier each recorded 0.2 innings before Sam Hentges entered the game. Marcus Downing (2-0) threw the final inning and picked up his second win of the season.
UNLV struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
The Falcons answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 1-1. Tripp Garrish led off with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a bunt single by Blake Campbell. An RBI groundout from Boyd brought Garrish home.
In the top of the third, the Rebels regained the lead, moving ahead 4-1.
Air Force responded with five runs to take its first lead of the day, 6-4. Wyatt Hanoian reached on an error and advanced to second after Garrish drew a walk. Elmore doubled down the left-field line to score Hanoian. Campbell was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up Boyd's grand slam that traveled 380 feet over the right-center wall.
The Rebels cut the deficit to one run in the top of the fifth, making it 6-5.
The Falcons exploded for five more runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 11-5. Hanoian opened the inning with his first career home run, a 455-foot blast. Garrish drew another walk, stole his second base of the day, and was joined on base by Campbell, who was hit by a pitch. Boyd then singled through the right side to score Garrish before Brooks Burdine launched a 446-foot home run, his first career homer.
UNLV added runs in the sixth and another in the eighth to close the gap to 11-8.
Elmore drove in another run with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to give the Falcons a 12-8 lead.
The Rebels surged ahead in the top of the ninth, scoring eight runs to take a 16-12 lead.
Facing their final chance, the Falcons mounted an incredible comeback to walk off UNLV, 18-16. Pinch hitter Cam Anstey and Kayden Bradshaw reached base before Walker Zapp delivered an RBI single that brought both runners home. After a mound visit, Hanoian singled to drive in Zapp. Garrish then drew another walk to set the stage for Elmore, who ended the game with a three-run walk-off homer, his second long ball of the season.
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Air Force 15, UNLV 11
Kayden Bradshaw led the Falcons' offense with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, hitting for the cycle and driving in two runs. Catcher Walker Zapp added two runs, two hits, and three RBIs, while eight different starters recorded at least one RBI.
Right-hander Bowen Brantingham got the start, striking out four batters in 2.2 innings but allowing eight earned runs. Freshman Jordan Watkins (1-2) took over and delivered four strong innings of relief, striking out three while allowing no earned runs to earn his first collegiate victory. Gunner Gilmore pitched 1.1 innings in relief and allowed two runs before Patrick Davidson entered to close the final frame, striking out two batters to record his first save of the season.
UNLV jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning to begin the series finale.
The Falcons quickly answered, taking a 4-3 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Bradshaw drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a groundout. Zapp followed with a towering 486-foot home run, his fourth of the season, to score two runs. The next batter, Tripp Garrish, drew a walk, stole second, and executed a double steal with Luke Elmore to put both runners in scoring position. Cam Anstey then singled up the middle to bring them both home.
Air Force added another run in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 5-3 after Bradshaw tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
The Rebels regained the lead in the top of the third and added another run in the fourth to move ahead 9-5.t
Air Force responded with a five-run fourth inning to reclaim the advantage at 10-9. Landon Boyd doubled and advanced to third on a balk before Brooks Burdine lifted a sacrifice fly to score him. Bradshaw followed with a double and came around to score on a single from Ben Niednagel. After Zapp singled and Wyatt Hanoian walked to load the bases, Garrish drew a walk to force in a run. Elmore then delivered a single through the right side to drive in two more.
Bradshaw added to the Falcons' lead in the fifth inning with a two-run home run, pushing the score to 12-9.
Air Force scored its final runs of the series in the bottom of the seventh, extending the lead to 15-9. Back-to-back singles from Burdine and Bradshaw, along with a walk to Niednagel, loaded the bases. Zapp brought home one run with a groundout, and Hanoian followed with a triple that cleared the bases.
The Rebels threatened in the top of the eighth but ultimately settled the final score at 15-11.
Air Force returns to Erdle Field for a Monday matinee against St. Thomas on March 16 at 1 p.m. MT.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Downing, Marcus (2-0)
L: Dillhoff, Parker (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Myro, Gunnar 1 ; Rosales, Marcos 1 ; Salmon, Jack 1
3B: Myro, Gunnar 1
HR: Sheff, Cooper 1 ; Bussey, Reggie 1
RBI: Sheff, Cooper 2 ; Myro, Gunnar 1 ; Burns II, Nin 3 ; Bussey, Reggie 2 ; Garcia, Ayden 1 ; Rodriguez, Jonny 2 ; Rosales, Marcos 2 ; Salmon, Jack 2
SH: Bussey, Reggie 1
SF: Garcia, Ayden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sheff, Cooper 2 ; Myro, Gunnar 3 ; Barragan, Drew 1 ; Burns II, Nin 3 ; Bussey, Reggie 3 ; Rodriguez, Jonny 1 ; Rosales, Marcos 2 ; Salmon, Jack 1
SB: Barragan, Drew 1 ; Bussey, Reggie 1
HBP: Barragan, Drew 2
Batting:
2B: Elmore, Luke 1 ; Zapp, Walker 1
3B: Niednagel, Ben 1
HR: Elmore, Luke 1 ; Burdine, Brooks 1 ; Hanoian, Wyatt 1 ; Boyd, Landon 1
RBI: Elmore, Luke 5 ; Zapp, Walker 2 ; Burdine, Brooks 3 ; Hanoian, Wyatt 2 ; Boyd, Landon 6
Base Running:
RUNS: Bradshaw, Kayden 1 ; Oster, T.J. 1 ; Elmore, Luke 2 ; Garrish, Tripp 4 ; Zapp, Walker 2 ; Anstey, Cam 1 ; Burdine, Brooks 1 ; Campbell, Blake 2 ; Hanoian, Wyatt 2 ; Boyd, Landon 2
SB: Bradshaw, Kayden 2 ; Niednagel, Ben 1 ; Garrish, Tripp 2 ; Campbell, Blake 1
CS: Bradshaw, Kayden 1
HBP: Garrish, Tripp 1 ; Campbell, Blake 2
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
2
H
3
RBI
5
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
6
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
6
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
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RHP/OF
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RHP
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OF
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IF
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C
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