Air Force Caps Perfect Homestand with 5-4 Win over Utah Valley

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Utah Valley	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	4	9	0
Air Force	1	0	2	0	0	0	1	1	X	5	6	0

Utah Valley

Air Force

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force (17-18) capped a perfect six-game homestand and remained unbeaten at Erdle Field (11-0) with a narrow 5-4 victory over Utah Valley (15-21) on Tuesday afternoon. The Falcons tallied six hits, while three pitchers combined for seven strikeouts in the win.

Freshman Jordan Watkins delivered a career performance in his fourth start, tossing a personal-best five innings with four strikeouts. Josh Holst (1-4) followed with three innings of relief, allowing three runs while striking out two to earn his first career win. Closer Sam Hentges shut the door in the ninth, striking out one and allowing no hits to secure his second save of the season.

Ben Niednagel led the Falcons with two hits and scored twice. Walker Zapp drove in a team-high two RBIs, while Wyatt Hanoian and Tripp Garrish each added one.
Air Force struck first in the opening frame, taking a 1-0 lead as Niednagel singled and later scored on a double to right-center by Hanoian.

The Falcons extended their lead to 3-0 in the third after loading the bases early. Kayden Bradshaw worked a walk, Niednagel reached on an infield single, and Hanoian was hit by a pitch. Zapp brought home a run on a fielder's choice before Garrish followed with an RBI single.

Utah Valley got on the board in the fifth, trimming the deficit to 3-1, but Air Force responded in the seventh. Bradshaw singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on two flyouts before Zapp delivered again with an RBI single to push the lead to 4-1.

The Wolverines rallied in the eighth, scoring three runs to even the game at 4-4.

With momentum shifting, the Falcons answered in the bottom half. Luke Elmore and Cole Jenkins were both hit by pitches, and J.D. Wolff drew a walk to load the bases. A trio of stolen bases followed, with Elmore swiping home to give Air Force the decisive 5-4 edge.

Air Force returns to the road for a Mountain West series at Grand Canyon from April 17–19 in Phoenix, Ariz.

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