Friday, April 17
Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark | Phoenix, AZ
8 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
17-19, 8-5
1
at
8
Grand Canyon University
13-24, 5-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Grand Canyon | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 8 | 11 | 1 |
Air Force Drops Game One to Grand Canyon
4/17/2026 10:43:00 PM | Baseball
PHOENIX, Ariz., - The Falcons (17-19, 8-5) fell in game one of the series, 8-1, to Grand Canyon (13-24, 5-8) at GCU Ballpark on Friday evening. Air Force batters totaled eight hits, while Aiden Poe logged four strikeouts.
Senior Walker Zapp was responsible for the lone RBI of the game, while Ben Niednagel, who went 2-for-3 scored the Falcons' only run. Tripp Garrish marked two hits while Luke Elmore and Christian Taylor recorded one apiece.
Gaines Estridge took the start for the Falcons, throwing 1.1 innings with seven earned runs allowed. Aiden Poe hit a career-high 6.2 innings on the mound with no runs allowed and four strikeouts.
The Lopes plated five early lead in the bottom of the first frame and added three more in the second for an 8-0 lead.
After a trio of pitchers' duel innings, the Falcons plated their first run, 8-1. Niednagel opened the sixth with a double to right center and scored on a single placed through the left side from Zapp.
Air Force threatened in the top of the stretch with loaded bases but could not push a run across.
The two teams are set for a 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT start for the second game of the series on Saturday April 18.
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Senior Walker Zapp was responsible for the lone RBI of the game, while Ben Niednagel, who went 2-for-3 scored the Falcons' only run. Tripp Garrish marked two hits while Luke Elmore and Christian Taylor recorded one apiece.
Gaines Estridge took the start for the Falcons, throwing 1.1 innings with seven earned runs allowed. Aiden Poe hit a career-high 6.2 innings on the mound with no runs allowed and four strikeouts.
The Lopes plated five early lead in the bottom of the first frame and added three more in the second for an 8-0 lead.
After a trio of pitchers' duel innings, the Falcons plated their first run, 8-1. Niednagel opened the sixth with a double to right center and scored on a single placed through the left side from Zapp.
Air Force threatened in the top of the stretch with loaded bases but could not push a run across.
The two teams are set for a 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT start for the second game of the series on Saturday April 18.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Guerrero, JT (3-4)
L: Estridge, Gaines (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Niednagel, Ben 1
RBI: Zapp, Walker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Niednagel, Ben 1
HBP: Niednagel, Ben 1
Batting:
2B: Schmidt, Trevor 2 ; Scaldeferri, Billy 1 ; Johns, Tanner 1
HR: Schmidt, Trevor 1
RBI: Schmidt, Trevor 5 ; Peery, Cannon 1 ; Bates, Camden 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Perez, Mito 2 ; Schmidt, Trevor 1 ; Sanko, Jake 1 ; Scaldeferri, Billy 2 ; Peery, Cannon 1 ; Lopez, Jose 1
CS: Bates, Camden 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
UT
/ Baseball
C
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