Falcon Baseball Evens Series with 5-4 Win over GCU

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Air Force	2	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	5	3	0
Grand Canyon	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	4	10	1

Air Force

Grand Canyon

PHOENIX, Ariz., - Air Force evened the Mountain West series with a narrow 5-4 victory over Grand Canyon on Saturday evening at GCU Ballpark. The Falcons scored all their runs off homers while the pitching staff combined for seven strikeouts.

At the plate, Luke Elmore was responsible for a trio of RBIs off a homer, while Tripp Garrish marked two with a home run of his own.

Ethan Dillinger opened on the mound for the Falcons, throwing 3.1 innings with a pair of both strikeouts and runs allowed. In 1.1 innings, Gunner Gilmore gave up one run before Marcus Downing threw 2.1 hitless frames and earned his fifth win of the season. Sam Hentges went one inning, striking out two Lopes but allowing a run. Closer, Patrick Davidson, picked up his third save after striking out a pair of batters in the ninth.

The Falcons opened the game with a bang, scoring two in the top of the first. With two away, Hanoian was hit by a pitch and went home with Garrish on his eighth homer of the season.

Grand Canyon leveled the board at 2-2, in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the next frame, Air Force responded with a trio of runs to reclaim the lead at 5-2. Garrish and Cole Jenkins were issued free passes in time for Elmore to launch a long shot to deep left field, for his third homer of 2026.

The Lopes trimmed the gap to 5-3 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Downing closed the inning with a play at the plate to escape a bases-loaded situation.

An RBI double in the bottom of the eighth scored GCU's final run of the evening.

The rubber match is set for 12 p.m. PT/1 p.m. MT on Sunday April 19 at GCU Ballpark.

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