Air Force Clinches Mountain West Berth with 8-4 Victory over UNM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Air Force	0	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	8	8	2
New Mexico	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	1	4	8	2

Air Force

New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Air Force (23-22, 14-7) secured an 8-4 victory over New Mexico (26-20-1, 11-9-1) to claim the series and officially punch its ticket to the Mountain West Tournament. The Falcons totaled eight hits on the day, while the pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts.

Garrett Hutchins powered the offense, going 2-for-4 with a grand slam and four RBIs. Walker Zapp, Wyatt Hanoian, and Christian Taylor each added an RBI in the win.

On the mound, Jordan Watkins (2-2) got the start and allowed one run with two strikeouts across four innings. Sam Hentges provided 2.2 innings of relief with three strikeouts before Patrick Davidson closed it out, striking out four over the final 2.1 innings.

Air Force broke the game open early in the second inning. Wyatt Hanoian singled, Tripp Garrish drew a walk, and Luke Elmore was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Hutchins, who launched his first career grand slam over the right field fence to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead.

Zapp extended the advantage in the third with a leadoff solo home run, pushing the lead to 5-0.

New Mexico got on the board in the fourth with an RBI groundout, but Air Force responded in the fifth. Zapp singled and came around to score on a Hanoian triple to deep center, making it 6-1.

The Lobos chipped away with runs in the fourth, seventh, and eighth innings, cutting the deficit to 6-3.

The Falcons added insurance in the ninth. Hutchins doubled to start the inning and was replaced by pinch runner T.J. Oster, who scored on a Taylor double. Later in the frame, Taylor crossed the plate on a throwing error to extend the lead to 8-3.

New Mexico managed one final run in the bottom of the ninth, but Davidson shut the door to secure the 8-4 win and the series.

With the victory, Air Force clinches its spot in the Mountain West Tournament and will return home to Erdle Field May 8-10 to host Washington State.

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