Air Force wins 9-4, sweeps midweek series with ACU

ABILENE, Texas- The Falcons extended their winning streak to three-consecutive games on Wednesday, as a five-run 6th played a major role in the 9-4 win.

Jay Thomason was a perfect 4-4 on the day, an afternoon in which the Falcons third baseman reached base in all five plate appearances. Thomason provided 3 RBI for Air Force, punctuated by a 9th inning solo home run, his 10th of the 2022 season.

The sophomore is now 23-46 (.500) over his last 11 games.

Aerik Joe continues to be dialed in at the plate, as the Air Force shortstop was 3-4 with a double and a run batted in. After holding just a .175 average as of March 12, Joe has raised his batting average 83 points to .258 over his last 16 games.

Sam Kulasingam was 2-5 with a two-base hit, while Gabriel Garcia extended his hitting streak to nine games with a double in the 7th.

Sawyer Hawks made the second start of his freshman season and was solid, allowing just one unearned run over four innings. He scattered six hits while striking out four.

Ryan Stohr was credited with the win after taking over in the 5th, just before the Falcons took the lead in the next half-inning. The junior pitched three innings, allowing two runs on five hits, four strikeouts and a walk.

Staring at a 2-0 deficit in the 6th, Kulasingam led off the inning with a base hit. After Garcia was plunked, Paul Skenes drove a 111 MPH double off the left-center field wall, scoring Kulasingam. Now 2-1, Thomason gave Air Force the lead with a two-run single before swiping second base.

Following Thomason, Joe drew a walk, as both base runners were moved into scoring position after a Trayden Tamiya sac bunt. With two outs, pinch-hitter Braydon Altorfer drove a two-run single up the middle to score Thomason and Joe, giving the Falcons a 5-2 lead.

The Wildcats got a run back in the bottom of the 6th after a solo home run to trim the Falcons lead to 5-3, but the Air Force offense wasn't quite finished.

In the top of the 7th with two on, Thomason's third hit of the day loaded the bases for Joe, who promptly singled into center field to give the Falcons a 6-3 advantage.

Jake Greiving kept the rally going, singling into right field to score two more Air Force runs, as the Falcons grew their lead to 8-3.

Abilene Christian scored a run after a home run in the 8th, but Thomason's 9th inning blast created a 9-4 lead, the soon-to-be final score.

Next, the Falcons will take their three-game winning streak back to Colorado Springs where Air Force will host California Baptist for a three-game series starting Friday, April 8.

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