Air Force Academy

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Bolstered by a three-run second inning, New Mexico held on to defeat Air Force, 7-4, in a Mountain West Conference baseball game, Friday night at Isotopes Park. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 5-24 on the season and 0-10 in conference play.
New Mexico (17-18, 7-6) scored a run in the first to go ahead 1-0. The Falcons put up a run in the second inning to tie game up 1-1.
The Lobos came right back with three runs in the bottom of the second to go up 4-1. Air Force responded with a run in the third as Reid Lamson doubled and scored on Matt Ghigna's double to make it 4-2 UNM.
New Mexico then put up runs in the fourth and fifth innings to go ahead 6-2. The Falcons then rallied back with two runs in the sixth to make it a 6-4 game.
With the bases loaded, Price Paramore laced a single to right to score Ghigna from third. Karl Bolt scored the second run on a fielding error by a ball hit by Brent Tittle to the first baseman.
The Lobos added an insurance run in the ninth, as the Falcons committed two errors in the inning.
New Mexico starter Jason Fernandez, improved to 3-3 on the season, striking out eight, while allowing four runs on eight hits in seven innings pitched. Carsten Gaarder picked up his first save of the season for UNM with two scoreless innings of relief. Air Force starter Mitch Brown fell to 0-3 on the season, allowing five runs on four hits and six walks.
The Falcons held the Lobos to just seven hits in the game, the fewest hits the Falcons have allowed to a MWC oppenent since allowing seven to UNLV on March 28, 2004.
Air Force received strong relief performances by Jeff Tetrault and Kyle DePierre. Tetrault pitched 2.1 innings, allowing just one unearned run and one base hit. DePierre allowed one run on two hits and one strikeout in two innings of relief.
The Falcons had 10 base hits in the game, led by Paramore and Ghigna. Paramore went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while Ghigna went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI. Lamson also had two hits at the plate with a stolen base.
The Falcons and Lobos return to action tomorrow at 6 p.m. back at Isotopes Park for Pack the Park Night, which drew a UNM record 5,671 fans last year.
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