Air Force defeated Nevada 18-5 on March 21 in the second game of their Mountain West baseball series at Don Weir Field. The Falcons recorded 17 hits, and pitchers Gaines Estridge and Trey Rutledge combined for five strikeouts.
The win gives Air Force a record of 8-12 overall and 4-1 in conference play, while Nevada falls to 13-7 overall and also holds a 4-1 conference record. The result sets up a decisive rubber match between the teams.
Estridge started for Air Force, pitching 4.1 innings with two strikeouts and allowing four earned runs. Rutledge earned his second win of the season by throwing a career-high 4.2 scoreless innings in relief, striking out three batters.
Offensively, Brooks Burdine led the Falcons by going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Kayden Bradshaw also drove in four runs, while shortstop Ben Niednagel contributed three RBIs. Air Force took an early lead with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by RBI doubles from Wyatt Hanoian and Tripp Garrish. The Falcons continued to build their advantage throughout the game, including a four-run eighth inning that made it 14-5.
Nevada managed to cut into the deficit during the middle innings but was unable to keep pace as Air Force added more runs late in the game. The Falcons secured their victory with another four-run rally in the ninth inning.
The teams will meet again on Sunday, March 22 at noon Pacific Time (1 p.m. Mountain Time) to conclude their series.
