Air Force won 5-4 against Grand Canyon on April 18, evening the Mountain West baseball series at GCU Ballpark in Phoenix.
The close game saw all of Air Force’s runs scored through home runs. Luke Elmore contributed three runs batted in with a homer, while Tripp Garrish added two more with his own home run. The Falcons’ pitching staff combined for seven strikeouts during the game.
Ethan Dillinger started on the mound for Air Force, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing two runs while striking out two batters. Gunner Gilmore pitched for 1.1 innings and gave up one run before Marcus Downing took over, throwing 2.1 hitless frames to earn his fifth win of the season. Sam Hentges pitched one inning, striking out two but allowing a run, and Patrick Davidson closed the game with his third save after striking out two batters in the ninth inning.
The Falcons began strongly by scoring two runs in the first inning after Garrish hit his eighth home run of the season following a hit-by-pitch to Hanoian. Grand Canyon tied it at 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning, but Air Force regained control in the fourth when Elmore hit a three-run homer following walks to Garrish and Cole Jenkins.
Grand Canyon narrowed Air Force’s lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and an RBI double in the eighth, but Downing managed to end a bases-loaded threat earlier by making a play at home plate.
The deciding game of this series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at GCU Ballpark.
