Air Force Advances, DBU goes Home

The U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons defeated the Dallas Baptist University (DBU) Patriots, 5-1, in the opening loser’s bracket contest in the NCAA Austin Regional Championship. 

DBU exits the tournament with two loses.  Air Force plays the winner of the match-up between Texas and Louisiana Tech. 

DBU entered the loser’s bracket by virtue of a 12-5 loss to Louisiana Tech; Air Force with a 5-1 loss to Texas. 

Air Force’s starting pitcher Doyle Gehring (W, 4-3) easily contained the Patriots.  Gehring allowed just 1 run on 3 hits, with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts, in 7 innings.  CJ Dornak earned the save, retiring the last six DBU batters. 

The Falcons were led offensively by Paul Skenes and Jay Thomason. Skenes, who pitched the previous day, went 2-for-3 with a 2-run homer.  Thomason went 3-for-4 with an RBI. 

DBU starting pitcher Arnold Chandler (L, 2-4) suffered the loss, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits, with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts, in 2.1 innings.  DBU sent a total of 5 pitchers to the mound in the effort. 

After scoring a run in the second inning on Trayden Tamiya’s RBI single, Air Force exploded with a 4-run third inning.  Sam Kulasingam’s lead-off homer was followed by Paul Skenes’ blast, scoring Blake Covin.  A single to Jake Greiving, followed by a walk to Braydon Altorfer, set up Jay Thomason’ run-scoring single. 

DBU broke the shut-out in the 7th inning on Luke Heefner’s sacrifice fly, scoring Cole Moore.