Air Force 18, Nevada 5
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Reno, Nev. - Don Weir Field at Peccole Park

WP: Richard Rutledge III (2-0)
LP: Mahiro Tomita (0-1)

RENO, Nev. - Nevada's five-game winning streak and its eight-game run to open its home campaign each came to an end Saturday, as Air Force put up 18 runs with 17 hits in an 18-5 victory over the Wolf Pack.

The teams face off in the rubber game Sunday at 12:05 p.m. at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park.

Saturday, Air Force quickly jumped ahead with four runs in the top of the first. Wyatt Hanoian doubled in Kayden Bradshaw to open the scoring then Tripp Garrish delivered a two-run double later in the frame. Garrish would score the fourth run on a successful double steal.

Nevada (13-7, 4-1 MW) got two runs back in its half of the first with RBI groundouts from Jayce Dobie and Lee Matsuzaki.

But that was as close as Nevada would get. Air Force (8-12, 4-1 MW) got four more in the third to chase Wolf Pack starter Mahiro Tomita. With two out, Brooks Burdine drove in two with a single through the right side, followed by Bradshaw's double down the left-field line to make it 8-2.

Tomita would fall to 0-1 with the loss, giving up eight runs over 2.2 innings.

Lee Matsuzaki led off the fourth with a solo homer as Nevada would score thrice over the fourth and fifth innings to get within three at 8-5, but the Falcons would score 10 runs over the final three innings to put away any doubt.

Matsuzaki paced four Wolf Pack batters with two-hit days at the plate Saturday. His solo homer was Nevada's only extra-base hit out of 11 on the day.

Bradshaw and Burdine each drove in four runs for the Falcons, with Burdine going 3-for-4. Garrish was 4-for-6 with two RBIs on the day while Ben Niednagel drove in three runs on a two-hit day.

Reliever Richard Rutledge III got the win in relief, improving to 2-0 striking out three and giving up just three hits over the final 4.2 innings. Starter Gaines Estridge went 4.1 innings, giving up five runs (four earned).