Through eight innings Saturday night Navy and Air Force matched each other run for run with neither team leading by more two along the way. But going into the final frame tied, it only took one pitch to decide the outcome of the second game of the third annual Freedom Classic at Grainger Stadium.
Air Force centerfielder David Baska turned on the inning’s first pitch, driving it over the left-field wall to give the Falcons an 8-7 lead they held on to en route to the program’s 1,000th victory.
“I just get up there with the mentality of hitting the ball hard,” Baska said of his first career homerun. “I’m looking for my pitch and I’m going to hit it as hard as I can for a line drive. I missed the line drive but I hit in the right direction (for a homerun).”
Baska, who also scored the game’s first run, finished with two of the Falcons’ six hits and two RBIs.
Navy (3-3) scored a run in the first three innings and was tied with the Falcons (1-5) after five, 5-5. However, over that stretch the Middies stranded nine, including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth.
With two outs in the seventh Navy’s Jonathan Huggins walked and advanced to second on a stolen base. A single by Brad Brosak gave the Midshipmen a one run lead that it didn’t hold on to long.
Air Force used a pair of walks, a single and a fielder’s choice to plate two runs in the top of the eighth.
David Wiedeman evened it up in the bottom-half of the inning on a Kash Manzelli ground out, which set the stage for Baska.
Air Force head coach Mike Kazlausky said Baska, who is also the punter for the Falcons football team, is a representative of the Air Force Academy and added he is proud for him to wear the uniform.
“I know we forget about games and scores, but that’s his first collegiate home run,” Kazlausky said. “I’m sure he’s always going to remember that.”
Ben Yorkley (1-0) picked up the win for the Falcons, his first of the year. Stephen Moore (0-1) earned the loss.
The Midshipmen, which outhit Air Force 12-6, was led by Chris Campbell, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Left fielder Alex Bast had a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs for the Falcons.
The two service academies will play Games 3 and 4 of the four-game series as a doubleheader today at Grainger Stadium. The first game has been rescheduled for 11 a.m with Game 4 scheduled to begin around 1:30 p.m.
All pregame festivities, including the announcement of the players’ service selections, will be held prior to Game 4.