COLORADO SPRINGS (Interstat) — Luke Elmore’s three-run home run in the second inning gave Air Force an early spark, but the Falcons needed a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth to walk off Washington State 10-9 on Sunday afternoon at Falcon Baseball Field.

The Cougars, who had won the first two games of the series by a combined 25-6 margin, took a 9-4 lead into the final frame. Washington State starter Luke Meyers worked six innings, allowing four earned runs on no hits with three strikeouts in a bizarre line that reflected the Cougars’ defensive struggles. Max Hartman drove in four runs for Washington State, going 3-for-5 with a double and a single.

Air Force’s comeback began when Taylor singled to lead off the ninth. Hutchins walked, and Elmore delivered an RBI single to left center, cutting the deficit to 9-6. Boyd was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Oster followed with a two-run single to shallow center, making it 9-8. Niednagel then doubled to right center, scoring Cam – who had pinch-run for Boyd – to tie the game at 9. After an intentional walk to Zapp, Hanoian singled to right center for the walk-off RBI, plating Oster.

Hanoian finished 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the eighth and two RBIs. Elmore was the top star for Air Force, going 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs, breaking out of a 1-for-9 slump over the previous two games against Washington State. Patrick Davidson threw 2 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts to earn the win.

Washington State had taken control early. After a quiet first inning, Air Force struck first in the second when Elmore’s fifth homer of the season scored Taylor and Hutchins. The Cougars answered in the fourth. Smith singled and Roy doubled before Hartman singled to center for two runs. Priest doubled, and Skjonsby’s sacrifice fly made it 3-3. In the fifth, Washington State added three more. Thein doubled, Northrop singled, and Smith’s RBI single made it 4-3. A wild pitch and a groundout double play that still scored a run extended the lead to 6-3. Hartman’s double in the seventh capped a three-run inning that pushed the lead to 9-3.

Air Force chipped away. Taylor’s RBI single in the sixth cut it to 9-4, and Hanoian’s solo homer in the eighth made it 9-5. The Falcons then mounted the decisive ninth inning rally against Washington State relievers Scott Rienguette, Rylan Haider and Brock Blatter. Rienguette allowed one earned run in 1 2/3 innings. Haider struck out the only batter he faced, and Blatter did not record an out.

Washington State fell to 27-24 overall; Air Force improved to 24-24. The Cougars had 14 hits, the Falcons 13. Both teams grounded into two double plays.

Air Force next travels to Oregon State for a three-game series starting Thursday. Washington State returns home to host Seattle on Tuesday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Washington State 7, Air Force 6, while its ELO system gave Air Force a 53.40 percent probability to win.