ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Interstat) — Garrett Hutchins hit a grand slam in the second inning and Air Force defeated New Mexico 8-4 on Sunday, May 3, in a Mountain West afternoon game.

Hutchins, the designated hitter, went 2 for 4 with four RBIs, providing the decisive blow in a four-run second inning that gave the Falcons an early lead they never relinquished. Walker Zapp added a solo home run in the third inning and finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Wyatt Hanoian contributed a triple and an RBI single, going 2 for 4.

Air Force starting pitcher Jordan Watkins worked four innings, allowing one earned run on no hits while striking out two. Reliever Sam Hentges tossed 2⅔ scoreless innings, giving up no hits and striking out three. Patrick Davidson earned the save with 2⅓ innings of relief, yielding two earned runs on no hits with four strikeouts.

New Mexico’s Antonio Gianni went 3 for 3 with an RBI double and a walk. Akili Carris homered in the ninth inning and finished 1 for 4. For the Lobos, Josh Barnhouse threw 2⅓ innings of one-hit relief with one strikeout, and Talor Grubbs allowed two hits and one earned run over two innings with two strikeouts.

Air Force improved to 23-22 overall; New Mexico fell to 25-20-1.

The game remained scoreless through the first inning. Air Force broke through in the top of the second when Wyatt Hanoian singled and advanced to second on a walk to Garrish. After an Elmore hit by pitch loaded the bases, Hutchins crushed a 1-0 pitch over the right-field wall for a grand slam.

Zapp led off the third with a solo homer to left field, extending the lead to 5-0. New Mexico got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Williams singled, advanced to third on Gianni’s double, and scored on Russell’s groundout to first base.

Air Force answered in the fifth. Zapp singled, and Hanoian tripled to deep center field to drive him in, making it 6-1.

New Mexico chipped away in the seventh. Walker walked, and Rede was hit by a pitch. Carris reached on an error to load the bases. Ashby grounded into a double play that scored Walker, cutting the deficit to 6-2.

The Falcons added two runs in the top of the ninth. Hutchins doubled, and pinch runner Oster scored on Taylor’s double. Taylor later scored on a fielding error by New Mexico center fielder Russell.

New Mexico’s final run came in the bottom of the ninth when Carris led off with a solo home run to left field.

New Mexico threatened in the fourth when Walker doubled and Carris walked, but Ashby flied out to end the inning. The Lobos left runners in scoring position in the fourth and sixth innings.

The most important play occurred in the second inning when Hutchins’ grand slam gave Air Force a four-run lead and allowed the Falcons to control the game’s momentum.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Air Force 6, New Mexico 4. Interstat’s ELO system had given New Mexico a 52.70 percent probability to win.