ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Interstat) — The New Mexico Lobos overcame an early six-run deficit Friday night, rallying behind 18 hits and a strong relief performance from Ethin Woltz to defeat the Air Force Falcons 9-7 in a Mountain West Conference game at Lobo Field.

New Mexico improved to 25-18-1, while Air Force fell to 21-22.

Air Force struck first with a five-run second inning, capitalizing on wildness from New Mexico starter Cristian Mogen. After Wyatt Hanoian and Tripp Garrish walked, Luke Elmore reached on a bunt fielder’s choice, and Christian Taylor singled to drive in Garrish. Taylor stole second, then Elmore scored on a passed ball. Taylor stole third and scored on Kayden Bradshaw’s single. A second passed ball moved Bradshaw to third and Ben Niednagel to second, and Walker Zapp singled to left for two more runs. Hanoian was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Garrish grounded out to end the inning with Air Force up 5-0.

Luke Elmore led off the third with a solo home run to left, extending the Air Force lead to 6-0. But New Mexico answered in the bottom half. Akili Carris singled, Lenny Ashby singled, and Gene Trujillo singled to drive in Carris. Luke Mansy and Karsen Waslefsky followed with run-scoring singles, and Khalil Walker walked with the bases loaded to bring home Trujillo, cutting the Air Force lead to 6-5.

Air Force added a run in the fourth on Zapp’s groundout that scored Niednagel, who had tripled. New Mexico then took control in the bottom of the fourth. Carris singled, Trujillo doubled, and Mansy singled to drive in Carris. Waslefsky’s sacrifice fly tied the game, and Walker singled to put New Mexico ahead 8-7. Richard Rutledge relieved and limited the damage, getting Anthony Diaz to ground out.

The Lobos added an insurance run in the sixth. Brodey Williams singled, Antonio Gianni singled, and Walker’s fielder’s choice scored Williams, making it 9-7.

Air Force threatened in the seventh. Garrish reached on a throwing error, Elmore singled, and Taylor flied out to advance Garrish to third. But Cooper Corkrean relieved Woltz and struck out pinch hitter Cole Jenkins, then got Blake Campbell to pop out. Corkrean worked the eighth and ninth, allowing no hits and striking out three. Woltz earned the victory with 3 1/3 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief, striking out three.

Key performances included Carris going 4 for 5 with an RBI and a triple. Walker drove in three runs. Mansy had three hits and an RBI. Trujillo had two hits and an RBI. For Air Force, Elmore went 2 for 5 with a home run and an RBI. Zapp drove in three runs. Bradshaw, Niednagel and Taylor each had a hit and an RBI.

The game featured two sacrifice flies by New Mexico and two double plays grounded into by the Lobos.

The two teams meet again Saturday and Sunday to conclude the three-game series. Air Force then hosts Washington State, while New Mexico travels to Grand Canyon.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Air Force 7, New Mexico 4, and Interstat’s ELO system had given New Mexico a 53.30 percent probability to win.