ALBUQUERQUE (Interstat) — New Mexico scored nine unanswered runs after falling behind early to defeat Air Force 9-7 in a Mountain West matchup Friday. The Lobos improved to 25-18-1, while the Falcons dropped to 21-22.

Air Force built a 7-2 lead in the second inning, highlighted by Luke Elmore’s solo home run and Walker Zapp’s two-run single. New Mexico answered with four runs in the third, then added four more in the fourth to take control.

Khalil Walker drove in three runs for the Lobos, and Akili Carris went 4 for 5 with an RBI. Ethin Woltz threw 3.1 innings of one-hit relief with three strikeouts, and Cooper Corkrean added 2.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Luke Mansy and Gene Trujillo each had two hits and an RBI.

For Air Force, Elmore finished 2 for 5 with a homer, and Zapp had three RBIs. The Falcons managed only eight hits against New Mexico’s 18-hit attack. The teams continue the series Saturday.