AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (Interstat) — The Air Force Falcons staged a monumental comeback from an 11-run first-inning deficit to defeat the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels 15-11 in the first game of a Mountain West doubleheader on Saturday.

UNLV’s Ayden Garcia launched a three-run homer in the top of the first, part of an 11-run outburst. Air Force immediately answered with four runs in the bottom half, highlighted by Walker Zapp’s two-run shot, and chipped away relentlessly.

The Falcons scored five runs in the fourth to tie it and took the lead for good on Kayden Bradshaw’s two-run homer in the fifth. Wyatt Hanoian’s two-run triple in the seventh provided key insurance. Jordan Watkins earned the win with four scoreless innings of relief. UNLV starter Felix Ong allowed 10 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. The Runnin’ Rebels had 13 hits to the Falcons’ 15. UNLV is 13-8. Air Force is 6-11.