MESA (Interstat) — Washington State rode a dominant pitching performance from Nick Lewis to a 5-1 victory over Air Force on Friday, May 22, 2026, at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Ariz.

Lewis, who entered with a brief scoreless outing against Seattle six days earlier, threw 8 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and no earned runs while striking out 11. He held the Falcons scoreless until the top of the ninth, when Air Force pushed across an unearned run on a throwing error. Lewis was lifted for August Richie, who recorded the final out.

The Cougars seized control in the bottom of the first inning. After a leadoff groundout, Gavin Roy doubled to left center. Following a strikeout, Cade Priest singled up the middle to score Roy for the game’s first run. Priest stole second, then Ryan Skjonsby tripled down the right-field line, driving in Priest and Daniel Robinson — who had walked — to make it 3-0.

Washington State added two more in the second. After two quick outs, Kyler Northrop flied out to left to end the inning. But the Cougars kept the pressure on. In the bottom of the second, a single by Smith put a man on, and Roy followed with a two-run homer to deep left field, his second of the season, scoring Smith and stretching the lead to 5-0.

Air Force starter Watkins was lifted after two innings, allowing five runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Bowen Brantingham replaced him and pitched 3 2/3 hitless innings, striking out five, but the Falcons could not capitalize on the scoreless relief work.

Air Force threatened in the sixth. With one out, Oster singled and Niednagel singled, putting runners on first and second. Zapp infield flew out for the second out. After Hanoian was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Garrish struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Falcons finally broke through in the ninth. Hanoian led off with a single. Garrish reached on a fielder’s choice, forcing Hanoian out at second. After Taylor flied out, Hutchins singled, moving Garrish to second. Cam pinch‑ran for Hutchins. Elmore then laid down a bunt single to third, and a throwing error by Ben allowed Garrish to score from second, with Cam advancing to third and Elmore to second. But Lewis was replaced by Richie, who induced a flyout to left from Boyd to end the game.

Washington State outhit Air Force 11-7. Roy finished 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Northrop went 2-for-4 with a double. For Air Force, Brantingham’s relief appearance was a bright spot, as he faced the minimum over his 3 2/3 innings, striking out five and not allowing a hit. Marcus Downing, Joey Collier, Gunner Gilmore and Tyler Russ each tossed scoreless relief for the Falcons.

The win improved Washington State to 28-25, while Air Force dropped to 26-27. The series continued a season-long rivalry between the two programs, with the Cougars having taken two of three meetings earlier in May at Air Force — losing a 10-9 thriller on May 10 after winning 14-4 and 11-2 on the previous two days.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Washington State 6, Air Force 5. Interstat’s ELO system had given Air Force a 52.90 percent probability to win.