AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --- Portland's Ryan Hoogerwerf hit his third home run of the year, but the Air Force Falcons scored nine runs during the sixth, seventh and eighth innings combined to claim an 11-3 win over the Pilots on Tuesday afternoon at Falcon Ballpark. The long fly is the third of the season for Hoogerwerf, which matches Cody Hawken for the team high.
 
But it didn't come until the final inning, after Air Force (7-9) had already built a sizable lead. Neither team was able to cross home plate during the first three innings, but that changed in the fourth when the Falcons tallied consecutive doubles to score the game's first run.
 
Another run scored courtesy a pair of errors in the fifth, and the Falcons took control of the game with four runs in the sixth, three in the seventh and two more in the eighth. Russell Williams brought in two with a single in the sixth, and Drew Wiss followed with an RBI double. The team's leading hitter, Tyler Zabojnik produced an RBI double in the seventh before adding a run-scoring single an inning later.
 
The Pilots (2-12) scored their first run in the top half of the eighth inning. Ryan Kim singled, moved to second on a walk, headed to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored when Matt Kelly grounded out.
 
Hoogerwerf led off the final frame with his solo shot, and Chris Arpan followed with an RBI double a few batters later.
 
Air Force used eight pitchers against the Pilots, with the win going to starter Nick Biancalana (1-1). Those eight pitchers held the Pilots to seven hits.
 
Portland starter Kevin Baker (0-2), who fanned seven on the day, is saddled with the loss. He went 5.0 innings, yielding only two runs, one earned, on six hits. Connor Knutson and Noah Bode followed Baker on the mound and combined to surrender nine runs in 3.0 innings.
 
The Pilots next conclude their brief stay at Air Force with their second and final game with the Falcons on Wednesday at 12 p.m. (Pacific).