Friday, April 26
USAFA, CO
1:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
University of Nevada
Photo by: Dylan Smith
Falcons, Wolf Pack ready for weekend series
4/25/2024 4:38:00 PM | Baseball
Scheduling Note
-As Air Force and Nevada prepare for a scheduled three-game series, the two teams will first conclude the suspended March 30 ballgame on Friday, April 26 at 11:00 am MT at Erdle Field. The game will restart in the top of the 6th with two outs and Air Force at the plate, while the Falcons trail 5-2.
Game One of the three-game series will begin approximately 30 minutes after the finalization of the suspended game. As well, the projected weather forecast will see Air Force and Nevada head to CSU-Pueblo for Game Two, with first pitch at Rawlings Field slated for 12:00 pm MT.
Game Three is tentatively scheduled for its original date and time at 12:00 pm MT at Erdle Field on Sunday, April 28.
The entirety of the weekend is subject to change due to the murky forecast, so please continue to check GoAirForceFalcons.com for all up-to-date information.
Schedule
Fri: vs. Nevada, 11:00 am MT (suspended game)
Fri: vs. Nevada, 1:00 pm MT
Sat: vs. Nevada, 12:00 pm MT (Pueblo, CO)
Sun: vs. Nevada, 12:00 pm MT
Broadcast Information
Watch: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-Since 2013, Air Force is 24-27 against Nevada.
-Earlier this season, the Falcons split the first two games of a series in Reno on March 28-29 before the March 30 game was put to a halt due to inclement weather.
-The Falcons are 3-7 in their last 10 games against the Wolf Pack.
Pitching Probables
Fri: LHP Seungmin Shim (4-2, 2.90 ERA) vs. RHP Jason Doktorczyk (5-2, 3.09 ERA)
Sat: RHP Dylan Rogers (4-4, 6.43 ERA) vs. TBA
Sun: RHP Ben Weber (3-2, 5.98 ERA) vs. TBA
Projected Lineup (2024 OPS)
1. R/R, Chase Spencer, CF (.861 OPS)
2. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 3B (.844 OPS)
3. L/R, Jay Thomason, 2B (1.161 OPS)
4. R/R, Charlie Jones, 1B (.966 OPS)
5. R/R, Zach Peters, LF (.878 OPS)
6. L/L, Tripp Garrish, DH (.958 OPS)
7. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.667 OPS)
8. R/R, Walker Zapp, C (.712 OPS)
9. R/R, Christian Taylor, RF (.730 OPS)
Thomason Breaks Home Run Record
-Jay Thomason entered Tuesday's game tied with Nic Ready for the most home runs in an Air Force career, and he departed Jackson Field having broken the deadlock. Thomason slugged his 14th home run of the spring and the 51st of his Falcon career in his first plate appearance, surpassing Ready's record of 50 career homers set in 2019. He now sits just three home runs shy of tying BYU's Sean McNaughton's Mountain West career home run record of 54 set in 2010.
-As well, Thomason leads Air Force in batting average (.347), slugging (.707), OBP (.454), runs scored (49), hits (52), RBIs (36), total bases (106) and walks (26).
Here Comes the Chuckster
-Sophomore Charlie Jones has returned from injury to make an immediate splash.
-In 24 games, Jones is 31-87 (.356), reaching base in 22 of 24 games.
-His 17-game hitting streak came to an end on April 21, though is 4-9 (.444) since.
-Though not qualified, Jones' .356 average would lead Air Force hitters.
He's Very Much Back
-Sam Kulasingam, the reigning two-time MW Player of the Year, is beginning to overcome his initial troubles at the plate.
-Hitting just .200 over his first 13 games, Kulasingam is 35-100 (.350) in his past 23 games.
-Kulasingam is tied with Thomason for the most multi-hit games among Falcons with 15.
-He is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak as well.
Chase, Chase, In Your Face
-Chase Spencer has been a table-setter for the Air Force lineup.
-His 19 stolen bases lead all Mountain West players.
-A season ago, Spencer led all Mountain West players with 18 stolen bases.
-As well, Spencer has picked up at least one hit in 32 of 39 games this season.
-Spencer also currently owns an 11-game hitting streak.
The Zach Attack
-Since entering the starting lineup on April 5, Zach Peters has been a steady producer of offense.
-In the past 12 games, Peters is 17-48 (.354) with eight doubles and his first-career home run on April 6.
-In that span, Peters has driven in 11 runs as part of an 11-game hitting streak.
Trippin' Out
-A regular in the Air Force lineup over the past month, Tripp Garrish has not given much reason to take him out of the lineup.
-Since April 6, Garrish is 11-27 (.407) as the Air Force designated hitter.
-Garrish is slugging .667 since April 6.
-Garrish has homered in each of the last two games, the first two home runs of his collegiate career.
-In the last four games, the sophomore is 7-11 (.636) with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs.
He is Shim
-In 10 starts this season, Seungmin Shim owns a 2.90 ERA and an 8.85 K/9.
-His 2.90 ERA is the lowest in the conference.
-Shim's 61 strikeouts are also tied for third-most in the Mountain West.
-Shim also has produced a 2.08 GB/FB ratio.
-Shim's seven pickoffs lead the Mountain West.
-The left-hander has pitched at least 5.0 innings in nine of 10 starts, and has eclipsed 7.0 innings in five of 10 games.
Born to Run
-Through 39 games, Air Force is 69-82 (84%) in stolen base tries this season.
-The Falcons 69 stolen bases are tops among Mountain West teams.
On Deck
-Following the weekend series against Nevada, Air Force will host defending conference champion San Jose State for a three-game series beginning Friday, May 3.
-As Air Force and Nevada prepare for a scheduled three-game series, the two teams will first conclude the suspended March 30 ballgame on Friday, April 26 at 11:00 am MT at Erdle Field. The game will restart in the top of the 6th with two outs and Air Force at the plate, while the Falcons trail 5-2.
Game One of the three-game series will begin approximately 30 minutes after the finalization of the suspended game. As well, the projected weather forecast will see Air Force and Nevada head to CSU-Pueblo for Game Two, with first pitch at Rawlings Field slated for 12:00 pm MT.
Game Three is tentatively scheduled for its original date and time at 12:00 pm MT at Erdle Field on Sunday, April 28.
The entirety of the weekend is subject to change due to the murky forecast, so please continue to check GoAirForceFalcons.com for all up-to-date information.
Schedule
Fri: vs. Nevada, 11:00 am MT (suspended game)
Fri: vs. Nevada, 1:00 pm MT
Sat: vs. Nevada, 12:00 pm MT (Pueblo, CO)
Sun: vs. Nevada, 12:00 pm MT
Broadcast Information
Watch: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-Since 2013, Air Force is 24-27 against Nevada.
-Earlier this season, the Falcons split the first two games of a series in Reno on March 28-29 before the March 30 game was put to a halt due to inclement weather.
-The Falcons are 3-7 in their last 10 games against the Wolf Pack.
Pitching Probables
Fri: LHP Seungmin Shim (4-2, 2.90 ERA) vs. RHP Jason Doktorczyk (5-2, 3.09 ERA)
Sat: RHP Dylan Rogers (4-4, 6.43 ERA) vs. TBA
Sun: RHP Ben Weber (3-2, 5.98 ERA) vs. TBA
Projected Lineup (2024 OPS)
1. R/R, Chase Spencer, CF (.861 OPS)
2. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 3B (.844 OPS)
3. L/R, Jay Thomason, 2B (1.161 OPS)
4. R/R, Charlie Jones, 1B (.966 OPS)
5. R/R, Zach Peters, LF (.878 OPS)
6. L/L, Tripp Garrish, DH (.958 OPS)
7. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.667 OPS)
8. R/R, Walker Zapp, C (.712 OPS)
9. R/R, Christian Taylor, RF (.730 OPS)
Thomason Breaks Home Run Record
-Jay Thomason entered Tuesday's game tied with Nic Ready for the most home runs in an Air Force career, and he departed Jackson Field having broken the deadlock. Thomason slugged his 14th home run of the spring and the 51st of his Falcon career in his first plate appearance, surpassing Ready's record of 50 career homers set in 2019. He now sits just three home runs shy of tying BYU's Sean McNaughton's Mountain West career home run record of 54 set in 2010.
-As well, Thomason leads Air Force in batting average (.347), slugging (.707), OBP (.454), runs scored (49), hits (52), RBIs (36), total bases (106) and walks (26).
Here Comes the Chuckster
-Sophomore Charlie Jones has returned from injury to make an immediate splash.
-In 24 games, Jones is 31-87 (.356), reaching base in 22 of 24 games.
-His 17-game hitting streak came to an end on April 21, though is 4-9 (.444) since.
-Though not qualified, Jones' .356 average would lead Air Force hitters.
He's Very Much Back
-Sam Kulasingam, the reigning two-time MW Player of the Year, is beginning to overcome his initial troubles at the plate.
-Hitting just .200 over his first 13 games, Kulasingam is 35-100 (.350) in his past 23 games.
-Kulasingam is tied with Thomason for the most multi-hit games among Falcons with 15.
-He is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak as well.
Chase, Chase, In Your Face
-Chase Spencer has been a table-setter for the Air Force lineup.
-His 19 stolen bases lead all Mountain West players.
-A season ago, Spencer led all Mountain West players with 18 stolen bases.
-As well, Spencer has picked up at least one hit in 32 of 39 games this season.
-Spencer also currently owns an 11-game hitting streak.
The Zach Attack
-Since entering the starting lineup on April 5, Zach Peters has been a steady producer of offense.
-In the past 12 games, Peters is 17-48 (.354) with eight doubles and his first-career home run on April 6.
-In that span, Peters has driven in 11 runs as part of an 11-game hitting streak.
Trippin' Out
-A regular in the Air Force lineup over the past month, Tripp Garrish has not given much reason to take him out of the lineup.
-Since April 6, Garrish is 11-27 (.407) as the Air Force designated hitter.
-Garrish is slugging .667 since April 6.
-Garrish has homered in each of the last two games, the first two home runs of his collegiate career.
-In the last four games, the sophomore is 7-11 (.636) with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs.
He is Shim
-In 10 starts this season, Seungmin Shim owns a 2.90 ERA and an 8.85 K/9.
-His 2.90 ERA is the lowest in the conference.
-Shim's 61 strikeouts are also tied for third-most in the Mountain West.
-Shim also has produced a 2.08 GB/FB ratio.
-Shim's seven pickoffs lead the Mountain West.
-The left-hander has pitched at least 5.0 innings in nine of 10 starts, and has eclipsed 7.0 innings in five of 10 games.
Born to Run
-Through 39 games, Air Force is 69-82 (84%) in stolen base tries this season.
-The Falcons 69 stolen bases are tops among Mountain West teams.
On Deck
-Following the weekend series against Nevada, Air Force will host defending conference champion San Jose State for a three-game series beginning Friday, May 3.