
Photo by: Eric Strom
Air Force Hits Road For Final Time in 2021 at UNLV
4/30/2021 12:48:00 PM | Baseball
AF swept UNLV at home the last time the two teams played
Air Force Falcons (16-16, 8-10 MW) at UNLV Rebels (14-7, 9-6 MW)
May 1-2 | Earl E. Wilson Stadium
Falcons Hit Road For Final Time in 2021
The Air Force Academy baseball team is on the road for the final time in the 2021 season, as they head to Sin City to take on UNLV, May 1-2. First pitch against the Rebels will come at noon MT both days, with Saturday serving as a doubleheader, and the series finale in Sunday a solo game.
Following Along At Home
All games will have a live stream on the UNLV Youtube page, as well as live stats on UNLVRebels.com. As always, fans can follow along on Twitter, @AF_Baseball.
Last Series In Review
The Falcons dropped two-of-three at home against the Nevada Wolf Pack, winning the opener, 6-3, before falling in the final two, 14-7 and 7-4.
Byrnes the ERA Leader
In the 6-3 win over Nevada last week, senior John Byrnes was brilliant once again. The tall righty allowed just one run, which was unearned, on two hits over six innings while striking out three. It was his second-straight outing with no earned runs allowed and he has only allowed two earned runs over his last 23.1 innings.
He lowered his MW-leading ERA to 2.47 on the season. The ERA ranks 70th in the nation, and as it stands now, is the fifth-lowest in a single-season in program history.
Skenes the Super Freshman
Freshman Paul Skenes has simply been one of the best freshmen in both the MW and NCAA this season. While he ranks in the top-10 in the MW in nine offensive categories, the rookie also ranks in the top-170 in the nation in five offensive categories, batting average, doubles, hits/game, slugging, and total bases. He is also 12th in the nation in saves with seven, which leads the MW and is second among freshmen nationally.
Skenes has been extremely versatile for the Falcons this season, as he has made starts at catcher (13), first base (2), and DH (17). He has also made his 11 pitching appearances in games in which he started in the batting lineup. For his efforts, Skenes has been named to the Baseball America 2021 Freshman of the Year watchlist.
AF Top-50 in the RPI
Entering the week, AF has been tabbed at 45th by the NCAAs Rating Percentage Index (RPI). This season, AF has been ranked as high as 19th in the RPI, thanks to its 26 games on the road compared to just six at home, and 10 wins over teams in the RPI top-100.
The next-highest Mountain West team in the RPI is UNLV at 76th. AF swept UNLV in the lone series between the two teams in 2021.
Saving the Best for Last
AF has had some late inning magic in 2021, with two walk off wins and five wins where the winning run was scored in the ninth inning or later. In fact, AF has out-scored its opponents by a 26-7 margin in the ninth inning or later.
Miscellaneous Trends
AF is 5-0 on the season in one-run games, including two walk-off wins to win by one run. AF is also 2-1 in two-run games. The Falcons are a perfect 11-0 when out-hitting their opponent, and 3-1 when hits are tied. Finally, AF has been a sure thing with a lead in the late innings, as AF is 12-0 when leading after six and 3-0 when the game is tied after six.
On the Horizon
The Falcons begin their first of four-straight series at home with three games against New Mexico, May 8-9.
May 1-2 | Earl E. Wilson Stadium
Falcons Hit Road For Final Time in 2021
The Air Force Academy baseball team is on the road for the final time in the 2021 season, as they head to Sin City to take on UNLV, May 1-2. First pitch against the Rebels will come at noon MT both days, with Saturday serving as a doubleheader, and the series finale in Sunday a solo game.
Following Along At Home
All games will have a live stream on the UNLV Youtube page, as well as live stats on UNLVRebels.com. As always, fans can follow along on Twitter, @AF_Baseball.
Last Series In Review
The Falcons dropped two-of-three at home against the Nevada Wolf Pack, winning the opener, 6-3, before falling in the final two, 14-7 and 7-4.
Byrnes the ERA Leader
In the 6-3 win over Nevada last week, senior John Byrnes was brilliant once again. The tall righty allowed just one run, which was unearned, on two hits over six innings while striking out three. It was his second-straight outing with no earned runs allowed and he has only allowed two earned runs over his last 23.1 innings.
He lowered his MW-leading ERA to 2.47 on the season. The ERA ranks 70th in the nation, and as it stands now, is the fifth-lowest in a single-season in program history.
Skenes the Super Freshman
Freshman Paul Skenes has simply been one of the best freshmen in both the MW and NCAA this season. While he ranks in the top-10 in the MW in nine offensive categories, the rookie also ranks in the top-170 in the nation in five offensive categories, batting average, doubles, hits/game, slugging, and total bases. He is also 12th in the nation in saves with seven, which leads the MW and is second among freshmen nationally.
Skenes has been extremely versatile for the Falcons this season, as he has made starts at catcher (13), first base (2), and DH (17). He has also made his 11 pitching appearances in games in which he started in the batting lineup. For his efforts, Skenes has been named to the Baseball America 2021 Freshman of the Year watchlist.
AF Top-50 in the RPI
Entering the week, AF has been tabbed at 45th by the NCAAs Rating Percentage Index (RPI). This season, AF has been ranked as high as 19th in the RPI, thanks to its 26 games on the road compared to just six at home, and 10 wins over teams in the RPI top-100.
The next-highest Mountain West team in the RPI is UNLV at 76th. AF swept UNLV in the lone series between the two teams in 2021.
Saving the Best for Last
AF has had some late inning magic in 2021, with two walk off wins and five wins where the winning run was scored in the ninth inning or later. In fact, AF has out-scored its opponents by a 26-7 margin in the ninth inning or later.
Miscellaneous Trends
AF is 5-0 on the season in one-run games, including two walk-off wins to win by one run. AF is also 2-1 in two-run games. The Falcons are a perfect 11-0 when out-hitting their opponent, and 3-1 when hits are tied. Finally, AF has been a sure thing with a lead in the late innings, as AF is 12-0 when leading after six and 3-0 when the game is tied after six.
On the Horizon
The Falcons begin their first of four-straight series at home with three games against New Mexico, May 8-9.
Players Mentioned
Falcons win on senior day over New Mexico
Sunday, May 11
Lobos top Falcons to even series
Saturday, May 10
Falcons big 8th inning leads to win over Lobos
Friday, May 09
Falcons fall in series finale to Nevada
Sunday, April 27