Friday, March 18
Las Vegas, NV
7:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
UNLV
Air Force starts three-game tilt with UNLV
3/18/2022 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
Schedule
GAME ONE: at UNLV, March 18, 7:00 pm MT
GAME TWO: at UNLV, March 19, 2:00 pm MT
GAME THREE: at UNLV, March 20, 1:00 pm MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: YouTube (UNLV Athletics)
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-The two schools have met for 144 all-time games, with Air Force posting a 39-105 record.
-Over the last 10 overall games, Air Force and UNLV are each 5-5.
-In the Falcons last 12 games at UNLV, Air Force is 2-10.
Pitching Probables
GAME ONE
RHP Paul Skenes (1-1, 4.70 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Ibarra (2-0, 2.08)
GAME TWO
RHP Rob Martin (1-0, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP Troy Balko (0-1, 6.28 ERA)
GAME THREE
LHP Seungmin Shim (2-1, 3.71 ERA) vs. LHP Noah Mattera (2-0, 5.87 ERA)
Air Force Projected Batting Order
1. CF, Jr. Blake Covin (L) (.441/.513/.588/0 HR/10)
2. 1B, So. Sam Kulasingam (S) (.339/.444/.441/1 HR/10 RBI)
3. DH, So. Paul Skenes (R) (.229/.341/.429/2 HR/5 RBI)
4. RF, Sr. Gabriel Garcia (R) (.224/.348/.362/1 HR/6 RBI)
5. C, Sr. Braydon Altorfer (R) (.207/.288/.431/4 HR/11 RBI)
6. LF, Sr. Cayden Zimmerman (R) (.214/.313/.500/1 HR/5 RBI)
7. 3B, So. Jay Thomason (L) (.167/.293/.208/0 HR/4 RBI)
8. SS, So. Aerik Joe (R) (.220/.328/.240/0 HR/2 RBI)
9. 2B, Jr. Trayden Tamiya (R) (.151/.250/.264/1 HR/10 RBI)
Last Series vs. Minnesota
GAME ONE
-A tie-game through five innings, a late Oklahoma charge pushed the Sooners over the Falcons in Tuesday's 10-4 loss.
-From the leadoff spot, Blake Covin went 2-5 with a RBI triple in the 4th.
-Cayden Zimmerman returned to the Falcons lineup after having not appeared in a game since the series finale with Navy on February 26, and did so in style.
-The senior was 1-4 with two RBI, as his two-run home run in 8th was his first of the season.
-It was a tough afternoon for Air Force pitching, as the five Falcons to appear combined for 10 walks and a hit-by-pitch.
GAME TWO
-The Falcons nearly erased multiple five-run deficits, as the tying run was tagged out at home plate for the final out in today's 8-7 loss to the Sooners.
-The top of the Air Force order was a thorn in the side of the Oklahoma staff all afternoon, as Blake Covin and Sam Kulasingam each finished with three hits.
-Covin was 3-5, all singles, while Kulasingam, making his first start of the year at third base, finished 3-4 with a 9th inning double.
-Trayden Tamiya was 1-4, though he clubbed his first home run of 2022, a two-run shot in the 7th. Gabriel Garcia was 1-3, as his RBI triple in the final inning brought the Falcons to within a run of forcing a bottom of the 9th. Making his second-consecutive start, Cayden Zimmerman produced a RBI double in the 4th.
-Air Force certainly put pressure on Oklahoma late, as Covin and Kulasingam both reached with one-out hits in the 9th.
-With both men on second and third, Jason Booker, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the 7th, brought Covin home with a RBI groundout, advancing Kulasingam to third.
-Now 8-6, Garcia pulled a RBI triple into left-center, bringing the score to 8-7 with him being the tying run on third.
-With Altorfer at the plate, a wild pitch saw Garcia attempt to score the tying run, though the baseball ricocheted off the backstop, leading to a throw and tag at home to end the game.
#SkOhtani is Back
-After missing Air Force's past five games (rest), Paul Skenes returns to the Air Force lineup and Friday night starting slot.
-Skenes, named to Golden Spikes Award Watchlist, owns the fifth-highest OPS (.770) among Falcons.
-Despite missing time, Skenes is one of only two Falcons (Braydon Altorfer) with more than one home run.
-Skenes' 12.9 K/9 is second in the Mountain West behind Fresno State's Ixan Henderson.
"The Straw That Stirs the Drink"-Coach Kaz
-Blake Covin is now 15-34 (.441 BA) to start the 2022 season,
-In need of more plate appearances for official consideraton, Covin's .441 average and 1.101 OPS would be team bests
-Having only eight played eight games, Covin is second on the team in hits (14) and fourth in total bases (20).
-If eligible, his 1.101 OPS would be 3rd in the MW.
Kul-Hand Sam
-Kulasingam's .339 average leads qualifying hitters on Air Force, as do his 20 hits.
-The switch-hitter's .444 OBP is 10th in the MW.
-The sophomore is the lone Falcons hitter with a positive BB/K rate (10/9).
-His 20 hits are 9th in the MW.
-Has 10 walks, 7th among MW hitters.
Alt Heating Up
-After starting the 2022 season 1-25 in his first eight games, senior catcher Braydon Altorfer has reversed the trend, going 11-32 in his last seven games.
-Even after a tough start, Altorfer leads Air Force with four home runs.
-His .440 SLG% is second on Air Force.
Doyle Rules
-Doyle Gehring has taken well to the closer role, picking up four saves in four tries for Air Force.
-Exclusively out of the pen, his 13.1 IP is fourth among Falcon arms and leads all AF relievers.
-Gehring's 1.35 ERA is second on the Falcons behind only Ryan Stohr.
-Gehring's 0.75 WHIP is also second among all AF pitchers.
-The sophomore is one of only 16 pitchers in in Division I with at least 4 saves.
The Stopper
-Senior Zach Argo has been one of Air Force's highest-leverage relievers.
-His 0.69 WHIP leads all Falcon pitchers.
-Argo has not allowed a run in four of five appearances.
-He has at least two strikeouts in those same four appearances.
A Crafty Lefty
-Sophomore Seungmin Shim leads all Air Force pitchers with 17.0 IP.
-Opponents have scored in only 4 of his 17.0 IP.
-His 3.71 ERA is 7th among MW pitchers.
-His .203 opponent BA is tied for the lowest in the conference.
After UNLV
-Following Air Force's series with UNLV, the Falcons will make another forray into the Big XI, traveling to Kansas State to play the Wildcats for a two-game midweek series starting Tuesday, March 22.
GAME ONE: at UNLV, March 18, 7:00 pm MT
GAME TWO: at UNLV, March 19, 2:00 pm MT
GAME THREE: at UNLV, March 20, 1:00 pm MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: YouTube (UNLV Athletics)
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-The two schools have met for 144 all-time games, with Air Force posting a 39-105 record.
-Over the last 10 overall games, Air Force and UNLV are each 5-5.
-In the Falcons last 12 games at UNLV, Air Force is 2-10.
Pitching Probables
GAME ONE
RHP Paul Skenes (1-1, 4.70 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Ibarra (2-0, 2.08)
GAME TWO
RHP Rob Martin (1-0, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP Troy Balko (0-1, 6.28 ERA)
GAME THREE
LHP Seungmin Shim (2-1, 3.71 ERA) vs. LHP Noah Mattera (2-0, 5.87 ERA)
Air Force Projected Batting Order
1. CF, Jr. Blake Covin (L) (.441/.513/.588/0 HR/10)
2. 1B, So. Sam Kulasingam (S) (.339/.444/.441/1 HR/10 RBI)
3. DH, So. Paul Skenes (R) (.229/.341/.429/2 HR/5 RBI)
4. RF, Sr. Gabriel Garcia (R) (.224/.348/.362/1 HR/6 RBI)
5. C, Sr. Braydon Altorfer (R) (.207/.288/.431/4 HR/11 RBI)
6. LF, Sr. Cayden Zimmerman (R) (.214/.313/.500/1 HR/5 RBI)
7. 3B, So. Jay Thomason (L) (.167/.293/.208/0 HR/4 RBI)
8. SS, So. Aerik Joe (R) (.220/.328/.240/0 HR/2 RBI)
9. 2B, Jr. Trayden Tamiya (R) (.151/.250/.264/1 HR/10 RBI)
Last Series vs. Minnesota
GAME ONE
-A tie-game through five innings, a late Oklahoma charge pushed the Sooners over the Falcons in Tuesday's 10-4 loss.
-From the leadoff spot, Blake Covin went 2-5 with a RBI triple in the 4th.
-Cayden Zimmerman returned to the Falcons lineup after having not appeared in a game since the series finale with Navy on February 26, and did so in style.
-The senior was 1-4 with two RBI, as his two-run home run in 8th was his first of the season.
-It was a tough afternoon for Air Force pitching, as the five Falcons to appear combined for 10 walks and a hit-by-pitch.
GAME TWO
-The Falcons nearly erased multiple five-run deficits, as the tying run was tagged out at home plate for the final out in today's 8-7 loss to the Sooners.
-The top of the Air Force order was a thorn in the side of the Oklahoma staff all afternoon, as Blake Covin and Sam Kulasingam each finished with three hits.
-Covin was 3-5, all singles, while Kulasingam, making his first start of the year at third base, finished 3-4 with a 9th inning double.
-Trayden Tamiya was 1-4, though he clubbed his first home run of 2022, a two-run shot in the 7th. Gabriel Garcia was 1-3, as his RBI triple in the final inning brought the Falcons to within a run of forcing a bottom of the 9th. Making his second-consecutive start, Cayden Zimmerman produced a RBI double in the 4th.
-Air Force certainly put pressure on Oklahoma late, as Covin and Kulasingam both reached with one-out hits in the 9th.
-With both men on second and third, Jason Booker, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the 7th, brought Covin home with a RBI groundout, advancing Kulasingam to third.
-Now 8-6, Garcia pulled a RBI triple into left-center, bringing the score to 8-7 with him being the tying run on third.
-With Altorfer at the plate, a wild pitch saw Garcia attempt to score the tying run, though the baseball ricocheted off the backstop, leading to a throw and tag at home to end the game.
#SkOhtani is Back
-After missing Air Force's past five games (rest), Paul Skenes returns to the Air Force lineup and Friday night starting slot.
-Skenes, named to Golden Spikes Award Watchlist, owns the fifth-highest OPS (.770) among Falcons.
-Despite missing time, Skenes is one of only two Falcons (Braydon Altorfer) with more than one home run.
-Skenes' 12.9 K/9 is second in the Mountain West behind Fresno State's Ixan Henderson.
"The Straw That Stirs the Drink"-Coach Kaz
-Blake Covin is now 15-34 (.441 BA) to start the 2022 season,
-In need of more plate appearances for official consideraton, Covin's .441 average and 1.101 OPS would be team bests
-Having only eight played eight games, Covin is second on the team in hits (14) and fourth in total bases (20).
-If eligible, his 1.101 OPS would be 3rd in the MW.
Kul-Hand Sam
-Kulasingam's .339 average leads qualifying hitters on Air Force, as do his 20 hits.
-The switch-hitter's .444 OBP is 10th in the MW.
-The sophomore is the lone Falcons hitter with a positive BB/K rate (10/9).
-His 20 hits are 9th in the MW.
-Has 10 walks, 7th among MW hitters.
Alt Heating Up
-After starting the 2022 season 1-25 in his first eight games, senior catcher Braydon Altorfer has reversed the trend, going 11-32 in his last seven games.
-Even after a tough start, Altorfer leads Air Force with four home runs.
-His .440 SLG% is second on Air Force.
Doyle Rules
-Doyle Gehring has taken well to the closer role, picking up four saves in four tries for Air Force.
-Exclusively out of the pen, his 13.1 IP is fourth among Falcon arms and leads all AF relievers.
-Gehring's 1.35 ERA is second on the Falcons behind only Ryan Stohr.
-Gehring's 0.75 WHIP is also second among all AF pitchers.
-The sophomore is one of only 16 pitchers in in Division I with at least 4 saves.
The Stopper
-Senior Zach Argo has been one of Air Force's highest-leverage relievers.
-His 0.69 WHIP leads all Falcon pitchers.
-Argo has not allowed a run in four of five appearances.
-He has at least two strikeouts in those same four appearances.
A Crafty Lefty
-Sophomore Seungmin Shim leads all Air Force pitchers with 17.0 IP.
-Opponents have scored in only 4 of his 17.0 IP.
-His 3.71 ERA is 7th among MW pitchers.
-His .203 opponent BA is tied for the lowest in the conference.
After UNLV
-Following Air Force's series with UNLV, the Falcons will make another forray into the Big XI, traveling to Kansas State to play the Wildcats for a two-game midweek series starting Tuesday, March 22.
Players Mentioned
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IF/OF
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