Friday, March 17
San Jose, CA
3:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
San Jose State University
Photo by: Hozana Arceri
Air Force and San Jose State meet in Mountain West action
3/16/2023 3:42:00 PM | Baseball
Schedule
Fri: at San Jose State, March 17, 3:00 pm MT
Sat (G1): at San Jose State, March 18, 12:00 pm MT
Sat (G2): at San Jose State, March 18, (Game Two will start roughly 30 minutes following the conclusion of Game One)
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: None (No Live Stream due to quick turnaround for SJSU)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-Since 1959, Air Force is 30-20 in 50 games against San Jose State.
-A season ago, the Falcons managed a 5-1 record against the Spartans, including consecutive wins in the Mountain West Tournament to claim the program's first conference title.
-In the two school's last 10 meetings, Air Force is 9-1.
Pitching Probables
Fri: RHP Jr. Doyle Gehring (1-1, 4.95 ERA) vs. RHP RS-Sr. Jonathan Clark (0-0, 3.68 ERA)
Sat (G1): RHP So. Dylan Rogers (0-2, 7.50 ERA) vs. LHP RS-Jr. Micky Thompson (1-1, 2.40 ERA)
Sat (G2): LHP Jr. Seungmin Shim (2-1, 5.19 ERA) vs. TBA
Projected Lineup
1. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (1.067 OPS)
2. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.805 OPS)
3. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.576 OPS)
4. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (1.025 OPS)
5. R/R, Chase Spencer, RF (.818 OPS)
6. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.737 OPS)
7. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.641 OPS)
8. S/R, Landon Boyd, C (.510 OPS)
9. L/R, Blake Covin, CF (.451 OPS)
The Previous Series (at Louisiana Tech)
Game One
-The Falcons pitching staff kept their side within striking range, but Air Force managed just three hits in Tuesday's 5-0 loss.
-Sam Kulasingam extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the 3rd. Jay Thomason's double in the 2nd was the Falcons sole extra-base hit. Jake Greiving produced a base-hit and walked twice.
-Air Force struck out a season-high 17 times in addition to stranding nine runners on base.
-After allowing two runs in his opening inning of work, Jake Sansing settled in to the ballgame and gave Air Force 3.0 solid frames. Sansing managed four strikeouts while allowing just two baserunners over his final two innings.
-Sawyer Hawks surrendered just one hit in his 3.0 innings, but the one hit was a two-run home run to extend the Bulldogs lead to 4-0 in the 6th. Otherwise, Hawks pitched ferociously, notching five strikeouts.
-Zach Peters pitched the last 2.0 innings of the game, allowing just one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
Game Two
-After being held to just three hits on the Tuesday, the Birds were angry, as Air Force saw its lineup propel its side to a much-needed 12-10 win over Louisiana Tech.
-It was a big day for Jay Thomason, who was 3-6 (HR, 2B, 3 RBI) and fell a triple short of the cycle. Thomason launched his seventh long ball of the spring in the 3rd, a two-run blast to give Air Force an initial 3-1 lead. Thomason remains tied with New Mexico's Reed Spenrath for the conference lead in home runs. Wednesday marks Thomason's first three-hit game since February 19.
-Trayden Tamiya was plugged into the two-hole of the Falcons lineup for the first time this season and relished the role. The senior reached base in four of his six plate appearances, managing a 3-5 day with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Tamiya now has nine multi-hit games in his 18 starts.
-Following an 0-12 spell over his last four games, Matt Thompson provided three RBI as part of a 2-5 day. Thompson drove home a run in the 6th with a RBI base-hit, and later doubled home two more runs in the 8th. His three RBI ties a career-high.
Jake Greiving was 1-2 with a walk and two RBI, as he singled home the first Falcon run of the game in the 3rd. The junior also lifted a sac fly in the 6th. Blake Covin had his first multi-hit game of the season, going 2-3 with a double and a walk. Aerik Joe poked a RBI single in the 8th to highlight his 1-4 day at the plate.
-After going hitless in five at-bats, Sam Kulasingam snapped his 12-game hitting streak. However, his walk in the 4th inning extended his on-base streak to 14-consecutive games.
-The Falcons struck out a season-low two times, while Air Force's 12 runs match the club's 2023 season-high.
-Freshman Ben Weber made his first collegiate start on the mound and was up to the task. The Minnesota product pitched 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
-Jason Shuger earned his first win since May 15, 2021, pitching 2.0 shutout innings while picking up two strikeouts in between.
Picking Up Where He Left Off
-In his first 18 games, Sam Kulasingam is hitting .413 with 10 RBI.
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is currently one of only 17 players in Division I with at least 31 hits thus far in 2023
-The junior's ten multi-hit games lead the team.
-Though his 12-game hitting streak was snapped on Wednesday, Kulasingam is currently riding a 14-game on-base streak.
-His 31 hits are tied with New Mexico's Dylan Ditzenberger for the conference lead.
#BOMBason is Back
-After leading Air Force with 16 home runs a season ago, Jay Thomason looks to again be a consistent power threat.
-Thomason again owns the team lead in home runs (7), and is second on the team with a 1.025 OPS.
-Thomason is tied with New Mexico's Reed Spenrath for the conference lead in home runs.
-Thomason also leads the Falcons in RBI (20) and SLG% (.671).
-He also leads the club with six multi-RBI games.
-His current seven-game hitting streak is the Falcons longest active streak.
The Captain
-Trayden Tamiya has been one the Falcons most consistent offensive threats.
-Tamiya's .324 average is second to only Kulasingam.
-Tamiya has also struck out just seven times in 76 plate appearances (9.2%).
-His 10.3 at-bats per strikeout is among the top 100 figures in Division I baseball.
-Tamiya's nine multi-hit games are second-most among Air Force players.
Ol' Reliable
-Reliever Duke Benge has amassed 11 appearances in Air Force's first 18 games.
-He's one of only four DI pitchers with at least 11 appearances in 2023.
Missed Opportunities .
-The Falcons are currently hitless with the bases loaded this season, going 0-23 in said opportunities.
-With runners in scoring position, Air Force is hitting at only a .240 clip.
-The Falcons .254 team batting average ranks Air Force 211th among 295 Division I teams.
-Creating baserunners has also been difficult, as the Falcons .341 OBP ranks 242nd among 295 DI programs.
Up Next
-Following the Falcons series in San Jose, Air Force will travel back to California to take on San Diego State for a weekend series starting March 24.
Fri: at San Jose State, March 17, 3:00 pm MT
Sat (G1): at San Jose State, March 18, 12:00 pm MT
Sat (G2): at San Jose State, March 18, (Game Two will start roughly 30 minutes following the conclusion of Game One)
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: None (No Live Stream due to quick turnaround for SJSU)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-Since 1959, Air Force is 30-20 in 50 games against San Jose State.
-A season ago, the Falcons managed a 5-1 record against the Spartans, including consecutive wins in the Mountain West Tournament to claim the program's first conference title.
-In the two school's last 10 meetings, Air Force is 9-1.
Pitching Probables
Fri: RHP Jr. Doyle Gehring (1-1, 4.95 ERA) vs. RHP RS-Sr. Jonathan Clark (0-0, 3.68 ERA)
Sat (G1): RHP So. Dylan Rogers (0-2, 7.50 ERA) vs. LHP RS-Jr. Micky Thompson (1-1, 2.40 ERA)
Sat (G2): LHP Jr. Seungmin Shim (2-1, 5.19 ERA) vs. TBA
Projected Lineup
1. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (1.067 OPS)
2. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.805 OPS)
3. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.576 OPS)
4. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (1.025 OPS)
5. R/R, Chase Spencer, RF (.818 OPS)
6. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.737 OPS)
7. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.641 OPS)
8. S/R, Landon Boyd, C (.510 OPS)
9. L/R, Blake Covin, CF (.451 OPS)
The Previous Series (at Louisiana Tech)
Game One
-The Falcons pitching staff kept their side within striking range, but Air Force managed just three hits in Tuesday's 5-0 loss.
-Sam Kulasingam extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the 3rd. Jay Thomason's double in the 2nd was the Falcons sole extra-base hit. Jake Greiving produced a base-hit and walked twice.
-Air Force struck out a season-high 17 times in addition to stranding nine runners on base.
-After allowing two runs in his opening inning of work, Jake Sansing settled in to the ballgame and gave Air Force 3.0 solid frames. Sansing managed four strikeouts while allowing just two baserunners over his final two innings.
-Sawyer Hawks surrendered just one hit in his 3.0 innings, but the one hit was a two-run home run to extend the Bulldogs lead to 4-0 in the 6th. Otherwise, Hawks pitched ferociously, notching five strikeouts.
-Zach Peters pitched the last 2.0 innings of the game, allowing just one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
Game Two
-After being held to just three hits on the Tuesday, the Birds were angry, as Air Force saw its lineup propel its side to a much-needed 12-10 win over Louisiana Tech.
-It was a big day for Jay Thomason, who was 3-6 (HR, 2B, 3 RBI) and fell a triple short of the cycle. Thomason launched his seventh long ball of the spring in the 3rd, a two-run blast to give Air Force an initial 3-1 lead. Thomason remains tied with New Mexico's Reed Spenrath for the conference lead in home runs. Wednesday marks Thomason's first three-hit game since February 19.
-Trayden Tamiya was plugged into the two-hole of the Falcons lineup for the first time this season and relished the role. The senior reached base in four of his six plate appearances, managing a 3-5 day with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Tamiya now has nine multi-hit games in his 18 starts.
-Following an 0-12 spell over his last four games, Matt Thompson provided three RBI as part of a 2-5 day. Thompson drove home a run in the 6th with a RBI base-hit, and later doubled home two more runs in the 8th. His three RBI ties a career-high.
Jake Greiving was 1-2 with a walk and two RBI, as he singled home the first Falcon run of the game in the 3rd. The junior also lifted a sac fly in the 6th. Blake Covin had his first multi-hit game of the season, going 2-3 with a double and a walk. Aerik Joe poked a RBI single in the 8th to highlight his 1-4 day at the plate.
-After going hitless in five at-bats, Sam Kulasingam snapped his 12-game hitting streak. However, his walk in the 4th inning extended his on-base streak to 14-consecutive games.
-The Falcons struck out a season-low two times, while Air Force's 12 runs match the club's 2023 season-high.
-Freshman Ben Weber made his first collegiate start on the mound and was up to the task. The Minnesota product pitched 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
-Jason Shuger earned his first win since May 15, 2021, pitching 2.0 shutout innings while picking up two strikeouts in between.
Picking Up Where He Left Off
-In his first 18 games, Sam Kulasingam is hitting .413 with 10 RBI.
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is currently one of only 17 players in Division I with at least 31 hits thus far in 2023
-The junior's ten multi-hit games lead the team.
-Though his 12-game hitting streak was snapped on Wednesday, Kulasingam is currently riding a 14-game on-base streak.
-His 31 hits are tied with New Mexico's Dylan Ditzenberger for the conference lead.
#BOMBason is Back
-After leading Air Force with 16 home runs a season ago, Jay Thomason looks to again be a consistent power threat.
-Thomason again owns the team lead in home runs (7), and is second on the team with a 1.025 OPS.
-Thomason is tied with New Mexico's Reed Spenrath for the conference lead in home runs.
-Thomason also leads the Falcons in RBI (20) and SLG% (.671).
-He also leads the club with six multi-RBI games.
-His current seven-game hitting streak is the Falcons longest active streak.
The Captain
-Trayden Tamiya has been one the Falcons most consistent offensive threats.
-Tamiya's .324 average is second to only Kulasingam.
-Tamiya has also struck out just seven times in 76 plate appearances (9.2%).
-His 10.3 at-bats per strikeout is among the top 100 figures in Division I baseball.
-Tamiya's nine multi-hit games are second-most among Air Force players.
Ol' Reliable
-Reliever Duke Benge has amassed 11 appearances in Air Force's first 18 games.
-He's one of only four DI pitchers with at least 11 appearances in 2023.
Missed Opportunities .
-The Falcons are currently hitless with the bases loaded this season, going 0-23 in said opportunities.
-With runners in scoring position, Air Force is hitting at only a .240 clip.
-The Falcons .254 team batting average ranks Air Force 211th among 295 Division I teams.
-Creating baserunners has also been difficult, as the Falcons .341 OBP ranks 242nd among 295 DI programs.
Up Next
-Following the Falcons series in San Jose, Air Force will travel back to California to take on San Diego State for a weekend series starting March 24.
Players Mentioned
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