Friday, March 3
Charleston, SC
3:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
Charleston Southern University
Photo by: Hozana Arceri
Falcons to face three opponents in four games in Charleston
3/3/2023 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Schedule
Fri: at Charleston Southern, March 3, 3:00 pm MT
Sat: at College of Charleston, March 4, 12:00 pm MT
Sun: at Charleston Southern, March 5, 11:00 am MT
Mon: vs. Michigan State, March 6, 10:00 am MT
Broadcast Information (vs. Charleston Southern)
Live Stream: ESPN+ (Subscription Required)
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History (Charleston Southern)
-Since 2008, Air Force is 5-2 against Charleston Southern.
-Air Force was defeated 4-3 in the most previous meeting in 2017.
Broadcast Information (vs. College of Charleston)
Live Stream: FloSports (Subscription Required)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History (College of Charleston)
-2023 marks the first meeting between the two schools.
Broadcast Information (vs. Michigan State)
Live Stream: None
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History (Michigan State)
-The two programs have only met once before in 1988.
-Air Force defeated Michigan State 13-11.
Pitching Probables
Fri: RHP Jr. Doyle Gehring (0-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. TBA
Sat: RHP So. Dylan Rogers (0-1, 3.27 ERA) vs. RHP Sr. Trey Pooser (1-0, 2.13 ERA)
Sun: LHP Jr. Seungmin Shim (2-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. TBA
Mon: TBA vs. TBA
Projected Lineup
1. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.364/.391/.545)
2. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (.500/.585/.676)
3. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.189/.231/.297)
4. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (.250/.351/.719)
5. R/R, Chase Spencer, RF (.258/.368/.645)
6. R/R, Chris Stallings, CF (.154/.313/.385)
7. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.294/.333/.412)
8. S/R, Landon Boyd, C (.111/.238/.111)
9.R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.206/.250/.206)
The Previous Series (at #24 Texas Tech)
Game One
-The Falcons clubbed three home runs on Tuesday, but the long ball wasn't enough, as Air Force was bested 9-4 by #24 Texas Tech.
-Matt Thompson had a banner day in the leadoff spot, going 3-5 with a home run and two RBI.
-Thompson's three hits are a career single-game best.
-Trayden Tamiya launched his first home run of the season in the 2nd, a solo shot to tie the game at 1-1. Tamiya finished the evening 2-4.
-Chris Stallings connected on his second dinger of the spring, a solo shot in the 6th.
Game Two
-Air Force saw #24 Texas Tech score in seven of their eight turns at the plate, while piling on 19 hits, as the Falcons were drubbed 18-5 on Wednesday.
-Sam Kulasingam and Trayden Tamiya each had a pair of base-hits, with the latter driving in the Falcons first run of the game with a RBI single.
-Jay Thomason connected on his fourth home run of the year to now lead the dugout. The junior launched an opposite-field, two-run home run in the 4th.
-Charlie Jones was 1-2 with a double, the only other Falcon to produce an extra-base hit. Jones' double was the first extra-base hit of his brief Air Force career.
-Matt Thompson has taken to his role in the leadoff spot, as the senior was responsible for a RBI single in the 6th. Thompson was 4-10 with 3 RBI in the two-game series, having begun the 2023 season 8-22 (.364) at the plate.
-It was a tough day at the office for the Air Force pitching staff, as seven Air Force hurlers combined to allow 18 runs on 19 hits to go with 10 walks, three hit-by-pitches, and three wild pitches.
-Freshmen Joey Collier and Cooper Loveridge made their collegiate debuts in the process, with both pitchers collecting their first-career strikeouts.
Picking Up Where He Left Off
-In his first nine games, Sam Kulasingam is 17-34 (4 2B's, 1 3B) with 4 RBI.
-To go with five walks and two HBP's, Kulasingam has reached base in 24 of his first 41 plate appearances (.585 OBP).
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is currently one of only 12 players in Division I with at least 17 hits thus far in 2023
-He's also one of 25 DI players with a batting average of .500 or better.
-Kulasingam's 1.261 OPS is second among players in the Mountain West.
-The junior's five multi-hit games lead the team.
A Strong Start for the Rotation
-Air Force's weekend rotation has been solid in its first two turns, as Doyle Gehring, Dylan Rogers, and Seungmin Shim have pitched to a 2.53 ERA in 32.0 IP.
-The trio have held opponents to a .202 BA, while striking out opposing hitters at rate of 10.1 K/9.
-The Falcons starters also posted a KK/B ratio of 3.6 (36 K's/10 BB's).
#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 (4), having hit one long ball against each of Air Force's first four series opponents.
-Thomason is the first Falcon to reach double-digit RBI (12), and is tied with Kulasingam for the team lead in total bases (23).
-He is one of three Falcons with an OPS north of 1.000 (1.070).
-His also leads the club with three multi-RBI games.
Ol' Reliable
-Reliever Duke Benge has amassed six appearances in Air Force's first nine games.
-He's one of only 10 DI pitchers with at least six appearances in 2023.
-His reliability has become well-earned, as Benge owns a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and .222 opponent BA.
-Benge has done well to deny run-scoring opportunities, as he's allowed just one hit in 10 at-bats in two-out situations, while opposing hitters are just 2-19 with runners on base against the senior.
Missed Opportunities
-In Air Force's first 347 plate appearances, the Falcons have struck out 89 times (25.6%).
-As well, the Falcons are currently hitless with the bases loaded this season, going 0-14 in said opportunities.
-With runners in scoring position, Air Force is hitting at only a .238 clip (19-80).
Up Next
-Following the Falcons time in South Carolina, Air Force will take on its first conference opponents, as the Falcons travel to New Mexico for a weekend series starting March 10.
Fri: at Charleston Southern, March 3, 3:00 pm MT
Sat: at College of Charleston, March 4, 12:00 pm MT
Sun: at Charleston Southern, March 5, 11:00 am MT
Mon: vs. Michigan State, March 6, 10:00 am MT
Broadcast Information (vs. Charleston Southern)
Live Stream: ESPN+ (Subscription Required)
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History (Charleston Southern)
-Since 2008, Air Force is 5-2 against Charleston Southern.
-Air Force was defeated 4-3 in the most previous meeting in 2017.
Broadcast Information (vs. College of Charleston)
Live Stream: FloSports (Subscription Required)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History (College of Charleston)
-2023 marks the first meeting between the two schools.
Broadcast Information (vs. Michigan State)
Live Stream: None
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History (Michigan State)
-The two programs have only met once before in 1988.
-Air Force defeated Michigan State 13-11.
Pitching Probables
Fri: RHP Jr. Doyle Gehring (0-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. TBA
Sat: RHP So. Dylan Rogers (0-1, 3.27 ERA) vs. RHP Sr. Trey Pooser (1-0, 2.13 ERA)
Sun: LHP Jr. Seungmin Shim (2-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. TBA
Mon: TBA vs. TBA
Projected Lineup
1. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.364/.391/.545)
2. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (.500/.585/.676)
3. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.189/.231/.297)
4. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (.250/.351/.719)
5. R/R, Chase Spencer, RF (.258/.368/.645)
6. R/R, Chris Stallings, CF (.154/.313/.385)
7. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.294/.333/.412)
8. S/R, Landon Boyd, C (.111/.238/.111)
9.R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.206/.250/.206)
The Previous Series (at #24 Texas Tech)
Game One
-The Falcons clubbed three home runs on Tuesday, but the long ball wasn't enough, as Air Force was bested 9-4 by #24 Texas Tech.
-Matt Thompson had a banner day in the leadoff spot, going 3-5 with a home run and two RBI.
-Thompson's three hits are a career single-game best.
-Trayden Tamiya launched his first home run of the season in the 2nd, a solo shot to tie the game at 1-1. Tamiya finished the evening 2-4.
-Chris Stallings connected on his second dinger of the spring, a solo shot in the 6th.
Game Two
-Air Force saw #24 Texas Tech score in seven of their eight turns at the plate, while piling on 19 hits, as the Falcons were drubbed 18-5 on Wednesday.
-Sam Kulasingam and Trayden Tamiya each had a pair of base-hits, with the latter driving in the Falcons first run of the game with a RBI single.
-Jay Thomason connected on his fourth home run of the year to now lead the dugout. The junior launched an opposite-field, two-run home run in the 4th.
-Charlie Jones was 1-2 with a double, the only other Falcon to produce an extra-base hit. Jones' double was the first extra-base hit of his brief Air Force career.
-Matt Thompson has taken to his role in the leadoff spot, as the senior was responsible for a RBI single in the 6th. Thompson was 4-10 with 3 RBI in the two-game series, having begun the 2023 season 8-22 (.364) at the plate.
-It was a tough day at the office for the Air Force pitching staff, as seven Air Force hurlers combined to allow 18 runs on 19 hits to go with 10 walks, three hit-by-pitches, and three wild pitches.
-Freshmen Joey Collier and Cooper Loveridge made their collegiate debuts in the process, with both pitchers collecting their first-career strikeouts.
Picking Up Where He Left Off
-In his first nine games, Sam Kulasingam is 17-34 (4 2B's, 1 3B) with 4 RBI.
-To go with five walks and two HBP's, Kulasingam has reached base in 24 of his first 41 plate appearances (.585 OBP).
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is currently one of only 12 players in Division I with at least 17 hits thus far in 2023
-He's also one of 25 DI players with a batting average of .500 or better.
-Kulasingam's 1.261 OPS is second among players in the Mountain West.
-The junior's five multi-hit games lead the team.
A Strong Start for the Rotation
-Air Force's weekend rotation has been solid in its first two turns, as Doyle Gehring, Dylan Rogers, and Seungmin Shim have pitched to a 2.53 ERA in 32.0 IP.
-The trio have held opponents to a .202 BA, while striking out opposing hitters at rate of 10.1 K/9.
-The Falcons starters also posted a KK/B ratio of 3.6 (36 K's/10 BB's).
#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 (4), having hit one long ball against each of Air Force's first four series opponents.
-Thomason is the first Falcon to reach double-digit RBI (12), and is tied with Kulasingam for the team lead in total bases (23).
-He is one of three Falcons with an OPS north of 1.000 (1.070).
-His also leads the club with three multi-RBI games.
Ol' Reliable
-Reliever Duke Benge has amassed six appearances in Air Force's first nine games.
-He's one of only 10 DI pitchers with at least six appearances in 2023.
-His reliability has become well-earned, as Benge owns a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and .222 opponent BA.
-Benge has done well to deny run-scoring opportunities, as he's allowed just one hit in 10 at-bats in two-out situations, while opposing hitters are just 2-19 with runners on base against the senior.
Missed Opportunities
-In Air Force's first 347 plate appearances, the Falcons have struck out 89 times (25.6%).
-As well, the Falcons are currently hitless with the bases loaded this season, going 0-14 in said opportunities.
-With runners in scoring position, Air Force is hitting at only a .238 clip (19-80).
Up Next
-Following the Falcons time in South Carolina, Air Force will take on its first conference opponents, as the Falcons travel to New Mexico for a weekend series starting March 10.
Players Mentioned
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1B
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IF/OF
/ BaseballFalcons Take Down the Bears in Seven
Tuesday, March 31
Falcons walk past St. Thomas 20-12
Monday, March 16
Falcons Sweep UNLV with pair of wins on Saturday
Saturday, March 14
Falcons ten run UNLV to start series on Friday
Friday, March 13
