Friday, March 24
San Diego, CA
7:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
San Diego State University
Falcons return to California to play Aztecs
3/23/2023 4:14:00 PM | Baseball
Schedule
Fri: at San Diego State, March 24, 7:00 pm MT
Sat: at San Diego State, March 25, 7:00 pm MT
Sun: at San Diego State, March 26, 2:00 pm MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: Mountain West Network (Game One only)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-In 149 games since 1961, Air Force is 32-117 against the Aztecs.
-The Falcons are 2-7 in the last three series against San Diego State.
Pitching Probables
Fri: RHP Jr. Doyle Gehring (1-1, 4.33 ERA) vs. LHP Jr. TJ Fondtain (1-1, 5.19 ERA)
Sat: RHP So. Dylan Rogers (0-2, 6.75 ERA) vs. LHP So. Chris Canada (0-2, 6.50 ERA)
Sun: LHP Jr. Seungmin Shim (3-1, 5.48 ERA) vs. RHP RS-Jr. Jonny Guzman (0-1, 3.94 ERA)
Projected Lineup
1. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (1.109 OPS)
2. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.847 OPS)
3. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.541 OPS)
4. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (.947 OPS)
5. R/R, Chase Spencer, RF (.797 OPS)
6. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.759 OPS)
7. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.650 OPS)
8. S/R, Landon Boyd, C (.625 OPS)
9. L/R, Blake Covin, CF (.652 OPS)
The Previous Series (at San Jose State)
Game One
-Air Force saw a lead in the 9th disappear, but a six-run 12th cured the earlier pain, as Landon Boyd's grand slam in the final inning cemented the Falcons 9-3 win on Friday.
-Starter Doyle Gehring put together perhaps his best start of the season in the win. The junior pitched a season-high 7.0 innings, allowing just two runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. After seeing the Spartans score two runs over his first two innings, Gehring faced the minimum over the next five innings.
-Gehring's 7.0 innings of work are the most by a Falcon pitcher thus far in 2023.
-Boyd came up with the biggest hit of the day, as his grand slam in the 12th all but secured the Air Force win. The sophomore finished the day 1-4 with two walks and four RBI, as well as throwing out two of four potential base-stealers on the afternoon.
-After going hitless in his first five at-bats, Jake Greiving connected on a two-run double to start the scoring in the 12th as well as give Air Force a 5-3 lead.
-Sam Kulasingam started a new hitting streak as part of a 3-5 day, including a two-run single to knot the score at 2-2 in the 5th. Kulasingam also walked twice and scored two runs.
-Trayden Tamiya notched his 10th multi-hit game of the year, going 2-4 with a go-ahead RBI double in the 5th.
-The Falcons drew 12 free passes, a new season-high.
Game Two
-In spite of a tremendous start from Dylan Rogers, the Falcons were unable to defend their lead against the charging Spartans, as San Jose State walked off Air Force in 11 innings.
-Rogers managed a season-high 7.1 IP, having allowed four runs with nine hits and four strikeouts. The sophomore didn't allow a free pass to any of the 31 batters he faced while inducing 13 ground ball outs.
-Sam Kulasingam and Trayden Tamiya each had a pair of hits and a RBI to pace the top of the order. Matt Thompson, Aerik Joe, and Chase Spencer also had two hits each, while Blake Covin slugged his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the 7th.
-Eight of Air Force's nine starts managed at least one hit.
Game Three
-Air Force didn't allow the heartbreak of Game One to bleed into Game Two, as the Falcons overcame an early deficit to roll to a 9-5 win.
-Blake Covin had a big day out of the nine-hole, going 3-5 with a solo homer and three runs scored. Trayden Tamiya also had three hits while driving in a run. Sam Kulasingam reached base in four of his six plate appearances, going 2-4 (3B, 2B, 1 RBI) with two walks.
-Jake Greiving and T.J. Oster each had two hits as well, while Chase Spencer managed a double, walk, and RBI.
-After trailing 2-0 after the 1st inning, Air Force would go on to score seven unanswered runs.
-Seungmin Shim battled for 5.2 innings, allowing just four runs on six hits. While he won't be pleased with his four walks, he did keep the ball on the ground, managing nine ground outs.
-Jake Sansing was vital to the Air Force effort, as he took the baseball in the 6th and worked out of a jam to keep the Falcons 7-4 lead intact. Sansing would go on to earn his first-career save as part of his 3.1-inning performance. The senior was just what the Falcons needed, allowing just one run to go with five hits, two walks and a strikeout.
A Walking Hit
-In his first 21 games, Sam Kulasingam owns a .422 BA, and is currently one of only 48 players with a batting average of at least .422.
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is also one of only 10 players in Division I with at least 38 hits thus far in 2023
-The junior's 13 multi-hit games lead the team.
-Kulasingam is currently riding a 17-game on-base streak, having reached base in 20 of 21 games this season.
#BOMBason is Back
-After leading Air Force with 16 home runs a season ago, Jay Thomason has maintained his status as a power threat.
-Thomason again owns the team lead in home runs (7), and is second on the team with a .947 OPS.
-Thomason is tied with New Mexico's Reed Spenrath for the conference lead in home runs.
-Thomason's 20 RBI lead the dugout.
-He also leads the club with six multi-RBI games, and has reached base in each of the last nine games.
The Captain
-Trayden Tamiya has been one the Falcons most consistent offensive threats.
-Tamiya's .349 average is second to only Kulasingam.
-Tamiya has also struck out just nine times in 94 plate appearances (9.5%).
-His 9.6 at-bats per strikeout is among the top figures in Division I baseball.
-Tamiya was most recently named MW Player of the Week after going 10-24 (.416) with 2 2B's, 2 BB's and 4 RBI to help the Falcons go 3-2 in five games.
-Tamiya also hasn't recorded an error in 93 chances at second base, leading the Mountain West with 62 assists.
Ol' Reliable
-Reliever Duke Benge has amassed 13 appearances in Air Force's first 21 games.
-He's one of only nine DI pitchers with at least 13 appearances in 2023.
-Benge has made good on the numerous opportunities, as the senior owns a team-best 3.86 ERA in 21.0 IP.
Up Next
-Following the Falcons time in San Diego, Air Force will make it's long-awaited home debut against Kansas State. The midweek series is scheduled for March 28-29 at Falcon Field.
Fri: at San Diego State, March 24, 7:00 pm MT
Sat: at San Diego State, March 25, 7:00 pm MT
Sun: at San Diego State, March 26, 2:00 pm MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: Mountain West Network (Game One only)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-In 149 games since 1961, Air Force is 32-117 against the Aztecs.
-The Falcons are 2-7 in the last three series against San Diego State.
Pitching Probables
Fri: RHP Jr. Doyle Gehring (1-1, 4.33 ERA) vs. LHP Jr. TJ Fondtain (1-1, 5.19 ERA)
Sat: RHP So. Dylan Rogers (0-2, 6.75 ERA) vs. LHP So. Chris Canada (0-2, 6.50 ERA)
Sun: LHP Jr. Seungmin Shim (3-1, 5.48 ERA) vs. RHP RS-Jr. Jonny Guzman (0-1, 3.94 ERA)
Projected Lineup
1. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (1.109 OPS)
2. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.847 OPS)
3. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.541 OPS)
4. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (.947 OPS)
5. R/R, Chase Spencer, RF (.797 OPS)
6. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.759 OPS)
7. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.650 OPS)
8. S/R, Landon Boyd, C (.625 OPS)
9. L/R, Blake Covin, CF (.652 OPS)
The Previous Series (at San Jose State)
Game One
-Air Force saw a lead in the 9th disappear, but a six-run 12th cured the earlier pain, as Landon Boyd's grand slam in the final inning cemented the Falcons 9-3 win on Friday.
-Starter Doyle Gehring put together perhaps his best start of the season in the win. The junior pitched a season-high 7.0 innings, allowing just two runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. After seeing the Spartans score two runs over his first two innings, Gehring faced the minimum over the next five innings.
-Gehring's 7.0 innings of work are the most by a Falcon pitcher thus far in 2023.
-Boyd came up with the biggest hit of the day, as his grand slam in the 12th all but secured the Air Force win. The sophomore finished the day 1-4 with two walks and four RBI, as well as throwing out two of four potential base-stealers on the afternoon.
-After going hitless in his first five at-bats, Jake Greiving connected on a two-run double to start the scoring in the 12th as well as give Air Force a 5-3 lead.
-Sam Kulasingam started a new hitting streak as part of a 3-5 day, including a two-run single to knot the score at 2-2 in the 5th. Kulasingam also walked twice and scored two runs.
-Trayden Tamiya notched his 10th multi-hit game of the year, going 2-4 with a go-ahead RBI double in the 5th.
-The Falcons drew 12 free passes, a new season-high.
Game Two
-In spite of a tremendous start from Dylan Rogers, the Falcons were unable to defend their lead against the charging Spartans, as San Jose State walked off Air Force in 11 innings.
-Rogers managed a season-high 7.1 IP, having allowed four runs with nine hits and four strikeouts. The sophomore didn't allow a free pass to any of the 31 batters he faced while inducing 13 ground ball outs.
-Sam Kulasingam and Trayden Tamiya each had a pair of hits and a RBI to pace the top of the order. Matt Thompson, Aerik Joe, and Chase Spencer also had two hits each, while Blake Covin slugged his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the 7th.
-Eight of Air Force's nine starts managed at least one hit.
Game Three
-Air Force didn't allow the heartbreak of Game One to bleed into Game Two, as the Falcons overcame an early deficit to roll to a 9-5 win.
-Blake Covin had a big day out of the nine-hole, going 3-5 with a solo homer and three runs scored. Trayden Tamiya also had three hits while driving in a run. Sam Kulasingam reached base in four of his six plate appearances, going 2-4 (3B, 2B, 1 RBI) with two walks.
-Jake Greiving and T.J. Oster each had two hits as well, while Chase Spencer managed a double, walk, and RBI.
-After trailing 2-0 after the 1st inning, Air Force would go on to score seven unanswered runs.
-Seungmin Shim battled for 5.2 innings, allowing just four runs on six hits. While he won't be pleased with his four walks, he did keep the ball on the ground, managing nine ground outs.
-Jake Sansing was vital to the Air Force effort, as he took the baseball in the 6th and worked out of a jam to keep the Falcons 7-4 lead intact. Sansing would go on to earn his first-career save as part of his 3.1-inning performance. The senior was just what the Falcons needed, allowing just one run to go with five hits, two walks and a strikeout.
A Walking Hit
-In his first 21 games, Sam Kulasingam owns a .422 BA, and is currently one of only 48 players with a batting average of at least .422.
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is also one of only 10 players in Division I with at least 38 hits thus far in 2023
-The junior's 13 multi-hit games lead the team.
-Kulasingam is currently riding a 17-game on-base streak, having reached base in 20 of 21 games this season.
#BOMBason is Back
-After leading Air Force with 16 home runs a season ago, Jay Thomason has maintained his status as a power threat.
-Thomason again owns the team lead in home runs (7), and is second on the team with a .947 OPS.
-Thomason is tied with New Mexico's Reed Spenrath for the conference lead in home runs.
-Thomason's 20 RBI lead the dugout.
-He also leads the club with six multi-RBI games, and has reached base in each of the last nine games.
The Captain
-Trayden Tamiya has been one the Falcons most consistent offensive threats.
-Tamiya's .349 average is second to only Kulasingam.
-Tamiya has also struck out just nine times in 94 plate appearances (9.5%).
-His 9.6 at-bats per strikeout is among the top figures in Division I baseball.
-Tamiya was most recently named MW Player of the Week after going 10-24 (.416) with 2 2B's, 2 BB's and 4 RBI to help the Falcons go 3-2 in five games.
-Tamiya also hasn't recorded an error in 93 chances at second base, leading the Mountain West with 62 assists.
Ol' Reliable
-Reliever Duke Benge has amassed 13 appearances in Air Force's first 21 games.
-He's one of only nine DI pitchers with at least 13 appearances in 2023.
-Benge has made good on the numerous opportunities, as the senior owns a team-best 3.86 ERA in 21.0 IP.
Up Next
-Following the Falcons time in San Diego, Air Force will make it's long-awaited home debut against Kansas State. The midweek series is scheduled for March 28-29 at Falcon Field.
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IF/OF
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