Tuesday, March 28
USAFA, CO
1:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Kansas State University
Photo by: Eric Strom
Falcons set for opening day against Wildcats
3/27/2023 5:29:00 PM | Baseball
Schedule
Tue: vs. Kansas State, March 28, 1:00 pm MT
Sat: vs. Kansas State, March 29, 12:00 pm MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-Since 1971, Air Force is 4-13 in 17 games against Kansas State.
-The Falcons took down the Wildcats 4-3 in a one-game series in 2022.
-Kansas State returns to Colorado Springs for the first time since 1998.
Pitching Probables
Tue: RHP Fr. Ben Weber (0-0, 5.06 ERA) vs. RHP Fr. Mason Buss (3-0, 1.57 ERA)
Wed: TBA vs. TBA
Projected Lineup
1. L/R, Blake Covin, CF (.758 OPS)
2. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (1.056 OPS)
3. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (.925 OPS)
4. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.847 OPS)
5. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.604 OPS)
6. R/R, Chase Spencer, RF (.784 OPS)
7. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.744 OPS)
8. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.620 OPS)
9. S/R, Landon Boyd, C (.594 OPS)
The Previous Series (at San Diego State)
Game One
-The Falcons mustered just four hits against the Aztecs on Friday, as San Diego State managed eight runs over the final three innings to put away Air Force 11-0.
-Doyle Gehring was rock-solid in his 5.0 innings, allowing just three runs (two earned) as well as six hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. Including tonight's performance, Gehring is currently averaging 10.9 K/9 in his 32.0 IP.
-Jake Greiving hit the ball hard all night, though was only rewarded with a 4th inning double, Air Force's only extra-base hit. Chase Spencer, Aerik Joe, and Blake Covin each produced base-hits of their own.
-Sam Kulasingam was 0-3, though his leadoff walk to open the ballgame extended his on-base streak to 18 games. He also picked up his third stolen base of the spring.
-Air Force did well to put the leadoff runner on base three times over the first four innings, but Falcons struck out 12 times in 30 at-bats, frustrating any opportunity to find a big inning.
Game Two
-The Falcons committed a season-high four errors while managing the same number of hits in Saturday's 13-1 loss to the Aztecs.
-Dylan Rogers was charged for seven runs over 4.0 innings, though only four were earned. The sophomore was never allowed to get into a rhythm, as Air Force saw two errors committed in the 1st and 3rd innings sway the direction of the ballgame.
-Jay Thomason, who returned to the lineup after missing Friday's game, drove home a run in the opening inning with a RBI single. Thomason was 2-4, the only Falcon with multiple hits. Thomason plated Sam Kulasingam, who reached with a walk in his first plate appearance to extend his on-base streak to 19 games.
-However, two Thomason miscues contributed to three of San Diego State's first four runs.
-In the 4th, Rogers saw three extra-base hits add three more runs to the tally while the Falcons produced just one hit over the final five innings.
-Duke Benge made his 15th appearance of the season in relief of Rogers and shook off a two-run 5th to post back-to-back shutout innings. Ryan Stohr allowed four runs in 0.2 innings, though the Falcons fourth error of the night allowed an unearned run to score.
-Ben Weber tossed a third of an inning while working around a hit.
-With the Falcons having been struck out 13 times on Saturday, Air Force was punched out 25 times in the first two games of the series.
Game Three
-A six-run opening inning for Air Force jolted the visitors in front in Sunday's series finale, as the Falcons rode the quick-strike offense to a 12-6 win.
-Blake Covin had a career day, going 5-6 (HR, 2B, 3 RBI) including two hits in the 1st. His five hits marks a new career-high, while the senior also stole two bases.
-Jake Greiving was 3-6 with a career-high 5 RBI, as Greiving's three-run homer in the 1st extended the Air Force lead to 5-0. Greiving also doubled home two runs in 5th.
-Sam Kulasingam kept his on-base streak alive, as the junior has now reached base in 20-consecutive games. The junior was 2-5 with 2 RBI and a walk.
-Trayden Tamiya was 2-5 as well, as the Falcons second baseman made his debut in the cleanup spot. Tamiya opened the scoring with a two-run double in the 1st.
-Walker Zapp made his first start of the season en route to picking up his first collegiate hit. The C4C managed an infield single in the 6th to record his first-career knock.
-With 16 hits, the Falcons set a new season-high.
A Walking Hit
-In his first 24 games, Sam Kulasingam owns a .396 BA, the third-best mark among Mountain West players.
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is also one of only 24 players in Division I with at least 40 hits thus far in 2023
-The junior's 14 multi-hit games lead the team.
-Kulasingam is currently riding a 20-game on-base streak, having reached base in 23 of 24 games this season.
-Kulasingam also owns more walks (16) than strikeouts (12).
#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 among Falcons with a .947 OPS.
-Thomason (7) trails only New Mexico's Reed Spenrath (8) for the conference lead in home runs.
-Thomason's 21 RBI lead the dugout.
-He also leads the club with six multi-RBI games, and has reached base in each of his 11 games.
The Captain
-Trayden Tamiya has been one the Falcons most consistent offensive threats.
-Tamiya's .337 average is second to only Kulasingam.
-Tamiya has also struck out just 11 times in 109 plate appearances (10.1%).
-Tamiya also hasn't recorded an error in 110 chances at second base, leading the Mountain West with 77 assists.
Blake is Raking
-After starting the year 5-40 (.125), Covin has caught fire, going 16-29 (.551) over his last seven games.
-Covin has at least one hit in six of his last seven games.
-The senior managed a career-high five hits in six at-bats on Sunday, and has three home runs in his last five games.
Sansing the MANsing
-Senior Jake Sansing is currently pitching as well as he ever has as a Falcon.
-Sansing has not allowed more than three runs in any of his seven appearances in 2023.
-The senior has pitched to a 2.50 ERA over his last five games.
-Sansing has been a major reverse-split hurler, allowing just a .208 batting average against lefties.
Ol' Reliable
-Reliever Duke Benge has amassed 15 appearances in Air Force's first 24 games.
-He's one of only eight DI pitchers with at least 15 appearances in 2023.
Up Next
-Following the Falcons midweek series against Kansas State, Air Force will remain at home to host UNLV for a three-game set starting March 31.
Tue: vs. Kansas State, March 28, 1:00 pm MT
Sat: vs. Kansas State, March 29, 12:00 pm MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-Since 1971, Air Force is 4-13 in 17 games against Kansas State.
-The Falcons took down the Wildcats 4-3 in a one-game series in 2022.
-Kansas State returns to Colorado Springs for the first time since 1998.
Pitching Probables
Tue: RHP Fr. Ben Weber (0-0, 5.06 ERA) vs. RHP Fr. Mason Buss (3-0, 1.57 ERA)
Wed: TBA vs. TBA
Projected Lineup
1. L/R, Blake Covin, CF (.758 OPS)
2. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (1.056 OPS)
3. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (.925 OPS)
4. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.847 OPS)
5. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.604 OPS)
6. R/R, Chase Spencer, RF (.784 OPS)
7. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.744 OPS)
8. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.620 OPS)
9. S/R, Landon Boyd, C (.594 OPS)
The Previous Series (at San Diego State)
Game One
-The Falcons mustered just four hits against the Aztecs on Friday, as San Diego State managed eight runs over the final three innings to put away Air Force 11-0.
-Doyle Gehring was rock-solid in his 5.0 innings, allowing just three runs (two earned) as well as six hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. Including tonight's performance, Gehring is currently averaging 10.9 K/9 in his 32.0 IP.
-Jake Greiving hit the ball hard all night, though was only rewarded with a 4th inning double, Air Force's only extra-base hit. Chase Spencer, Aerik Joe, and Blake Covin each produced base-hits of their own.
-Sam Kulasingam was 0-3, though his leadoff walk to open the ballgame extended his on-base streak to 18 games. He also picked up his third stolen base of the spring.
-Air Force did well to put the leadoff runner on base three times over the first four innings, but Falcons struck out 12 times in 30 at-bats, frustrating any opportunity to find a big inning.
Game Two
-The Falcons committed a season-high four errors while managing the same number of hits in Saturday's 13-1 loss to the Aztecs.
-Dylan Rogers was charged for seven runs over 4.0 innings, though only four were earned. The sophomore was never allowed to get into a rhythm, as Air Force saw two errors committed in the 1st and 3rd innings sway the direction of the ballgame.
-Jay Thomason, who returned to the lineup after missing Friday's game, drove home a run in the opening inning with a RBI single. Thomason was 2-4, the only Falcon with multiple hits. Thomason plated Sam Kulasingam, who reached with a walk in his first plate appearance to extend his on-base streak to 19 games.
-However, two Thomason miscues contributed to three of San Diego State's first four runs.
-In the 4th, Rogers saw three extra-base hits add three more runs to the tally while the Falcons produced just one hit over the final five innings.
-Duke Benge made his 15th appearance of the season in relief of Rogers and shook off a two-run 5th to post back-to-back shutout innings. Ryan Stohr allowed four runs in 0.2 innings, though the Falcons fourth error of the night allowed an unearned run to score.
-Ben Weber tossed a third of an inning while working around a hit.
-With the Falcons having been struck out 13 times on Saturday, Air Force was punched out 25 times in the first two games of the series.
Game Three
-A six-run opening inning for Air Force jolted the visitors in front in Sunday's series finale, as the Falcons rode the quick-strike offense to a 12-6 win.
-Blake Covin had a career day, going 5-6 (HR, 2B, 3 RBI) including two hits in the 1st. His five hits marks a new career-high, while the senior also stole two bases.
-Jake Greiving was 3-6 with a career-high 5 RBI, as Greiving's three-run homer in the 1st extended the Air Force lead to 5-0. Greiving also doubled home two runs in 5th.
-Sam Kulasingam kept his on-base streak alive, as the junior has now reached base in 20-consecutive games. The junior was 2-5 with 2 RBI and a walk.
-Trayden Tamiya was 2-5 as well, as the Falcons second baseman made his debut in the cleanup spot. Tamiya opened the scoring with a two-run double in the 1st.
-Walker Zapp made his first start of the season en route to picking up his first collegiate hit. The C4C managed an infield single in the 6th to record his first-career knock.
-With 16 hits, the Falcons set a new season-high.
A Walking Hit
-In his first 24 games, Sam Kulasingam owns a .396 BA, the third-best mark among Mountain West players.
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is also one of only 24 players in Division I with at least 40 hits thus far in 2023
-The junior's 14 multi-hit games lead the team.
-Kulasingam is currently riding a 20-game on-base streak, having reached base in 23 of 24 games this season.
-Kulasingam also owns more walks (16) than strikeouts (12).
#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 among Falcons with a .947 OPS.
-Thomason (7) trails only New Mexico's Reed Spenrath (8) for the conference lead in home runs.
-Thomason's 21 RBI lead the dugout.
-He also leads the club with six multi-RBI games, and has reached base in each of his 11 games.
The Captain
-Trayden Tamiya has been one the Falcons most consistent offensive threats.
-Tamiya's .337 average is second to only Kulasingam.
-Tamiya has also struck out just 11 times in 109 plate appearances (10.1%).
-Tamiya also hasn't recorded an error in 110 chances at second base, leading the Mountain West with 77 assists.
Blake is Raking
-After starting the year 5-40 (.125), Covin has caught fire, going 16-29 (.551) over his last seven games.
-Covin has at least one hit in six of his last seven games.
-The senior managed a career-high five hits in six at-bats on Sunday, and has three home runs in his last five games.
Sansing the MANsing
-Senior Jake Sansing is currently pitching as well as he ever has as a Falcon.
-Sansing has not allowed more than three runs in any of his seven appearances in 2023.
-The senior has pitched to a 2.50 ERA over his last five games.
-Sansing has been a major reverse-split hurler, allowing just a .208 batting average against lefties.
Ol' Reliable
-Reliever Duke Benge has amassed 15 appearances in Air Force's first 24 games.
-He's one of only eight DI pitchers with at least 15 appearances in 2023.
Up Next
-Following the Falcons midweek series against Kansas State, Air Force will remain at home to host UNLV for a three-game set starting March 31.
Players Mentioned
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C
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