
Falcons to close non-conference slate against Wildcats
5/4/2023 4:36:00 PM | Baseball
Schedule
Fri: at Arizona, May 5, 7:00 pm MDT
Sat: at Arizona, May 6, 7:00 pm MDT
Sun: at Arizona, May 7, 2:00 pm MDT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: PAC-12.com
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-Since 1958, Air Force is 2-14 against Arizona.
-Most recently, the Falcons managed a two-game series split against the #13 Wildcats in 2021 in Tucson.
-All games between the two schools have been hosted by Arizona since 1968.
Pitching Probables
Fri: RHP Sr. Jake Sansing (5-3. 3.47 ERA) vs. RHP Jr. Cam Walty (3-0, 2.93 ERA)
Sat: RHP Jr. Doyle Gehring (3-3, 6.22 ERA) vs. LHP Jr. Bradon Zastrow (4-3, 5.40 ERA)
Sun: RHP So. Dylan Rogers (2-4, 7.38 ERA) vs. RHP So. Aiden May (4-2, 5.67 ERA)
Projected Lineup
1. L/R, Blake Covin, CF (.681 OPS)
2. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (1.180 OPS)
3. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (1.106 OPS)
4. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.792 OPS)
5. R/R Chase Spencer, RF (.800 OPS)
6. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.865 OPS)
7. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.753 OPS)
8. R/R, Aaron Reyes, C (.802 OPS)
9. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.761 OPS)
Last Series (vs. San Jose State)
Game One
-With the Falcons and Spartans tied 2-2 in the going into the 6th, Air Force struck for four runs to break the deadlock before eventually locking down the 6-4 win.
-Trayden Tamiya led the Falcons with a 3-4 afternoon, including a double and a triple. Tamiya was responsible for a RBI double in the Falcons 6th.
-Jake Greiving was 2-3 with a triple and a sac fly, driving in two runs. The junior led off 6th with an important three-base hit. Jay Thomason also had two hits, adding a double and a RBI to his Friday tally.
-Aerik Joe punctuated the go-ahead frame with a two-run triple to extend his on-base streak to 18 games. Sam Kulasingam also extended his on-base streak to 39 games with a 1st inning base-hit.
-Jake Sansing was rock-solid yet again in spite of pitching in a not-so comfortable environment. Fighting through the cold and wind, the senior tossed 6.2 IP, allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
-After allowing an inside-the-park home run in the 1st, Sansing allowed just one run between 2nd and 6th. He ran into some trouble in the 7th, as the Spartans rallied for two two-out runs before Sawyer Hawks was called upon from the bullpen.
-Hawks battled his command over his seven outs, walking three over 2.1 IP, but the sophomore buckled down when the necessity arose.
-The big right-hander notched his 5th save of 2023 after stranding a one-out single in the 9th.
Game Two
-A six-run 3rd inning jolted the Falcons in front, while Doyle Gehring regained his groove in the Falcons 12-3 win over the Spartans on Saturday. With the win, head coach Mike Kazlausky passed Joe Robison as the all-time wins leader at Air Force, notching his 283rd win as the Falcons skipper.
-Gehring picked up his third win of the spring, finishing 6.0 strong innings while allowing three runs with nine hits and two strikeouts. Gehring didn't allow a run until the 6th.
-Chase Spencer recorded a team-best three hits in four at-bats, scoring a run and drawing a walk.
-The one and only Sam Kulasingam drove in three runs as the result of his 2-4 day, putting an exclamation on the Falcons six-run 3rd with a two-run single into center field. Kulasingam was also responsible for a RBI double in the 8th. The junior has now reached base in 40-consecutive games.
-Jay Thomason was 2-5, launching his conference-leading 15th home run of the spring to start the scoring in the 3rd.
-Saturday's ballgame saw Matt Thompson penciled into the nine-hole, and the senior delivered. With two outs and the bases loaded, Thompson brought home the first two runs of the game in the 2nd, doubling off of the right field wall to give Air Force an initial 2-0 lead. Thompson later drew a bases-loaded walk the following inning.
-To go along with a pair of sterling plays at second base, Trayden Tamiya finished 2-5 at the plate, driving in a run as part of the Falcons big 2nd inning with a RBI single. Tamiya eventually brought home a run in the 8th with a RBI fielder's choice.
-Aaron Reyes got the nod behind the plate and made good on the start. The Falcons catcher was 2-5, as the sophomore plated the final Air Force run of the afternoon with a RBI single. Following the Spartans three runs in the 6th to cut the Falcons lead to 8-3, Air Force scored the final four runs of the afternoon.
-After Gehring hit the 100-pitch mark following his 6.0 innings, Ben Weber took the baseball in the 7th and pitched as well as his dugout could've asked. The freshman tossed 3.0 scoreless frames, allowing just four hits with three strikeouts.
Game Three
-What became a weekend of splendor for Air Force saw further grandeur sprinkled on the Falcons, as Jay Thomason's historic performance in the series finale was vital to Air Force's 24-12 win over San Jose State to secure the series sweep.
-Just one day after head coach Mike Kazlausky became the all-time winningest coach in program history, Thomason proceeded to reach base in all seven of his plate appearances, knocking a career-high six hits with two home runs and a single game Mountain West program record 10 RBI. Thomason becomes the first player since Sam Kulasingam to record 13 total bases in a conference game, matching his teammate's mark set a season ago against Nevada. The lefty slugger surpasses Nic Ready for the most RBI in a Mountain West matchup, a milestone held since 2018. Thomason's six hits also match Adam Groesbeck's total set in 2017 for the most hits in a Mountain West game in program history.
-Sunday marks Thomason's fifth-career multi-homer game, as the Auburn native extended his conference-leading home run total to 17, surpassing his previous career-best of 16 set a season ago. Thomason's 33 career home runs sees him in a timeshare with Karl Bolt for ninth-most in Air Force history.
-Thomason wasn't the only Falcon to produce career-bests, as Jake Greiving, Aaron Reyes, and Matt Thompson also reset their own personal benchmarks.
-Jake Greiving tied his career-high in hits, going 4-5 with a career-best five RBI. The Air Force cleanup hitter launched his third home run of the spring as well. Reyes was 4-6 with a triple and a double while driving home a career-high six RBI, as his hit total also becomes a new personal milestone. Thompson produced four hits in six at-bats, the most by the senior in a single game in his Air Force career. Thompson eventually launched his second long ball of the spring in the 5th.
-Sam Kulasingam extended his on-base streak to 41 games as part of a 2-3 day. Kulasingam managed a pair of base-hits while also walking three times and receiving a hit-by-pitch.
-Eight of nine Falcon starters recorded at least one hit, while Air Force's 24 runs and an equal number of hits become new season-highs. The trio of Thomason, Greiving, and Reyes accounted for 21 of the Falcons 24 RBI.
-In what developed into a slugfest, Dylan Rogers was let off the hook after lasting just 2.1 innings. The sophomore was tagged for 11 hits and seven runs before Seungmin Shim entered in the 3rd. The southpaw wasn't at his sharpest, picking up just four outs while allowing four walks and two runs, as well as a hit-by-pitch.
-Duke Benge earned his third win of 2023 after working out of a bases-loaded threat in 4th. Benge was solid out of the bullpen, scattering three runs and five hits over the final 4.1 innings of the ballgame, picking up five strikeouts.
-The Falcons secured their first series sweep over the Spartans since 2021, as Air Force is now 12-2 in their 14 games against San Jose State. With the win, the Falcons 14 conference victories stand as the most among the seven Mountain West programs.
A Walking Hit
-In 46 games, Sam Kulasingam owns a .418 BA, the second-best mark among Mountain West players and 14th overall in Division I.
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is also one of only eight players in Division I with at least 77 hits thus far in 2023.
-The junior's 27 multi-hit games lead the team.
-Kulasingam is currently riding a 42-game on-base streak, having reached base in 45 of 46 games this season.
-Kulasingam also is tied for nationally lead in DI with 23 doubles.
-A master of bat control, Kulasingam also owns more than twice as many walks (38) than strikeouts (17).
-Kulasingam has struck out in only 7.4% of his plate appearances this spring.
-His 38 walks are best in the conference.
-Kulasingam's 120 total bases are second in the MW, as his his 1.180 OPS.
-The junior's durability has never been in question, as Kulasingam has started 112-consecutive games.
#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 (17), surpassing his career-high set a season ago.
-Thomason currently leads the conference in home runs with 17, and is one of only 28 players in DI with at least 17 dingers.
-Thomason's 122 total bases lead the MW.
-Thomason's 55 RBI are tied for the most in the Mountain West.
-Thomason was recently named Mountain West Player of the Week after finishing the weekend 10-15 (.667) with 3 HR's, 2 2B's and 12 RBI. Thomason managed multiple hits in each of the three games, though he put a stamp on the series in the Sunday finale. On April 30, Thomason proceeded to reach base in all seven of his plate appearances, knocking a career-high six hits with two home runs and a single game Mountain West program record 10 RBI. Thomason ended the ballgame after eight innings, as his walk-off grand slam forced the 10-run mercy rule into effect.
-Thomason becomes the first player since Sam Kulasingam to record 13 total bases in a conference game, matching his teammate's mark set a season ago against Nevada. The lefty slugger surpasses Nic Ready for the most RBI in a Mountain West matchup, a milestone held since 2018. Thomason's six hits also match Adam Groesbeck's total set in 2017 for the most hits in a Mountain West game in program history. Thomason's 10 RBI on Sunday are the second-most ever by any player in a Mountain West game in conference history.
One of a Kind
-On April 29, head coach Mike Kazlausky surpassed Joe Robison for the most wins at Air Force with 283.
-On the honor, Coach Kaz said the following:
"For me, winning on the baseball field is just a small piece of what we do here at USAFA. I am humbled by the recognition, but what is even more meaningful to me is being surrounded by this amazing team of coaches and players each and every day. Our mission at Air Force is so much bigger than baseball and I am the one who is inspired and motivated when I see what they do both on and off the field. More importantly, the kind of people they are and who I know they will become. When I think about winning the most this or that, I think about my own mentors, like my own father and Coach Robison and Coach (Paul) Mainieri. A record is something that will eventually be broken, but the thing that matters most to me is what we are doing to prepare these young men for their service to our country. I'm proud of our men willing to make the commitment fight for our nation. That's the win that matters for our country."
The Captain
-Trayden Tamiya has been one the Falcons most consistent offensive threats.
-Tamiya's .347 average is second to only Kulasingam among Falcons.
-Tamiya's 67 hits are second-most in the conference.
-Tamiya has been charged with just one error in 200 chances at second base, as his 138 assists lead the Mountain West.
-Another Iron Man, Tamiya has started 107-consecutive games.
Blackjack
-Jake Greiving has recorded 21 doubles, the third-most in Division I.
-Aerik Joe has reached base in 21-consecutive games.
Sansing the MANsing
-Jake Sansing, after starting the year in the bullpen, has transitioned to the Friday role for the Falcons.
-In his four weekend starts, Sansing has provided 29.2 IP with a 3.03 ERA.
-Sansing's 23 runs allowed this season are the lowest among qualified pitchers in the MW.
-Air Force is 6-1 in games started by Sansing.
-Sansing is the only Falcon pitcher to complete 8.0 IP on the mound this season, doing so twice.
-His 5.7% walk percentage is the best among Air Force hurlers.
Bird of Prey
-Air Force closer Sawyer Hawks has allowed just one run in his last seven appearances.
-In those seven games, Hawks has 19 strikeouts over his last 12.2 IP.
-The big righty leads the Falcons with a strikeout percentage of 30.5%.
-Hawks has also amassed a 89.9% left-on base percentage, leading the team.
-He's one of only four pitchers in the MW with at least six saves.
Up Next
-Following the Falcons series against the Wildcats, Air Force will host San Diego State for Senior Weekend, starting May 12.
Fri: at Arizona, May 5, 7:00 pm MDT
Sat: at Arizona, May 6, 7:00 pm MDT
Sun: at Arizona, May 7, 2:00 pm MDT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: PAC-12.com
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-Since 1958, Air Force is 2-14 against Arizona.
-Most recently, the Falcons managed a two-game series split against the #13 Wildcats in 2021 in Tucson.
-All games between the two schools have been hosted by Arizona since 1968.
Pitching Probables
Fri: RHP Sr. Jake Sansing (5-3. 3.47 ERA) vs. RHP Jr. Cam Walty (3-0, 2.93 ERA)
Sat: RHP Jr. Doyle Gehring (3-3, 6.22 ERA) vs. LHP Jr. Bradon Zastrow (4-3, 5.40 ERA)
Sun: RHP So. Dylan Rogers (2-4, 7.38 ERA) vs. RHP So. Aiden May (4-2, 5.67 ERA)
Projected Lineup
1. L/R, Blake Covin, CF (.681 OPS)
2. S/R, Sam Kulasingam, 1B (1.180 OPS)
3. L/R, Jay Thomason, 3B (1.106 OPS)
4. L/R, Jake Greiving, DH (.792 OPS)
5. R/R Chase Spencer, RF (.800 OPS)
6. R/R, Trayden Tamiya, 2B (.865 OPS)
7. R/R, Aerik Joe, SS (.753 OPS)
8. R/R, Aaron Reyes, C (.802 OPS)
9. R/R, Matt Thompson, LF (.761 OPS)
Last Series (vs. San Jose State)
Game One
-With the Falcons and Spartans tied 2-2 in the going into the 6th, Air Force struck for four runs to break the deadlock before eventually locking down the 6-4 win.
-Trayden Tamiya led the Falcons with a 3-4 afternoon, including a double and a triple. Tamiya was responsible for a RBI double in the Falcons 6th.
-Jake Greiving was 2-3 with a triple and a sac fly, driving in two runs. The junior led off 6th with an important three-base hit. Jay Thomason also had two hits, adding a double and a RBI to his Friday tally.
-Aerik Joe punctuated the go-ahead frame with a two-run triple to extend his on-base streak to 18 games. Sam Kulasingam also extended his on-base streak to 39 games with a 1st inning base-hit.
-Jake Sansing was rock-solid yet again in spite of pitching in a not-so comfortable environment. Fighting through the cold and wind, the senior tossed 6.2 IP, allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
-After allowing an inside-the-park home run in the 1st, Sansing allowed just one run between 2nd and 6th. He ran into some trouble in the 7th, as the Spartans rallied for two two-out runs before Sawyer Hawks was called upon from the bullpen.
-Hawks battled his command over his seven outs, walking three over 2.1 IP, but the sophomore buckled down when the necessity arose.
-The big right-hander notched his 5th save of 2023 after stranding a one-out single in the 9th.
Game Two
-A six-run 3rd inning jolted the Falcons in front, while Doyle Gehring regained his groove in the Falcons 12-3 win over the Spartans on Saturday. With the win, head coach Mike Kazlausky passed Joe Robison as the all-time wins leader at Air Force, notching his 283rd win as the Falcons skipper.
-Gehring picked up his third win of the spring, finishing 6.0 strong innings while allowing three runs with nine hits and two strikeouts. Gehring didn't allow a run until the 6th.
-Chase Spencer recorded a team-best three hits in four at-bats, scoring a run and drawing a walk.
-The one and only Sam Kulasingam drove in three runs as the result of his 2-4 day, putting an exclamation on the Falcons six-run 3rd with a two-run single into center field. Kulasingam was also responsible for a RBI double in the 8th. The junior has now reached base in 40-consecutive games.
-Jay Thomason was 2-5, launching his conference-leading 15th home run of the spring to start the scoring in the 3rd.
-Saturday's ballgame saw Matt Thompson penciled into the nine-hole, and the senior delivered. With two outs and the bases loaded, Thompson brought home the first two runs of the game in the 2nd, doubling off of the right field wall to give Air Force an initial 2-0 lead. Thompson later drew a bases-loaded walk the following inning.
-To go along with a pair of sterling plays at second base, Trayden Tamiya finished 2-5 at the plate, driving in a run as part of the Falcons big 2nd inning with a RBI single. Tamiya eventually brought home a run in the 8th with a RBI fielder's choice.
-Aaron Reyes got the nod behind the plate and made good on the start. The Falcons catcher was 2-5, as the sophomore plated the final Air Force run of the afternoon with a RBI single. Following the Spartans three runs in the 6th to cut the Falcons lead to 8-3, Air Force scored the final four runs of the afternoon.
-After Gehring hit the 100-pitch mark following his 6.0 innings, Ben Weber took the baseball in the 7th and pitched as well as his dugout could've asked. The freshman tossed 3.0 scoreless frames, allowing just four hits with three strikeouts.
Game Three
-What became a weekend of splendor for Air Force saw further grandeur sprinkled on the Falcons, as Jay Thomason's historic performance in the series finale was vital to Air Force's 24-12 win over San Jose State to secure the series sweep.
-Just one day after head coach Mike Kazlausky became the all-time winningest coach in program history, Thomason proceeded to reach base in all seven of his plate appearances, knocking a career-high six hits with two home runs and a single game Mountain West program record 10 RBI. Thomason becomes the first player since Sam Kulasingam to record 13 total bases in a conference game, matching his teammate's mark set a season ago against Nevada. The lefty slugger surpasses Nic Ready for the most RBI in a Mountain West matchup, a milestone held since 2018. Thomason's six hits also match Adam Groesbeck's total set in 2017 for the most hits in a Mountain West game in program history.
-Sunday marks Thomason's fifth-career multi-homer game, as the Auburn native extended his conference-leading home run total to 17, surpassing his previous career-best of 16 set a season ago. Thomason's 33 career home runs sees him in a timeshare with Karl Bolt for ninth-most in Air Force history.
-Thomason wasn't the only Falcon to produce career-bests, as Jake Greiving, Aaron Reyes, and Matt Thompson also reset their own personal benchmarks.
-Jake Greiving tied his career-high in hits, going 4-5 with a career-best five RBI. The Air Force cleanup hitter launched his third home run of the spring as well. Reyes was 4-6 with a triple and a double while driving home a career-high six RBI, as his hit total also becomes a new personal milestone. Thompson produced four hits in six at-bats, the most by the senior in a single game in his Air Force career. Thompson eventually launched his second long ball of the spring in the 5th.
-Sam Kulasingam extended his on-base streak to 41 games as part of a 2-3 day. Kulasingam managed a pair of base-hits while also walking three times and receiving a hit-by-pitch.
-Eight of nine Falcon starters recorded at least one hit, while Air Force's 24 runs and an equal number of hits become new season-highs. The trio of Thomason, Greiving, and Reyes accounted for 21 of the Falcons 24 RBI.
-In what developed into a slugfest, Dylan Rogers was let off the hook after lasting just 2.1 innings. The sophomore was tagged for 11 hits and seven runs before Seungmin Shim entered in the 3rd. The southpaw wasn't at his sharpest, picking up just four outs while allowing four walks and two runs, as well as a hit-by-pitch.
-Duke Benge earned his third win of 2023 after working out of a bases-loaded threat in 4th. Benge was solid out of the bullpen, scattering three runs and five hits over the final 4.1 innings of the ballgame, picking up five strikeouts.
-The Falcons secured their first series sweep over the Spartans since 2021, as Air Force is now 12-2 in their 14 games against San Jose State. With the win, the Falcons 14 conference victories stand as the most among the seven Mountain West programs.
A Walking Hit
-In 46 games, Sam Kulasingam owns a .418 BA, the second-best mark among Mountain West players and 14th overall in Division I.
-The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is also one of only eight players in Division I with at least 77 hits thus far in 2023.
-The junior's 27 multi-hit games lead the team.
-Kulasingam is currently riding a 42-game on-base streak, having reached base in 45 of 46 games this season.
-Kulasingam also is tied for nationally lead in DI with 23 doubles.
-A master of bat control, Kulasingam also owns more than twice as many walks (38) than strikeouts (17).
-Kulasingam has struck out in only 7.4% of his plate appearances this spring.
-His 38 walks are best in the conference.
-Kulasingam's 120 total bases are second in the MW, as his his 1.180 OPS.
-The junior's durability has never been in question, as Kulasingam has started 112-consecutive games.
#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 (17), surpassing his career-high set a season ago.
-Thomason currently leads the conference in home runs with 17, and is one of only 28 players in DI with at least 17 dingers.
-Thomason's 122 total bases lead the MW.
-Thomason's 55 RBI are tied for the most in the Mountain West.
-Thomason was recently named Mountain West Player of the Week after finishing the weekend 10-15 (.667) with 3 HR's, 2 2B's and 12 RBI. Thomason managed multiple hits in each of the three games, though he put a stamp on the series in the Sunday finale. On April 30, Thomason proceeded to reach base in all seven of his plate appearances, knocking a career-high six hits with two home runs and a single game Mountain West program record 10 RBI. Thomason ended the ballgame after eight innings, as his walk-off grand slam forced the 10-run mercy rule into effect.
-Thomason becomes the first player since Sam Kulasingam to record 13 total bases in a conference game, matching his teammate's mark set a season ago against Nevada. The lefty slugger surpasses Nic Ready for the most RBI in a Mountain West matchup, a milestone held since 2018. Thomason's six hits also match Adam Groesbeck's total set in 2017 for the most hits in a Mountain West game in program history. Thomason's 10 RBI on Sunday are the second-most ever by any player in a Mountain West game in conference history.
One of a Kind
-On April 29, head coach Mike Kazlausky surpassed Joe Robison for the most wins at Air Force with 283.
-On the honor, Coach Kaz said the following:
"For me, winning on the baseball field is just a small piece of what we do here at USAFA. I am humbled by the recognition, but what is even more meaningful to me is being surrounded by this amazing team of coaches and players each and every day. Our mission at Air Force is so much bigger than baseball and I am the one who is inspired and motivated when I see what they do both on and off the field. More importantly, the kind of people they are and who I know they will become. When I think about winning the most this or that, I think about my own mentors, like my own father and Coach Robison and Coach (Paul) Mainieri. A record is something that will eventually be broken, but the thing that matters most to me is what we are doing to prepare these young men for their service to our country. I'm proud of our men willing to make the commitment fight for our nation. That's the win that matters for our country."
The Captain
-Trayden Tamiya has been one the Falcons most consistent offensive threats.
-Tamiya's .347 average is second to only Kulasingam among Falcons.
-Tamiya's 67 hits are second-most in the conference.
-Tamiya has been charged with just one error in 200 chances at second base, as his 138 assists lead the Mountain West.
-Another Iron Man, Tamiya has started 107-consecutive games.
Blackjack
-Jake Greiving has recorded 21 doubles, the third-most in Division I.
-Aerik Joe has reached base in 21-consecutive games.
Sansing the MANsing
-Jake Sansing, after starting the year in the bullpen, has transitioned to the Friday role for the Falcons.
-In his four weekend starts, Sansing has provided 29.2 IP with a 3.03 ERA.
-Sansing's 23 runs allowed this season are the lowest among qualified pitchers in the MW.
-Air Force is 6-1 in games started by Sansing.
-Sansing is the only Falcon pitcher to complete 8.0 IP on the mound this season, doing so twice.
-His 5.7% walk percentage is the best among Air Force hurlers.
Bird of Prey
-Air Force closer Sawyer Hawks has allowed just one run in his last seven appearances.
-In those seven games, Hawks has 19 strikeouts over his last 12.2 IP.
-The big righty leads the Falcons with a strikeout percentage of 30.5%.
-Hawks has also amassed a 89.9% left-on base percentage, leading the team.
-He's one of only four pitchers in the MW with at least six saves.
Up Next
-Following the Falcons series against the Wildcats, Air Force will host San Diego State for Senior Weekend, starting May 12.
Players Mentioned
Falcons win on senior day over New Mexico
Sunday, May 11
Lobos top Falcons to even series
Saturday, May 10
Falcons big 8th inning leads to win over Lobos
Friday, May 09
Falcons fall in series finale to Nevada
Sunday, April 27