Monday, February 17
Nashville, TN
3:30 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
Vanderbilt
Air Force is Set to Face No. 15 Vanderbilt in Two-Game Series
2/17/2025 12:08:00 PM | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn., - After schedule adjustments due to weather concerns, the Falcons (0-3) are set to face No. 15 Vanderbilt (2-1) in a two-game series on Monday Feb. 17 and Tuesday Feb. 18, at Hawkins Field.
Schedule
Monday, Feb. 17: at No. 16 Vanderbilt, 4:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. MT
Tuesday, Feb. 18: at No. 16 Vanderbilt,1:00 p.m. CT/12:00 p.m. MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: SEC Network+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-This series will mark the first matchup between Air Force and Vanderbilt.
Pitching Probables (2024 Stats)
Mon: RHP Bowen Brantingham (2-2, 5.12 ERA) vs. TBA
Tues: TBA vs. TBA
Projected Lineup (2025 OPS)
1. R/R, T.J. Oster, 2B (.364 OPS)
2. R/R, Christian Taylor, CF (.000 OPS)
3. R/R, Alex Adams, 3B (.404 OPS)
4. L/L, Tripp Garrish, DH (.873 OPS)
5. R/R, Walker Zapp, C (.000 OPS)
6. R/R, Zach Peters, RF (.444 OPS)
7. R/R, Luke Elmore, LF (1.143 OPS)
8. L/R, Ben Niednagel, SS (.500 OPS)
9. L/R, Cam Anstey, 1B (.429 OPS)
Hello, 2025
-Last weekend, the Falcons went 0-3 at No. 10 Florida.
-Across the series, AF batters tallied 12 hits with two doubles, a triple and a single solo shot. They scored 4 runs compared to Florida's 28.
-The pitching staff produced a collective ERA of 11.05 to begin the season, with 11 pitchers making appearances. They threw 16 Ks, 14 BBs, and gave up 37 hits.
Second Start
-Bowen Brantingham is projected to take the start in Game 1 at Vanderbilt.
-This marks his second career start and first appearance of 2025.
-Last season, the St. Louis, Mo., native appeared on the mound 11 times and recorded a 2-2 record.
-His 2024 ERA was 5.12, throwing 11 strikeouts and facing 102 batters across 19.1 innings.
KEY 2024 APPEARANCES
- In a dominant 23-6 victory against Northern Colorado (04/09/24) the righty earned his first career win after taking his first start. In that game he earned a pair of career highs, going 3.2 innings and throwing 64 pitches.
-Defeating Northern Colorado (04/23/24), 8-5, Brantingham earned his second relief win after throwing 2.0 innings with three Ks, and not allowing a hit or run.
4C Sunday
-John Mitchell, took his first collegiate start as a freshman on Sunday.
- C4C represents Cadet Fourth Class, freshmen, at the Academy.
-Mitchell specializes in a pair of breaking balls and throws in the lower 90s range.
-Against Florida, the righty threw the most innings of the weekend of any Falcon pitcher, 4.2.
-He tallied the most strikeouts, as well, notching four and throwing one K.
-While at work on the mound, he allowed four earned runs off six hits for an ERA of 7.71, the best of any of Air Force's weekend starters
Workin' on those Gaines
- Previous reliever, Gaines Estridge, is projected to shift into the Saturday start slot for the Falcons.
-Estridge started Game 2 of the Florida series and tied his career high after he threw 3.1 innings.
-The righty logged four strikeouts but allowed three earned runs off five hits.
- Last season, the RHP made 23 appearances out of the bullpen.
- Estridge logged 26.2 innings pitched with 15 Ks, 11 walks, and an ERA of 8.10.
Trippin'
-Tripp Garrish collected a trio of starts at Florida.
-He was the lone Falcon to knock one out of the park and accounted for two RBIs over the series.
-The designated hitter finished with batting average of .200, with one homer and a double.
-He is expected to remain the DH against Vanderbilt.
Getting Anstey
-Sophomore Cam Anstey made his first Air Force start in Game Two at Florida, while appearing in all three games.
-He accounted for one of AF's five runs of the weekend after scoring on a throwing error in the third inning of the second matchup.
Don't Get Zapped
-Walker Zapp returned to the lineup after making 50 starts of 51 games played in 2024.
-While in Gainesville, Zapp struck out in five of his six ABs after starting two games of the series.
-Behind the plate, he recorded 15 putouts on 16 chances.
-In 2024, Zapp batted .244 and marked four homers and 24 RBIs for the Falcons.
-Behind the dish, Zapp led Air Force by throwing out 13 baserunners.
Fresh Faces
-Three freshman Falcons, Kayden Bradshaw, Alex Adams, and Dawson Thrush, made their collegiate debut in the starting lineups against the Gators.
-Alex Adams started all three games of the Florida series. On Friday night, he started at first and had a perfect fielding percentage for his debut outing. In the box, he batted .000 and was issued a single walk.
- In Game 2, the infielder made the switch to third base, where he tallied three assists and one putout for a 1.000 fielding percentage. He recorded his first collegiate RBI in the top of the third frame with a sacrifice fly to help Air Force level the score at 2-2 with the Gators.
- Adams was finally able to mark a hit down in the books with an RBI double in Game 3, for the Falcon's sole run of the 11-1 loss. Defensively, he maintained his perfect fielding percentage with eight put outs and one assist on nine chances.
- The freshman attended Mount Paran Christian where he lettered all four years of his high school baseball career and served as team captain over the course of two seasons. The Woodstock, Ga., native was a member of the 2021 Georgia High School Baseball State Championship team and earned a First Team All-State honor.
-Kayden Bradshaw made a start in center in Game One at Florida. He took two ABs and drew a walk and one strikeout for an average of .000. In the field, Bradshaw notched three putouts on four chances with one error.
-#7 Dawson Thrush made his debut for the Falcons at third in Game One. The infielder did not reap a hit but struck out twice. He recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage with one assist, and one put out.
- In Game Three, Thrush reappeared in the lineup, but only took one AB for a K.
On Deck
After facing Vanderbilt, the Falcons will stay in the Southeast to take on Navy in the 2025 Freedom Classic, held in Kinston, N.C. The three-game series is set to begin on Friday Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. MT.
Schedule
Monday, Feb. 17: at No. 16 Vanderbilt, 4:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. MT
Tuesday, Feb. 18: at No. 16 Vanderbilt,1:00 p.m. CT/12:00 p.m. MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stream: SEC Network+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Series History
-This series will mark the first matchup between Air Force and Vanderbilt.
Pitching Probables (2024 Stats)
Mon: RHP Bowen Brantingham (2-2, 5.12 ERA) vs. TBA
Tues: TBA vs. TBA
Projected Lineup (2025 OPS)
1. R/R, T.J. Oster, 2B (.364 OPS)
2. R/R, Christian Taylor, CF (.000 OPS)
3. R/R, Alex Adams, 3B (.404 OPS)
4. L/L, Tripp Garrish, DH (.873 OPS)
5. R/R, Walker Zapp, C (.000 OPS)
6. R/R, Zach Peters, RF (.444 OPS)
7. R/R, Luke Elmore, LF (1.143 OPS)
8. L/R, Ben Niednagel, SS (.500 OPS)
9. L/R, Cam Anstey, 1B (.429 OPS)
Hello, 2025
-Last weekend, the Falcons went 0-3 at No. 10 Florida.
-Across the series, AF batters tallied 12 hits with two doubles, a triple and a single solo shot. They scored 4 runs compared to Florida's 28.
-The pitching staff produced a collective ERA of 11.05 to begin the season, with 11 pitchers making appearances. They threw 16 Ks, 14 BBs, and gave up 37 hits.
Second Start
-Bowen Brantingham is projected to take the start in Game 1 at Vanderbilt.
-This marks his second career start and first appearance of 2025.
-Last season, the St. Louis, Mo., native appeared on the mound 11 times and recorded a 2-2 record.
-His 2024 ERA was 5.12, throwing 11 strikeouts and facing 102 batters across 19.1 innings.
KEY 2024 APPEARANCES
- In a dominant 23-6 victory against Northern Colorado (04/09/24) the righty earned his first career win after taking his first start. In that game he earned a pair of career highs, going 3.2 innings and throwing 64 pitches.
-Defeating Northern Colorado (04/23/24), 8-5, Brantingham earned his second relief win after throwing 2.0 innings with three Ks, and not allowing a hit or run.
4C Sunday
-John Mitchell, took his first collegiate start as a freshman on Sunday.
- C4C represents Cadet Fourth Class, freshmen, at the Academy.
-Mitchell specializes in a pair of breaking balls and throws in the lower 90s range.
-Against Florida, the righty threw the most innings of the weekend of any Falcon pitcher, 4.2.
-He tallied the most strikeouts, as well, notching four and throwing one K.
-While at work on the mound, he allowed four earned runs off six hits for an ERA of 7.71, the best of any of Air Force's weekend starters
Workin' on those Gaines
- Previous reliever, Gaines Estridge, is projected to shift into the Saturday start slot for the Falcons.
-Estridge started Game 2 of the Florida series and tied his career high after he threw 3.1 innings.
-The righty logged four strikeouts but allowed three earned runs off five hits.
- Last season, the RHP made 23 appearances out of the bullpen.
- Estridge logged 26.2 innings pitched with 15 Ks, 11 walks, and an ERA of 8.10.
Trippin'
-Tripp Garrish collected a trio of starts at Florida.
-He was the lone Falcon to knock one out of the park and accounted for two RBIs over the series.
-The designated hitter finished with batting average of .200, with one homer and a double.
-He is expected to remain the DH against Vanderbilt.
Getting Anstey
-Sophomore Cam Anstey made his first Air Force start in Game Two at Florida, while appearing in all three games.
-He accounted for one of AF's five runs of the weekend after scoring on a throwing error in the third inning of the second matchup.
Don't Get Zapped
-Walker Zapp returned to the lineup after making 50 starts of 51 games played in 2024.
-While in Gainesville, Zapp struck out in five of his six ABs after starting two games of the series.
-Behind the plate, he recorded 15 putouts on 16 chances.
-In 2024, Zapp batted .244 and marked four homers and 24 RBIs for the Falcons.
-Behind the dish, Zapp led Air Force by throwing out 13 baserunners.
Fresh Faces
-Three freshman Falcons, Kayden Bradshaw, Alex Adams, and Dawson Thrush, made their collegiate debut in the starting lineups against the Gators.
-Alex Adams started all three games of the Florida series. On Friday night, he started at first and had a perfect fielding percentage for his debut outing. In the box, he batted .000 and was issued a single walk.
- In Game 2, the infielder made the switch to third base, where he tallied three assists and one putout for a 1.000 fielding percentage. He recorded his first collegiate RBI in the top of the third frame with a sacrifice fly to help Air Force level the score at 2-2 with the Gators.
- Adams was finally able to mark a hit down in the books with an RBI double in Game 3, for the Falcon's sole run of the 11-1 loss. Defensively, he maintained his perfect fielding percentage with eight put outs and one assist on nine chances.
- The freshman attended Mount Paran Christian where he lettered all four years of his high school baseball career and served as team captain over the course of two seasons. The Woodstock, Ga., native was a member of the 2021 Georgia High School Baseball State Championship team and earned a First Team All-State honor.
-Kayden Bradshaw made a start in center in Game One at Florida. He took two ABs and drew a walk and one strikeout for an average of .000. In the field, Bradshaw notched three putouts on four chances with one error.
-#7 Dawson Thrush made his debut for the Falcons at third in Game One. The infielder did not reap a hit but struck out twice. He recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage with one assist, and one put out.
- In Game Three, Thrush reappeared in the lineup, but only took one AB for a K.
On Deck
After facing Vanderbilt, the Falcons will stay in the Southeast to take on Navy in the 2025 Freedom Classic, held in Kinston, N.C. The three-game series is set to begin on Friday Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. MT.
Players Mentioned
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OF
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OF
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IF
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