Friday, February 21
Kinston, NC
12:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Navy
Baseball to Play Navy in Freedom Classic
2/20/2025 12:11:00 PM | Baseball
KINSTON, N.C., - For the fifth annual Freedom Classic, Air Force is set to face Navy in a neutral service academy matchup, from Feb. 21-Feb. 23, at Grainger Stadium.
Schedule
Fri: vs. Navy, 2:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. MT
Sat: vs. Navy, 2:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. MT
Sun: vs. Navy, 12:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Ticket Information
$5.00: Veterans, Retired Military, Military Dependents, Seniors (aged 60 & up), and Ages 4-17
$7.00: Adults (Ages 18 & Older)
$20.00: Weekend Pass (General Admission Seating for all 3 games)
**Free for Active-Duty Military and Children 3 & under**
Series History
-The first meeting of the two service academies was in 1990 and most recently the two matched up in 2024.
-Air Force holds a narrow winning record, 33-32.
-In the 2024 series at the Freedom Classic, the Falcons swept the Midshipmen, 3-0.
-The last meeting was on Feb. 25, 2024 and ended in a 4-2 AF victory, with notable performances from Chase Spencer and Air Force graduate, Jake Grieving who hit a three-run bomb.
-Over time, Air Force has outscored Navy 333-324.
Pitching Probables (2025 Stats)
Fri: RHP Dylan Rogers (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. RHP Brady Bendik (0-0, 2.45 ERA)
Sat: RHP Gaines Estridge (0-0, 8.10 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Grenn (0-0, 1.69 ERA)
Sun: RHP John Mitchell (0-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. TBA
Projected Lineup (2025 OPS)
1. R/R, Alex Adams, 3B (.594 OPS)
2. R/R, Walker Zapp, C (.895 OPS)
3. L/L, Tripp Garrish, DH (.564 OPS)
4. R/R, Luke Elmore, LF (.762 OPS)
5. R/R, T.J. Oster, 2B (.329 OPS)
6. R/R, Zach Peters, RF (.286 OPS)
7. R/R, Christian Taylor, CF (.313 OPS)
8. R/R, Cam Anstey, 1B (.273 OPS)
9. L/R, Ben Niednagel, SS (.650 OPS)
The First Week of 2025
-The coaching staff makes an effort to face big opponents early in the season, for example, Mississippi State (2024), #7 LSU (2021), and #1 LSU (2019).
-On Feb. 14 and 15, 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 soloshot. 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.
-The Falcons played a two-game series at No. 15 Vanderbilt, dropping both.
- Over the two games, Air Force combined for 12 hits, including a double, a homer, three RBIs, and two stolen bags.
- The pitchers collected eight strikeouts and allowed eight runs off 16 hits.
Freshman Fight
-The freshman from Fort Collins, Colo., has taken the mound by storm.
-So far this season, the RHP has made two appearances and taken a start for 7.0 total innings pitched, the most of any individual Falcon pitcher.
-Miller holds the best ERA at 2.57 with the minimum requirement of 1 IP/G.
-He has tallied four Ks and only allowed two runs off six hits for a batting average against of .273
-For his first appearance of 2025, Miller was called out of the pen in the bottom of the fifth in game one at No. 10 Florida.
-He held the Gators through 3.0 innings pitched, allowing just one hit, no runs, and striking out two batters.
-Miller earned his first start in game two at No. 15 Vanderbilt
-The C4C went four innings with two Ks and two runs allowed on five hits.
- In the bottom of the first, Miller went 1-2-3.
- He struck out a pair of Commodores and combined with the first baseman to pick off a runner in the bottom of the second frame.
Friday Night Guy
-Dylan Rogers has assumed the Friday night spot, after serving as a weekend starter last season.
-As the starting pitcher in the first game of 2025 at No. 10 Florida, Rogers went 4.0 innings and faced 21 batters.
-He hold an ERA of 13.50 and an 0-1 record.
-Rogers struck out a pair of Gators, but allowed six earned runs off 10 hits.
-In 2024, Rogers went 5-5 with an ERA of 7.49 after taking 14 starts and making 16 appearances.
-The righty tallied 50 strikeouts across 57.2 innings pitched.
-Career wise, Rogers marks a 7.23 ERA, with a record of 9-11.
-Over the 178.0 innings pitched in his four years as a Falcon, Rogers has struck out 138 batters
and given up 143 earned runs.
Saturday Start
- Previous reliever, Gaines Estridge, has shifted 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.
C4C Mitchell
-John Mitchell, took his first collegiate start as a freshman against Florida and has assumed the role of Sunday starter.
-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.
Mr. Adams
-Alex Adams has secured a start in all five of Air Force's games, thus far.
-The freshman is batting .235 overall with one double out of four hits.
-He accounts for two RBIs, one of which was a sacrifice fly in game two at No. 10 Florida and the other was in game three with an RBI double to put the Falcons on the board.
-Defensively, Adams began his season with Air Force at first base, but made the switch to protect third.
-Adams holds a perfect fielding percentage with 16 put outs, 10 assists, and two double plays.
-He marked a season-high eight put outs in the third game of the Florida series.
-On the base path, Adams accounts for the most stolen bases so far this season, with one taken bag in each game against No. 15 Vanderbilt.
Senior Shortstop
-Ben Niednagel, an Air Force baseball veteran, has earned his start at shortstop in all five games of the 2025 season, so far.
-At the plate, the senior is batting .250 with three hits and one RBI.
-He has marked three total bases and is 1-1 on stolen bases.
-In the field, Niednagel has accounted for a team-high 21 assists and tallied four successful double plays for a 1.000 FLD%.
Give us More!
-Luke Elmore is a sophomore who only appeared in two games last season but is making his mark in the Falcons lineup.
-So far, the Panama City, Fla., native has started four of five games in the outfield, while appearing in all.
-He is batting second-best for AF, with an average of .286 and an OPS of .762.
-Elmore is tied for a team-high four hits and is the only Falcon to have put a triple down in the books.
-In the field, he is 7-for-7 on put outs and chances and holds a perfect fielding percentage.
On Deck
Following the Freedom Classic, the Falcons look towards their home opener at 2 p.m. MT against Northern Colorado on Tuesday February 25th, at Erdle Field.
Schedule
Fri: vs. Navy, 2:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. MT
Sat: vs. Navy, 2:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. MT
Sun: vs. Navy, 12:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. MT
Broadcast Information
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Ticket Information
$5.00: Veterans, Retired Military, Military Dependents, Seniors (aged 60 & up), and Ages 4-17
$7.00: Adults (Ages 18 & Older)
$20.00: Weekend Pass (General Admission Seating for all 3 games)
**Free for Active-Duty Military and Children 3 & under**
Series History
-The first meeting of the two service academies was in 1990 and most recently the two matched up in 2024.
-Air Force holds a narrow winning record, 33-32.
-In the 2024 series at the Freedom Classic, the Falcons swept the Midshipmen, 3-0.
-The last meeting was on Feb. 25, 2024 and ended in a 4-2 AF victory, with notable performances from Chase Spencer and Air Force graduate, Jake Grieving who hit a three-run bomb.
-Over time, Air Force has outscored Navy 333-324.
Pitching Probables (2025 Stats)
Fri: RHP Dylan Rogers (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. RHP Brady Bendik (0-0, 2.45 ERA)
Sat: RHP Gaines Estridge (0-0, 8.10 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Grenn (0-0, 1.69 ERA)
Sun: RHP John Mitchell (0-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. TBA
Projected Lineup (2025 OPS)
1. R/R, Alex Adams, 3B (.594 OPS)
2. R/R, Walker Zapp, C (.895 OPS)
3. L/L, Tripp Garrish, DH (.564 OPS)
4. R/R, Luke Elmore, LF (.762 OPS)
5. R/R, T.J. Oster, 2B (.329 OPS)
6. R/R, Zach Peters, RF (.286 OPS)
7. R/R, Christian Taylor, CF (.313 OPS)
8. R/R, Cam Anstey, 1B (.273 OPS)
9. L/R, Ben Niednagel, SS (.650 OPS)
The First Week of 2025
-The coaching staff makes an effort to face big opponents early in the season, for example, Mississippi State (2024), #7 LSU (2021), and #1 LSU (2019).
-On Feb. 14 and 15, 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 soloshot. 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.
-The Falcons played a two-game series at No. 15 Vanderbilt, dropping both.
- Over the two games, Air Force combined for 12 hits, including a double, a homer, three RBIs, and two stolen bags.
- The pitchers collected eight strikeouts and allowed eight runs off 16 hits.
Freshman Fight
-The freshman from Fort Collins, Colo., has taken the mound by storm.
-So far this season, the RHP has made two appearances and taken a start for 7.0 total innings pitched, the most of any individual Falcon pitcher.
-Miller holds the best ERA at 2.57 with the minimum requirement of 1 IP/G.
-He has tallied four Ks and only allowed two runs off six hits for a batting average against of .273
-For his first appearance of 2025, Miller was called out of the pen in the bottom of the fifth in game one at No. 10 Florida.
-He held the Gators through 3.0 innings pitched, allowing just one hit, no runs, and striking out two batters.
-Miller earned his first start in game two at No. 15 Vanderbilt
-The C4C went four innings with two Ks and two runs allowed on five hits.
- In the bottom of the first, Miller went 1-2-3.
- He struck out a pair of Commodores and combined with the first baseman to pick off a runner in the bottom of the second frame.
Friday Night Guy
-Dylan Rogers has assumed the Friday night spot, after serving as a weekend starter last season.
-As the starting pitcher in the first game of 2025 at No. 10 Florida, Rogers went 4.0 innings and faced 21 batters.
-He hold an ERA of 13.50 and an 0-1 record.
-Rogers struck out a pair of Gators, but allowed six earned runs off 10 hits.
-In 2024, Rogers went 5-5 with an ERA of 7.49 after taking 14 starts and making 16 appearances.
-The righty tallied 50 strikeouts across 57.2 innings pitched.
-Career wise, Rogers marks a 7.23 ERA, with a record of 9-11.
-Over the 178.0 innings pitched in his four years as a Falcon, Rogers has struck out 138 batters
and given up 143 earned runs.
Saturday Start
- Previous reliever, Gaines Estridge, has shifted 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.
C4C Mitchell
-John Mitchell, took his first collegiate start as a freshman against Florida and has assumed the role of Sunday starter.
-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.
Mr. Adams
-Alex Adams has secured a start in all five of Air Force's games, thus far.
-The freshman is batting .235 overall with one double out of four hits.
-He accounts for two RBIs, one of which was a sacrifice fly in game two at No. 10 Florida and the other was in game three with an RBI double to put the Falcons on the board.
-Defensively, Adams began his season with Air Force at first base, but made the switch to protect third.
-Adams holds a perfect fielding percentage with 16 put outs, 10 assists, and two double plays.
-He marked a season-high eight put outs in the third game of the Florida series.
-On the base path, Adams accounts for the most stolen bases so far this season, with one taken bag in each game against No. 15 Vanderbilt.
Senior Shortstop
-Ben Niednagel, an Air Force baseball veteran, has earned his start at shortstop in all five games of the 2025 season, so far.
-At the plate, the senior is batting .250 with three hits and one RBI.
-He has marked three total bases and is 1-1 on stolen bases.
-In the field, Niednagel has accounted for a team-high 21 assists and tallied four successful double plays for a 1.000 FLD%.
Give us More!
-Luke Elmore is a sophomore who only appeared in two games last season but is making his mark in the Falcons lineup.
-So far, the Panama City, Fla., native has started four of five games in the outfield, while appearing in all.
-He is batting second-best for AF, with an average of .286 and an OPS of .762.
-Elmore is tied for a team-high four hits and is the only Falcon to have put a triple down in the books.
-In the field, he is 7-for-7 on put outs and chances and holds a perfect fielding percentage.
On Deck
Following the Freedom Classic, the Falcons look towards their home opener at 2 p.m. MT against Northern Colorado on Tuesday February 25th, at Erdle Field.
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
UT
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
UT/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
UT
/ Baseball
C
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