AF Baseball Gears Up for MW Series Against UNLV, Midweek Hosting Oral Roberts

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - Air Force baseball (12-21, 5-7 MW) will host UNLV (17-16, 4-8 MW) for a three-game series from Friday April 11-Sunday April 13 at Erdle Field. On Monday April 14, the Falcons will close their homestand against Oral Roberts at 1 p.m.

Schedule
Fri: vs. UNLV, 3 p.m. MT at Erdle Field in USAFA, Colo.
Sat: vs. UNLV, 1 p.m. MT at Erdle Field in USAFA, Colo.,
Sun: vs. UNLV, 12 p.m. MT at Erdle Field in USAFA, Colo.,
Mon: vs. Oral Roberts, 1 p.m. MT at Erdle Field in USAFA, Colo.,

Broadcast Information
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball

Erdle Field
With the anticipation of great crowds during the 2025 Air Force baseball season, fans are encouraged to bring a folding chair to enjoy the game from the third base line, and other areas around Erdle Field, when the first base bleachers reach capacity.

Base Access
The U.S. Air Force Academy processes to access the installation continue to affect athletic events. While the installation remains open, if you do not have a DoD ID card you will need to obtain a pass to enter the base. Ticket holders wishing to attend can request a base pass by using this link for each game. Once you register, you will receive a message with a QR code on your phone to present at the gate when entering the Academy. Fans will present game tickets (if needed) when entering each venue. All ticketed/credentialed attendees will need to enter through the North Gate only to get to the Cadet Field House.

Series History vs. UNLV
-The first meeting of the two programs was first game of the 1970 season, ending in a 2-1 Falcon win.
-Air Force holds a losing record, 45-111.
-Over time the Falcons have been outscored by the Rebels, 1,009-1,456
-Last season, the two teams played one three-game series won by UNLV, 2-1 (1-11, 15-12, 5-6 (10 Inn.)).

Series History vs. Oral Roberts
-The first and only meeting of the two teams was on May 2, 2022, in USAFA, Colo.
-ORU defeated Air Force, 7-3.

Pitching Probables (2025 Stats)
Fri: RHP Dylan Rogers (10.16 ERA, 0-3) vs. RHP Carson Lane (3.32 ERA, 3-2)
Sat: RHP Cranz Smelcer (9.62 ERA, 1-3) vs. RHP LJ Mercurius (3.86 ERA, 3-3)
Sun: TBD vs. RHP Sam Simon (4.88 ERA, 1-3)
Mon: TBD vs. TBD

Projected Lineup (2025 OPS)
1. R/R, Alex Adams, SS (.788 OPS)
2. R/R, Christian Taylor, LF (.823 OPS)
3. R/R, Walker Zapp, C (1.039 OPS)
4. R/R, Luke Elmore, 1B (.761 OPS)
5. L/L, Tripp Garrish, DH (.999 OPS)
6. R/R, Zach Peters, RF (.847 OPS)
7. R/R, Chase Spencer, CF (.638 OPS)
8. R/R, T.J. Oster, 2B (.686 OPS)
9. R/R, Ben Niednagel, 3B (.669 OPS)

A Look at the Rebels
-UNLV has posted an overall record of 17-16 with a Mountain West record of 4-8.
-To open the season, the Rebels took a pair from #25 Indiana (4-2, 13-12), lost to #7 Oregon State (0-16), and split a four-game series with #25 Cincinnati (0-6, 5-4, 9-10, 7-6).
-On the road, the Rebels hold a losing record of 1-9.
-So far this season, the Rebs have been outscored by opponents, 214-189.
-The pitching staff has collected a combined overall ERA of 5.54 and 288 strikeouts across 276.0 innings, along with a MW ERA of 4.94 and 89 strikeouts in 102.0 conference innings.
-UNLV's batters have notched overall batting average of .284, a .424 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .368. In conference play, the Rebels are batting .295, slugging .424, and have marked on OB% of .361.
-Multiple Rebels represent UNLV in league rankings: Dean Toigo (#1 with 47 hits, 2nd in RBIs (36), home runs (9), total bases (80), Cooper Sheff (1 in sacrifice flys, 5), and Cole Koniaraky (#4 batting average, .387).

A Look at the Golden Eagles
-ORU has posted an overall record of 18-12 with a Summit League record of 6-4.
-Earlier in the season, the Golden Eagles dropped a three-game series, 2-1, to #19 Dallas Baptist (7-6, 1-6, 5-6) and lost a pair to #3 Arkansas (1-4, 0-16 (7 Inn.)).
-The team holds a record of 3-6 when on the road.
-Oral Roberts' offense has outscored opponent, 177-166.
-The batters have tallied an overall average of .279, a slugging percentage of .430, and an OB% of .370.
-The Golden Eagle pitching staff combines for a season ERA of 4.76 and 231 strikeouts in 259.0 total innings pitched.

Team Captain Rogers
-Dylan Rogers has assumed the Friday night spot, after serving as a weekend starter last season.
-Currently, Rogers holds an overall ERA of 10.16 across a Falcon high 33.2 innings with a B/AVG of .401.
-Rogers has struck out the most batters for Air Force, 30.
-The senior has taken seven starts, a team-high, and marks a record of 0-3.
-In his latest MW appearance, the righty started game one against San Diego State, finishing after 2.1 IP with a pair of Ks and seven earned runs allowed.
-The weekend before, in game one at New Mexico, Rogers opened with a season second-best 5.1 innings and five Ks. He allowed four earned runs off seven hits.
-The RHP threw five innings of relief in game one at San Jose State, where he struck out four Spartans but allowed a trio of earned runs off ten hits.
-Against MW opponent Washington State, Rogers took a start with three strikeouts and six earned runs allowed, but the Falcons still went on to win 15-14.
- At California Baptist, Rogers threw 4.2 innings and allowed a season-high eight runs off 10 hits, while striking out one Lancer.
-The walk-off 9-8 win against Army saw Rogers go four full innings with four strikeouts and four earned runs off two hits allowed. The righty went 1-2-3 in the first two frames against the Black Knights.
-He faced Navy in the first game of the Freedom Classic, where he threw 7.0 innings and allowed the only two unearned runs of the 3-2 win. He went three up, three down in three frames and tied his career high nine strikeouts in a single game.
-His efforts on the mound against Navy earned him Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honors (02/24/25) for the first time in his career.
-Rogers not only serves as the Friday night guy, but also as one of the team captains.

Saturday is for Smelcer
-Cranz Smelcer has worked his way from reliever to taking multiple starts for the Falcons.
-Overall, the freshman is tied for the second-most appearances
(12) for an Air Force pitcher and is tied for the second-most Ks (26), along with an overall ERA of 9.62 across 24.1 IP.
-So far this season, the right-handed pitcher has made 12 appearances out of the bullpen, while starting four.
-In MW play, Smelcer holds an ERA of 6.75 with nine strikeouts, and eight earned runs off nine hits allowed, in 10.2 innings.
-Most recently, Smelcer took a game two start in an 18-8 run-rule win over San Diego State. Across a career-high five innings, he struck out three Aztecs and allowed three earned runs.
-The RHP closed game two at New Mexico, throwing 3 full innings, striking out a trio of Lobos, and not surrendering a run or a hit.
-Smelcer started his third game of 2025 in a midweek win, 9-4,
over Wright State. He opened with three Ks and two earned runs allowed in 2.1 IP.
-He took his second start of the season in the rubber match 14-9 win against MW opponent, Washington State. He went 1.1 innings with one K and three earned runs given up off six hits.
-In the 15-2 run-rule win over South Dakota State, Smelcer made his first start on the mound. He recorded an impressive outing, going a career-high four full innings with another career-high six strikeouts.
-The freshman earned his first win at Air Force and improved to 1-3, after defending AF's lead and only allowing one run off three hits.
-His collegiate debut came against No. 10 Florida, where he went 0.2 innings with one K and five runs allowed.
-In game one against Navy, Smelcer gave up no runs and struck out one batter in 0.2 innings.

Zappin'
-Walker Zapp returned to the lineup after making 50 starts of 51 games played in 2024.
-The junior is batting a multitude of starter team-bests: AVG: .339, slugging .602, 1.039 OPS, 11 doubles, four triples, four homers and 30 RBIs.
- Zapp is currently on a twelve-game reached base streak, has posted nine multi-RBI games, and has logged 13 multi-hit games.
-He leads the team in extra base hits, boasting 19 with 11 doubles, four triples, and four home runs.
-In the midweek against UNC, Zapp went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
-Last weekend against San Diego State, Zapp tallied four hits, five RBIs, scored four runs, and stole two bases.
-Across the league series against New Mexico, Zapp marked one hit, one run scored, and one RBI in all three games with a homer in game two.
-In the pair of midweek wins against Wright State and Dayton, Zapp scored four runs and recorded two RBIs.
-Across the MW series against Washington State, the junior accounted for four RBIs, a pair of homers, and three runs scored.
-Against South Dakota State, Zapp finished at a perfect 3-for-3 with a trio of runs scored and two RBIs.
-Zapp marked critical ABs in wins against Navy and Army.
-Against Army in game one, the catcher led off the bottom of the 11th frame with a double down the left line to reach base and ultimately scored the walk-off run for a 9-8 Falcon victory.
-In game one against Navy, Zapp earned an RBI for sending the winning run across the plate in the top of the ninth, 3-2.
-He knocked one out of the park for his first home run of 2025 at No. 15 Vanderbilt.
-Behind the plate, Zapp has marked 228 put outs on 260 chances, with 24 assists for a fielding percentage of .969.
-He has caught nine runners stealing, four of which were in the series at CBU.

On Deck
Following Air Force's stint at home, the Falcons will head west to face Fresno State in a Mountain West series from Thursday April 17-Saturday April 19.

AF Baseball Gears Up for MW Series Against UNLV, Midweek Hosting Oral Roberts

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alex Adams

Luke Elmore

Tripp Garrish

Ben Niednagel

T.J. Oster

Zach Peters

Dylan Rogers

Cranz Smelcer

Chase Spencer

Christian Taylor

Walker Zapp

Footer