Air Force Academy
Navy
Air Force Travels to South Carolina for Salute the Troops Weekend
2/19/2026 3:22:00 PM | Baseball
COLUMBIA, S.C., - Air Force baseball (2-2) looks to take on the service academies, Navy (3-1) and Army (0-3), along with South Carolina (2-2) as a participant at Salute the Troops weekend at Founders Park, from Feb. 20-22. The Falcons will then head down the road to face Charleston (2-3) on Monday Feb. 23.
MEDIA
Live Stats – StatBroadcast
Live Stream – SECN+ (at South Carolina) | FloCollege (at Charleston)
Twitter - @AF_baseball
SCHEDULE
Fri. February 20 | vs. Navy | 6 p.m. ET/4 p.m. MT
Sat. February 21 | vs. Army | 5 p.m. ET/3 p.m. MT
Sun. February 22 | at South Carolina | 4 p.m. ET/2 p.m. MT
Mon. February 23 | at Charleston | 1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT
PROBABLE STARTERS (OPS)
- R/R Tripp Garrish, DH (.909)
- S/R Wyatt Hanoian, 3B (1.064)
- R/R Walker Zapp, C (.349)
- R/R Christian Taylor, LF (.331)
- L/L Brooks Burdine, RF (.833)
- R/R Luke Elmore, 1B (.818)
- R/R Kayden Bradshaw, CF (.650)
- L/R Ben Niednagel, SS (1.332)
- R/R T.J. Oster, 2B (.745)
MLB DESERT INVITATIONAL
Air Force will made their 2026 debut at the prestigious 7th annual MLB Desert Invitational, against Penn State on Friday February 13, run-ruling the Nittany Lions 15-3 behind a strong pitching performance from junior Gaines Estridge, who picked up his third career win and tossed a career-best game with six innings, no runs allowed, and four Ks (tied career-high). This marked the Birds' first victorious opening day since 2020.
For a 2-2 record on the weekend, Air Force also defeated UConn, 12-6, highlighted by the Falcons' first homer of the season from Tripp Garrish and a combined 11 strikeouts from the pitching staff. Marcus Downing earned his first career win after completing a pair of scoreless innings and tying his career-high Ks (3). Davis Rhyne picked up his first career save after closing out the final 3.2 innings and tying his career high in strikeouts (4).
The Falcons fell to Iowa (4-3) and Kansas State (11-8).
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Tripp Garrish is back in the lineup, rotating between the designated hitter and right field positions. Last season, the Belmont, Calif., native went .299 with a team-best OBP of .438 after being the only Falcon to start every game. So far this season, Garrish has managed five of both runs and hits, including the first homer of the season, and a pair of RBIs.
Ben Niednagel is leading the Falcons at the plate with an average of .462, a 1.332 OPS, along with six hits and three RBIs.
Air Force returns a steady pitching staff, looking for their experience to help out on the mound.
ON THE MOUND
Previous starters Gaines Estridge and Ethan Dillinger have returned to their starting spots and will be strong points for the Falcons. In his first appearance of the season, Friday night Estridge threw a career game with four strikeouts and no runs allowed in six innings. Dillinger took the Sunday start against UConn and managed four Ks, but allowed five runs in 3.1 IP.
Reliever Patrick Davidson led the team in wins (5) and saves (3) in 2025 and will be looked to for some swings and misses. In his lone appearance of 2026, the righty closed against Kansas State with a three up, three down frame. Davis Rhyne, Sam Hentges and Bowen Brantingham will also add experience to the bullpen rotation.
NEW SEASON, NEW FACES
The Falcons welcome 15 newcomers to the team heading into the 2026 season. Unlike many other baseball programs, Air Force cannot participate in the transfer portal or NIL, thus the newest Birds are all true freshman.
Among the new guys, there are three outfielders, two infielders, one catcher, five RHPs, three RHPs, and one of both a utility player and catcher.
New lefty Josh Holst made his collegiate debut in the starting spot against Iowa on Saturday Feb. 14 at the MLB Desert Invitational. Though the game resulted in a Hawkeye win, Holst took a standout start for a 1.69 ERA. He allowed just a single run and struck out a team-high five batters in 5.1 innings.
Other freshmen pitchers who made their debuts in Arizona were Trey Rutledge and Aiden Poe.
RHP Jordan Watkins is expected to be a strong addition to the pitching staff. His fastball and change up will leave a batter waiting as he throws for straight Ks.
At the plate, Wyatt Hanoian sits at a team-second batting average (.385) and already has five RBIs under his belt.
A LOOK AT NAVY
The Midshipmen are coming off a 12-0 run rule win over Delaware State and currently sit at 3-1 on the 2026 season, with one loss to Queens. Navy has totaled 37 runs so far and are led offensively by Victor Izquierdo with a BA of .500, seven RBIs, and eight runs scored. On the mound, Air Force will see Brady Bendik who sits at a 1.59 ERA and six strikeouts across 5.2 IP.
The two programs have faced each other a total of 68 times, with Air Force holding a winning 35-33 record. In their most recent meeting at the Freedom Classic in Kinston, NC, from Feb. 21-23, 2025, the Falcons took the series 2-1 (3-2, 2-7, 14-1). This service academy series dates back to 1990.
A LOOK AT ARMY
The Black Knights have yet to win a game this season, with a record of 0-3, dropping a three-game series to No. 19 Clemson (3-2, 10-0, 7-0). At the plate, Carter Hewitt sits on top with an average of .400 and four hits. On the mound, Air Force will face Andrew Berg who holds an ERA of 2.84 and four Ks in his 6.1 innings.
The Falcons and the Black Knights have totaled 40 games, and Air Force is on the winning side of the column with a 27-13 record. Last season, AFA hosted Army at Erdle Field and won the series 2-1 (9-8, 14-7, 5-16) from Feb, 28-Mar. 2. Matchups between the two programs dates back to 1974.
A LOOK AT SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks opened the season with a 4-1 record, taking a pair from Northern Kentucky (5-2, 6-5, 2-3) and a win over Wofford (8-2). KJ Scobey leads offensively with his 10 hits, six RBIs, and two homers for a .435 average. The Falcons will see RHP Brandon Stone on Sunday, who has totaled an ERA of 2.25 with five strikeouts in four IP.
This game will mark the first matchup between the two programs. South Carolina's Head Coach Paul Manieri was Air Force Head Coach Mike Kazlalusky's coach when he played at USAFA from 1998-1991. Manieri coached the Falcons from 1989-1994 and closed his six seasons with a record of 152-158 and was the first USAFA coach to win 20 or more games in six consecutive seasons.
A LOOK AT CHARLESTON
The Cougars sit at a record of 2-3 following the opening week of the 2026 season with wins over Rutgers (8-3) and No. 6 Coastal Carolina (4-3). Infielder Ethan Plyler leads the batting charts with an average of .412, seven hits, and four RBIs. Multiple pitchers on Charleston's staff have three or more innings with no runs allowed.
This matchup will mark just the second time Air Force will face Charleston. The Cougars won the only game between the two programs, 14-6 in 2023.
