Friday, March 6
Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark | Waco, TX
5:30 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
at
Baylor University
Falcons Return to Texas for Weekend Series at Baylor
3/5/2026 5:32:00 PM | Baseball
WACO, Tex., - Falcon baseball (3-8) heads back to Texas for a three-game series against Baylor, from March 6-8 at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark.
SCHEDULE
Friday March 6 6:30 p.m. CT | 5:30 p.m. MT | Baylor Ballpark
Saturday March 7 2:00 p.m. CT | 1:00 p.m. MT | Baylor Ballpark
Sunday March 8 1:00 p.m. CT | 12:00 p.m. MT | Baylor Ballpark
MEDIA
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Tickets
PROBABLE STARTERS
PITCHING MATCHUPS (ERA)
Friday | RHP Gaines Estridge (4.42) vs. RHP Lucas Davenport (0.00)
Saturday | LHP Josh Holst (4.50) vs. RHP Cade Hansen (10.32)
Sunday | RHP Bowen Brantingham (8.38) vs. LHP Ethan Calder (2.31)
AIR FORCE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Team
Batting - 5th (.261)
Pitching - 9th (6.87)
Fielding - 7th (.957)
Individual
Batting Average - 10th Kayden Bradshaw (.394)
On-Base % - 9th Kayden Bradshaw (.500)
RBIs - 3rd Walker Zapp (16)
Sacrifice Bunts - 1st Ben Niednagel (4)
Stolen Bases - 2nd Ben Niednagel (5)
- 4th Walker Zapp (4)
- 4th Kayden Bradshaw (4)
ERA - 3rd Marcus Downing (1.13)
B/AVG - 6th Gunner Gilmore (.125)
IP - 1st Gaines Estridge (18.1)
ALL-TIME VERSUS BAYLOR
The two programs have faced each other just twice, in a doubleheader on March 4, 1972. Baylor won both games, 4-1 and 2-1, to outscore Air Force 6-2 all-time. Overall against current Big 12 teams, Air Force holds a losing record of 63-346.
ZAPP ATTACK
Senior catcher Walker Zapp makes his return to the lineup, following his critical efforts for the Falcons last season. The Auburn, Ala., native is vocal behind the plate and the top hitting returnee after batting .330 for seven homers, 18 doubles, and five triples during 2025. Zapp was the lone player to represent the Falcons on the 2026 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference team. He was also named the #44 backstop in the country by D1 Baseball.
Though he started the season slow at the plate, he posted a breakthrough performance against DBU on Friday Feb. 27 with a grand slam and a three-run homer for seven RBIs, team and career-highs for a single game. In the Falcons' 7-1 win over UT Arlington, Zapp went 3-for-4, just a home run short of a cycle. Behind the plate, Zapp has caught a trio of runners stealing and tallied seven assists.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
C1C Ben Niednagel was named to the 2026 Brooks Wallace Award Watchlist, highlighting the top 100 shortstops across the nation. Through the opening stretch of the season, Niednagel has emerged as a key contributor for the Falcons, delivering both at the plate and in the field. The senior ranks second on the team in batting average at .324 and owns a .459 slugging percentage, highlighted by two doubles, one home run, and five stolen bases.
Lockdown defense has defined Niednagel's play at shortstop. Starting all 11 games, the Santa Clarita, Calif., native has been perfect in the field, posting a team-best 1.000 fielding percentage among starters. He's recorded 17 putouts, 28 assists, and turned four double plays without an error to anchor the infield with reliability.
ON THE MOUND
Air Force returns a steady pitching staff, looking for their experience to help out on the mound.
Friday night guy Gaines Estridge posted a pair of career outings in his first two outings of the season. In the opening 15-3 win over Penn State, the righty threw four strikeouts and allowed no runs in six innings. He came back stronger against Navy and despite earning the loss, Estridge recorded a couple of career highs with seven innings on the bump and ten strikeouts. Against ORU, Estridge struck out one batter in 5.1 IP.
Freshman starter Josh Holst currently holds an ERA of 4.50 with 14 innings pitchee. In his collegiate debut against Iowa, he took a standout start, allowing just one run and striking out five batters in 5.1 innings. Against Army, the lefty allowed a pair of earned runs with four Ks in 4.1 IP. He went four innings against DBU with one strikeout.
Sunday starter Bowen Brantingham has made a trio of appearances with one start at DBU, where he struck out four batters in four innings. Across 9.2 total IP this season, the righty has 10 strikeouts and allowed nine runs.
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 first appearance of 2026, the righty closed against Kansas State with a three up, three down frame.
LHP Sam Hentges brings experience from the bullpen and made his season appearance with a pair of strikeouts in one inning.
Reliever Marcus Downing has logged eight innings on the mound with six Ks and allowing just one run for an ERA of 1.13.
A LOOK AT BAYLOR
The Bears are coming off a 6-5 loss to Tarleton State and currently sit at on 6-6 the 2026 season. At the 2026 Bruce Bolt Classic, Baylor picked up a 6-5 ranked win in extra innings over #11 Ole Miss, but fell to both #3 Texas and #23 UTSA. BU has totaled 76 runs so far and are led offensively by Tyce Armstrong who has batted in 21 runs, though having a.283 BA. On the mound, Air Force will see Lucas Davenport, Cade Hansen, and Ethan Calder.
SCHEDULE
Friday March 6 6:30 p.m. CT | 5:30 p.m. MT | Baylor Ballpark
Saturday March 7 2:00 p.m. CT | 1:00 p.m. MT | Baylor Ballpark
Sunday March 8 1:00 p.m. CT | 12:00 p.m. MT | Baylor Ballpark
MEDIA
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
Tickets
PROBABLE STARTERS
- L/L Tripp Garrish, DH (.672)
- R/R Walker Zapp, C (.854)
- S/R Landon Boyd, 3B (1.157)
- R/R Christian Taylor, LF (.551)
- S/R Wyatt Hanoian, 2B (.750)
- R/R Luke Elmore, 1B (.748)
- L/R Ben Niednagel, SS (.891)
- R/R Kayden Bradshaw, CF (.925)
- R/R Blake Campbell, RF (.867)
PITCHING MATCHUPS (ERA)
Friday | RHP Gaines Estridge (4.42) vs. RHP Lucas Davenport (0.00)
Saturday | LHP Josh Holst (4.50) vs. RHP Cade Hansen (10.32)
Sunday | RHP Bowen Brantingham (8.38) vs. LHP Ethan Calder (2.31)
AIR FORCE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Team
Batting - 5th (.261)
Pitching - 9th (6.87)
Fielding - 7th (.957)
Individual
Batting Average - 10th Kayden Bradshaw (.394)
On-Base % - 9th Kayden Bradshaw (.500)
RBIs - 3rd Walker Zapp (16)
Sacrifice Bunts - 1st Ben Niednagel (4)
Stolen Bases - 2nd Ben Niednagel (5)
- 4th Walker Zapp (4)
- 4th Kayden Bradshaw (4)
ERA - 3rd Marcus Downing (1.13)
B/AVG - 6th Gunner Gilmore (.125)
IP - 1st Gaines Estridge (18.1)
ALL-TIME VERSUS BAYLOR
The two programs have faced each other just twice, in a doubleheader on March 4, 1972. Baylor won both games, 4-1 and 2-1, to outscore Air Force 6-2 all-time. Overall against current Big 12 teams, Air Force holds a losing record of 63-346.
ZAPP ATTACK
Senior catcher Walker Zapp makes his return to the lineup, following his critical efforts for the Falcons last season. The Auburn, Ala., native is vocal behind the plate and the top hitting returnee after batting .330 for seven homers, 18 doubles, and five triples during 2025. Zapp was the lone player to represent the Falcons on the 2026 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference team. He was also named the #44 backstop in the country by D1 Baseball.
Though he started the season slow at the plate, he posted a breakthrough performance against DBU on Friday Feb. 27 with a grand slam and a three-run homer for seven RBIs, team and career-highs for a single game. In the Falcons' 7-1 win over UT Arlington, Zapp went 3-for-4, just a home run short of a cycle. Behind the plate, Zapp has caught a trio of runners stealing and tallied seven assists.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
C1C Ben Niednagel was named to the 2026 Brooks Wallace Award Watchlist, highlighting the top 100 shortstops across the nation. Through the opening stretch of the season, Niednagel has emerged as a key contributor for the Falcons, delivering both at the plate and in the field. The senior ranks second on the team in batting average at .324 and owns a .459 slugging percentage, highlighted by two doubles, one home run, and five stolen bases.
Lockdown defense has defined Niednagel's play at shortstop. Starting all 11 games, the Santa Clarita, Calif., native has been perfect in the field, posting a team-best 1.000 fielding percentage among starters. He's recorded 17 putouts, 28 assists, and turned four double plays without an error to anchor the infield with reliability.
ON THE MOUND
Air Force returns a steady pitching staff, looking for their experience to help out on the mound.
Friday night guy Gaines Estridge posted a pair of career outings in his first two outings of the season. In the opening 15-3 win over Penn State, the righty threw four strikeouts and allowed no runs in six innings. He came back stronger against Navy and despite earning the loss, Estridge recorded a couple of career highs with seven innings on the bump and ten strikeouts. Against ORU, Estridge struck out one batter in 5.1 IP.
Freshman starter Josh Holst currently holds an ERA of 4.50 with 14 innings pitchee. In his collegiate debut against Iowa, he took a standout start, allowing just one run and striking out five batters in 5.1 innings. Against Army, the lefty allowed a pair of earned runs with four Ks in 4.1 IP. He went four innings against DBU with one strikeout.
Sunday starter Bowen Brantingham has made a trio of appearances with one start at DBU, where he struck out four batters in four innings. Across 9.2 total IP this season, the righty has 10 strikeouts and allowed nine runs.
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 first appearance of 2026, the righty closed against Kansas State with a three up, three down frame.
LHP Sam Hentges brings experience from the bullpen and made his season appearance with a pair of strikeouts in one inning.
Reliever Marcus Downing has logged eight innings on the mound with six Ks and allowing just one run for an ERA of 1.13.
A LOOK AT BAYLOR
The Bears are coming off a 6-5 loss to Tarleton State and currently sit at on 6-6 the 2026 season. At the 2026 Bruce Bolt Classic, Baylor picked up a 6-5 ranked win in extra innings over #11 Ole Miss, but fell to both #3 Texas and #23 UTSA. BU has totaled 76 runs so far and are led offensively by Tyce Armstrong who has batted in 21 runs, though having a.283 BA. On the mound, Air Force will see Lucas Davenport, Cade Hansen, and Ethan Calder.
Players Mentioned
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C
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