Bears Set for Crucial Homestand Against Air Force, Omaha

GREELEY, Colo. - The Bears will continue their series against Air Force on Tuesday, April 22 at 3 p.m., hosting the Falcons for their third matchup of the season. They will then welcome Omaha for a Summit League series from Friday to Sunday, April 25–27, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

GAME COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for the game provided by Bear Vision through the Summit League Network. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date, provided by the Northern Colorado Strategic Communications department.

A LOOK AT THE BEARS
After picking up a crucial series win on the road against North Dakota State, Northern Colorado baseball (13-24, 6-12 Summit) heads back to Jackson Field for a pivotal four-game homestand. The Bears welcome regional foe Air Force on Tuesday before hosting Omaha in a key Summit League series from Friday through Sunday.

The Bears come into the week riding a two-game win streak, having taken the final two games in Fargo to claim the series over NDSU. Their 6-4 win on Saturday was fueled by timely hitting and a strong performance from Jake Storey, who allowed just two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings of work.

UNC now shifts its focus to Air Force, a team it edged 8-7 in Colorado Springs earlier this month. The Bears will look to even up the all-time series, which currently favors the Falcons 34-28. Tuesday's rematch offers a chance to build further momentum ahead of the weekend.

Following that, Northern Colorado welcomes the Omaha Mavericks, who took three tightly contested games from the Bears in Nebraska back in March. Historically, the series between the two programs has been competitive, with Omaha holding a narrow 22-17 edge. UNC has played Omaha better at home, boasting a 10-6 record in Greeley.

Offensively, the Bears continue to find success at the plate, batting .282 as a team with a collective on-base percentage of .392. Brett Barber leads the lineup with a .357 average, while Kai Wagner has been the power threat, launching seven homers and driving in a team-high 42 runs with a 1.033 OPS. Jake King (.331) and Jake Bullard (.330) continue to produce in the middle of the order, combining for over 90 hits and 42 RBIs.

On the hill, Murphy Gienger leads the staff in innings (56.0) and strikeouts (59), while Jake Storey and Luke Guest have each played key roles in the rotation and bullpen, respectively.

SCOUTING AIR FORCE
(Tuesday | April 22 | 3 p.m.)
The Falcons are riding a bit of momentum heading into the heart of Mountain West play, having won four of their last eight games, including a bounce-back 8-3 road win at Fresno State on April 19. Air Force now sits at 16-24 overall and 8-10 in conference action, but despite a rough road record (4-17), they've shown resilience and offensive firepower, especially at home, where they hold a solid 10-6 mark.

Offensively, Air Force is paced by junior slugger Walker Zapp, who leads the team with a .322 batting average, .998 OPS, and six home runs. Zapp has driven in 34 runs and racked up 84 total bases, making him one of the most dangerous hitters in the lineup. Tripp Garrish (.306 AVG, .460 OBP) and Christian Taylor (.303 AVG, 29 RBIs) have also been steady presences, giving the Falcons a productive top half that's capable of putting pressure on opposing pitching staffs.

Zach Peters (.301 AVG, 5 HR, 34 RBIs) and Alex Adams (.294 AVG, 13 stolen bases) round out a lineup that has both pop and speed. The Falcons are aggressive on the basepaths, with five players registering at least five steals on the year, and they'll need that spark as they look to climb back into the Mountain West mix.

On the mound, Patrick Davidson has emerged as a reliable option, posting a 4.05 ERA and holding opponents to a .231 batting average over 33.1 innings. The pitching staff has seen its share of ups and downs, with Dylan Rogers (41.1 IP, 44 ER) battling command issues, but the bullpen has provided some bright spots, particularly in tight games.

SCOUTING OMAHA
(Friday - Sunday | April 25-27 | 2 p.m., 12 p.m., 12 p.m.)
Omaha heads into the weekend looking to build momentum after a competitive series against Oral Roberts, highlighted by a 5-2 win on April 18. The Mavericks sit at 13-22 overall and 7-11 in conference play, but have shown promise at home, where they hold a .500 mark (9-9), compared to a tough 4-13 record on the road.

Offensively, Omaha is powered by junior outfielder Henry Zipay, who has been one of the league's most consistent hitters. Zipay boasts a .397 batting average and a 1.031 OPS, with 52 hits, 33 runs, and 70 total bases across 35 starts. Jackson Trout (.324 AVG, .900 OPS) has been another key contributor, adding five home runs and 26 RBIs, while Tyler Bishop (.281 AVG, 30 RBIs) provides both power and run production from the heart of the order.

Mason Gaines (.276 AVG, .394 OBP) and Sam Beck (.245 AVG) round out a lineup that, when locked in, can go toe-to-toe with any Summit pitching staff. The Mavs have also flashed speed, led by Trout's 6-for-7 mark on stolen base attempts, though baserunning has been inconsistent overall.

On the mound, Ben Weber has been the most dependable starter, logging a 4.70 ERA over a team-high 51.2 innings while holding opponents to a .242 average. Relievers like Tanner Foertsch (3.74 ERA, 1 SV) and Luke Gainer (5-2, 4.91 ERA) have shown flashes of reliability, but overall pitching depth has been a concern, particularly in road games and high-scoring affairs.

UP NEXT
The Bears will host Air Force again in the series finale on Tuesday, April 29, before hitting the road to Brookings, S.D. for a three-game series at South Dakota State May 2-4.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the baseball team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsBSB) and Instagram (@UNC_BearsBaseball).

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Players Mentioned

Brett Barber

Jake Bullard

Murphy Gienger

Luke Guest

Jake King

Jake Storey

Kai Wagner

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