Bears Host Air Force Before Summit League Showdown at South Dakota State

GREELEY, Colo. - The Bears will wrap up their season series against Air Force on Tuesday, April 29, hosting the Falcons for their fourth matchup of the year with first pitch set for 3 p.m. Following that, the Bears will head to Brookings, South Dakota, for a Summit League series against South Dakota State. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. MT, with Saturday and Sunday's games set for 12 p.m.

GAME COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for Tuesday's 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.

This weekend's series will also be streamed through the Summit League Network, and live stats will be provided by the South Dakota State Athletic Communications department.

A LOOK AT THE BEARS
After a tough home series against Omaha, Northern Colorado baseball (15-26, 7-14 Summit) quickly shifts its attention to a midweek matchup with Air Force on Tuesday at Jackson Field. The Bears are looking to bounce back after dropping two of three to the Mavericks over the weekend and will aim to build momentum heading into a critical Summit League series at South Dakota State.

UNC enters Tuesday's contest seeking a season sweep over the Falcons, having already won three meetings this year, including a 10-9 win last week in Greeley. The Bears will also try to even the all-time series, with Air Force currently leading 34-29.

At the plate, Northern Colorado continues to produce offensively, hitting .282 as a team with a .392 on-base percentage. Kai Wagner leads the attack, batting .347 with eight home runs, 46 RBIs, and a 1.059 OPS. Jake Bullard (.345) and Jake King (.335) have been steady forces in the middle of the order, while Brett Barber (.336) and Brandon Sanchez (.271) provide important depth.

On the mound, Murphy Gienger remains the ace, pacing the staff with 56.0 innings pitched and 59 strikeouts. Jake Storey and Luke Guest have also been reliable arms down the stretch as the Bears fight for Summit League positioning.

Following Tuesday's matchup, UNC will travel to Brookings for a three-game series against South Dakota State — a program the Bears know well. Northern Colorado and the Jackrabbits are tied 26-26 all-time, with UNC winning eight of the last 10 matchups. Most recently, the Bears claimed a wild 11-10 victory over SDSU earlier this season, scoring seven runs in the ninth inning to complete a thrilling comeback.

In recent series history, the Bears have dominated SDSU offensively, including a 26-12 win during the 2024 season, their largest margin of victory against the Jackrabbits. UNC holds a strong 16-8 record against SDSU in conference play and has found success both at home (20-21) and on the road (4-4) in the series.

SCOUTING AIR FORCE
(Tuesday | April 29 | 3 p.m.)
The Falcons continue to show flashes of momentum as Mountain West play intensifies. After a strong 15-5 (8-inning) win over Nevada on April 25, Air Force dropped a pair of tough contests to the Wolf Pack, falling 17-15 on April 26 and 7-2 on April 27. Despite the series loss, the Falcons' offense remains a bright spot, with Air Force now sitting at 17-27 overall and 9-12 in Mountain West action. Their resilience at home (11-8 at Erdle Field) continues to give them a fighting chance in the conference standings.

Offensively, the Falcons are paced by junior Walker Zapp, who has elevated his game even further. Zapp now leads the team with a .346 batting average, a 1.060 OPS, and seven home runs, while driving in 37 runs and racking up 98 total bases—making him one of the most dangerous hitters in the conference. Tripp Garrish (.298 AVG, .936 OPS) and Christian Taylor (.299 AVG, 33 RBIs) continue to anchor the lineup, offering consistency and power in the heart of the order.

The depth of the lineup has also improved. Zach Peters (.312 AVG, 5 HR, 37 RBIs) and Luke Elmore (.323 AVG, .873 OPS) have provided strong secondary production, while Alex Adams (.287 AVG, 13 stolen bases) brings a dynamic element of speed. Overall, the Falcons have stolen 77 bases in 101 attempts, emphasizing their aggressive base-running style.

On the mound, Patrick Davidson has continued to be a steady force out of the bullpen and rotation, posting a 4.42 ERA over 36.2 innings with three saves and limiting opponents to a .243 batting average. The pitching staff has been inconsistent overall, sporting a 7.58 team ERA, but bright spots like Ethan Dillinger (4.62 ERA) and Josh Shropshire (4.09 ERA) have given the Falcons valuable innings in key moments.

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
(Friday - Sunday | May 2-4 | 2 p.m., 12 p.m., 12 p.m.)
South Dakota State enters the weekend riding a wave of momentum after winning four of its last five games, including a series win over North Dakota State capped by a 9-6 victory on April 27. Despite a 12-28 overall record and an 8-12 mark in Summit League play, the Jackrabbits have been a different team at home, boasting a 9-4 record at Erv Huether Field compared to a tough 3-23 showing on the road.

Offensively, South Dakota State is led by a trio of consistent hitters in Nolan Grawe, Carter Sintek, and Luke Luskey. Grawe and Sintek are tied for the team lead with a .338 batting average, providing steady production at the top of the order. Luskey has been the team's biggest power threat, slashing .336 with 14 home runs and a .691 slugging percentage over 40 starts. Owen Siegert (.317 AVG, 10 stolen bases) adds speed and contact ability, while Bryce Ronken (.282 AVG, .452 OBP) has been a key on-base machine.

The Jackrabbits have also flashed speed on the bases, going 23-for-30 on stolen base attempts, led by Siegert's 10 steals. While the offense has shown the ability to pile up runs at home, consistency remains a challenge away from Brookings.

On the mound, pitching depth has been an ongoing concern, contributing to a team ERA north of 7.00. However, recent outings have shown signs of improvement, with the bullpen stepping up in crucial moments during the latest series win. If South Dakota State can continue to get quality starts and timely relief, they could be a dangerous team down the stretch in Summit League play.

UP NEXT
The Bears will continue their road trip, playing against Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma May 9-11.

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Brett Barber

Jake Bullard

Murphy Gienger

Luke Guest

Jake King

Brandon Sanchez

Jake Storey

Kai Wagner

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