ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Following the first loss of its 2022 campaign Wednesday against Coppin State, the Navy baseball team (2-1) returns to action Friday seeking a bounce-back effort as it travels to open a three-games series against Air Force (2-2) in the annual Freedom Classic hosted in Kinston, N.C.
 
The three-game series will open Friday with a 6 p.m. first pitch, followed by a 2 p.m. start on Saturday and a 12:30 p.m. start in Sunday's series finale. All three games will have free, live statistics available via NavySports.com.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES vs. AIR FORCE
Over 56 all-time meetings between the two service academies, Air Force and Navy have played to an even 28-28 record that includes the Midshipmen winning each of the last three games in the series. The two programs last met during the 2020 season for a three-game set played in Annapolis. Navy swept the series, with two of the three games being decided by one run including the series finale going 10 innings in a 4-3 win for the Mids.
 
NAVY PRIMER
Overall Record: 2-1
Home Record: 2-1
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Record: 0-0
Patriot League Record: 0-0
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Paul Kostacopoulos I 17th Season at Navy, 33rd Overall (987-653-7)
 
SCOUTING THE MIDSHIPMEN
LAST TIME OUT: Last time out, Navy tallied its first loss of the 2022 campaign in a 15-9 decision against Air Force. Despite scoring nine runs on 11 hits in the contest, Navy was outdueled by Coppin State as the Eagles recorded 15 runs on eight hits including a pair of grand slams that came in the first and seventh inning, respectively.
 
The Midshipmen pitching staff combined to surrender seven walks in the game, along with hitting three batters, while the Navy defense committed three errors for only the third time in the last four seasons. Christian Policelli (Sr., Walkersville, Md.) led the way for the Mids on offense in the contest, going 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and a three-run home run. Kyle Rausch (Jr., Middle Island, N.Y.) added a 3-for-5 showing at the plate against the Eagles with a double, two runs scored and his first career home run.
 
LEADING THE CHARGE: Reigning Patriot League Player of the Week Logan Keller (So., Longwood, Fla.) is the leading hitter for the Navy offense through three games with a .557 batting average. The sophomore standout also leads the team in hits (8) and on-base percentage (.647) while also being tied for second in walks (3) and runs scored (3).
 
Policelli follows closely behind Keller among Navy's top hitters, posting a .500 batting average through three games including a double, a triple, a home run, five runs scored and six RBI in addition to posting an outstanding .929 slugging percentage and reaching base at a .588 clip.
 
Rounding out the top-performing hitters for the Midshipmen in 2022 in shortstop Eduardo Diaz (So., Miami, Fla.) who has had a breakout start to his sophomore campaign. Diaz is hitting .375 that includes being third on the team in hits (6) along with tallying a triple and three RBI.
 
TOP OF THE HEAP: In the early going, Navy leads the way among Patriot League teams in several offensive categories. The Mids rank first in team batting average (.297), hits (35), runs scored (30), home runs (3), RBI (25), slugging percentage (.441) and on-base percentage (.440) while being tied for first in triples (3) and total bases (52).
 
Among the individual leaders in the league on offense, Keller leads the way in hits along with being second in batting average. Policelli ranks first in runs scored, second in hits along with being second in slugging and fourth in batting average. Diaz is tied with Policelli for the league lead in runs scored while being third in hits and tied for second in triples.
 
NAVY HITTERS vs. AIR FORCE: Zach Stevens (Sr., Lexington, Mass.) leads the way for Navy hitters that have faced Air Force in their respective careers. The senior first baseman has a career .538 batting average against the Falcons that includes a home run, a triple, two doubles, four RBI and four runs scored.
 
Policelli has tallied four hits in his career against Air Force, highlighted by a 2-for-4 showing during in the second game of the 2020 series that included the catcher tallying an RBI and a run scored. Alex Smith (Jr., Laguna Hills, Calif.) has three career hits against Air Force while Joe Simourian (Sr., Andover, Mass.) has totaled an RBI and two runs scored in three career games against the Falcons.
 
NAVY PITCHERS vs. AIR FORCE: Among Navy pitchers that have squared off against Air Force, Dalton Baker (Sr., Sebring, Fla.) has seen the most action with three appearances against the Falcons. Baker has pitched 3.2 innings over those appearances, picking up two saves while allowing four hits and striking out a batter. Following Baker is Colin Jones (Sr., Collierville, Tenn.) who has pitched 2.1 innings against Air Force in his career, allowing just two unearned runs and recording a strikeout.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The Midshipmen have worked their way up the national leaderboard in several offensive categories, including being fourth nationally in triples (4). Navy also ranks among the top-40 teams in the nation for on-base percentage (.440), runs per game (10.0) and walks (30). Individually, Keller ranks 37th nationally in batting average and 54th in on-base percentage while Policelli is 12th in triples (2) and 42nd in RBI per game (2.00).
 
TRIPLE THREAT: The trio of Diaz, Keller and Policelli has proven to be a formidable foe for opposing pitchers through the Mids first three games of the 2022 season. The trio has combined to start the season with a .477 batting average on 21 hits that includes a double, a home run, two triples and 11 RBI along with scoring 13 runs, posting a .667 slugging percentage and reaching base at a .549 clip.
 
NEWCOMERS MAKE AN IMPACT: A pair of freshmen have made their presence felt on the Navy pitching staff through its first three games. Liam Golden (Fr., Springfield, Va.) made his first collegiate appearance against Coppin State on Wednesday, pitching 2.1 innings in which he allowed just one hit and struck out a batter. Landon Kruer (Fr., Sellersburg, Ind.) has made two appearances out the bullpen this season, allowing just one run on two hits in addition to striking out a batter over 2.1 innings of work. 
 
AIR FORCE PRIMER
Overall Record: 2-2
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Record: 2-2
Mountain West Record: 0-0
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Mike Kazlausky I 12th Season (233-322)
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
LAST TIME OUT: Air Force opened its 2022 season at the Swig & Swine Classic hosted in Charleston, S.C. The five-team classic featured the Falcons along with Army, Ball State, Iowa and Richmond. Over the three-day event, Air Force fell to Iowa, 12-2, in its opening game prior to earning a 9-0 victory over Ball State is game two and a 4-3 win over Army in game three. The Falcons wrapped up the classic by dropping a 2-0 decision to Richmond, falling to 2-2 on the season.
 
AT THE PLATE: Through its first four games, Chase Spencer leads the way for Air Force at the plate with a .333 batting average that includes a home run and four RBI along with scoring a run and walking three times. Consensus Preseason All-American Paul Skenes and Jay Thomason rank second on the team with a .214 average, with Skenes having a team-high two home runs and five RBI. 
 
ON THE MOUND: Seungmin Shim leads the way for the Air Force pitching staff after going six innings while allowing just two hits in his first start of the season against Ball State. Ryan Stohr pitched five innings in which he allowed an unearned run on one hit while striking out six against Richmond. Rounding out the top-performing pitchers for the Falcons is Rob Martin, who in his first start of 2022 allowed one run on one hit while walking four and striking out eight in a 4-3 win over Army.
 
UP NEXT
Following its three-game series against Air Force, Navy will play its first true road game of the season on March 2 at George Mason before returning home for a three-game series against Central Connecticut State March 4-6.