ANNAPOLIS, Md. – An annual tradition is on deck for the Navy baseball team (2-2), as the Midshipmen head back south Friday through Sunday to face service academy rival Air Force (1-3) at the 2024 Freedom Classic in Kinston, N.C.
 
With the Mids and Falcons squaring off at historic Grainger Stadium for the 12th time in 14 seasons, Friday's series opener set for a 6 p.m. first pitch. Saturday's game is slated for a 2 p.m. start, while the series finale on Sunday will get underway at 12:30 p.m.
 
Raba Rolling
Senior outfielder Zane Raba has started the season scorching hot, leading the team in batting average (.571), hits (8), runs scored (6) and doubles (4) … He also shares the team lead with three walks and three steals, while he is one of four Mids to homer this season … Raba's .571 paces the Patriot League and ranks 51st nationally, while his four doubles are tied for the third most in the country and also lead the league … Raba's three stolen bases are the second most in the PL and tied for the fourth most in the country … Raba also matched a career best when he tallied three RBI in the Feb. 17 win over Elon.
 
Murtha Embracing Two-Way Talent
Sophomore Brock Murtha has once again been a weapon for the Mids at the plate, in the field and on the mound, contributing as a two-way player for the second straight year … After hitting .287 in 49 starts as a position player and posting a 2.08 ERA over four relief appearances last season, Murtha has already started four games in the Navy lineup this year and made a pair of pitching appearances … Through the Mids' first four games, Murtha has already tallied five runs scored, four RBI and three steals along with a team-best three hit-by-pitches, while two of his three hits have gone for extra bases … On the mound, Murtha has pitched 2.2 innings and struck out two while not allowing a walk.
 
Last Time Out
Holding onto a two-run lead entering the final inning, the Mids could not prevent a late comeback from Georgetown on Wednesday afternoon, as the Hoyas fought back to spoil Navy's home opener, 5-3 … Getting a career-high four innings from sophomore Tyler Grenn in his first career start, Navy deployed seven relievers in the contest to bridge the final five frames while Raba and sophomore Victor Izquierdo both notched two-hits days at the plate to pace the Mids' offense.
 
Navy Notables vs. Air Force
In six career games against Air Force, senior Logan Keller has averaged .250 at the plate with five hits, including doubling twice and homering during last year's series … Senior righty Nolan Jorgenson holds a 1.69 ERA in two career appearances against the Falcons, holding Air Force to five hits over 5.1 innings … Logging 4.0 innings all-time against Air Force, junior Landon Kruer has struck out six Falcons over two appearances … Senior starter Matthew Shirah has tallied nine strikeouts against Air Force in 9.1 career innings, holding the Falcons to one run in each of his two starts against Air Force.
 
Scouting Air Force
Coming up one win shy of back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths In 2023, the Falcons opened the 2024 season at Mississippi State, as Friday's season opener had Air Force enter the seven-inning stretch with the lead before the Bulldogs rallied for an 8-4 victory … Saturday saw the Falcons bounce back for a 3-2 upset win on the back of Chris Stallings' two RBI, while MSU took the Sunday rubber match, 10-2, and Air Force then dropped a Monday meeting against Southern Miss by a 7-5 final … Aerik Joe leads the team with a .313 average, while Stallings (.286 AVG) paces the Falcons with four RBI and Jay Thomason is the team leader in runs scored (5) and walks (3) … One of Air Force's top starters in 2023, Doyle Gehring has already made two appearances out of the bullpen for Air Force, holding opponents to one run on two hits over four frames … Back-to-back Mountain West Player of the Year and two-time All-American Sam Kulasingam has earned multiple Preseason All-American nods the past month (NCWBA, D1Baseball, Perfect Game), being joined on the NCBWA's Third Team by Thomason.
 
Series History
Through 62 meetings, Navy has the slim 32-30 advantage over Air Force in the all-time series … Navy has won seven of the last nine games between the teams, taking two of three from the Falcons at the 2022 and 2023 Freedom Classics and sweeping a three-game set from Air Force in Annapolis in 2020 after that year's Freedom Classic was cancelled due to snow … The Mids are 29-30 in neutral-site contests against the Falcons.
 
Freedom Classic History
For the 12th time in series history, Navy and Air Force will meet in Kinston … The Mids are 17-17 all-time in Kinston against the Falcons … Navy has won six of the 11 Freedom Classic series, with the 2013 Freedom Classic being a four-game set that was split by Navy and Air Force … Neither side has swept the weekend at the Freedom Classic since the event began in 2011 … Last year's Freedom Classic saw Nate Mitchell throw a one-run, six-inning quality start in Friday's contest, while home runs from Keller and Kyle Rausch provided the offense in a 5-3 Navy win … Led by Shirah's five-inning start and four stellar frames from the bullpen, Navy was able to clinch the series victory on Saturday with a 5-2 victory that had four Mids record doubles … A three-run first inning proved to be the deciding factor in the series finale, the Mids were robbed of the first-ever Freedom Classic sweep with a 4-1 loss to Air Force in the Sunday game.
 
Up Next
Navy will host Delaware State on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. The Mids and Hornets are slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch.