Nevada (16-14, 9-5 MW) vs. Air Force (14-16, 4-7 MW)
Thursday-Sunday, April 14-17, 2022
Reno, Nev. - Peccole Park
Probable Starters
Thurs. (1 p.m.) - RHP
Alejandro Murillo (2-1, 6.08) vs. RHP Paul Skenes (4-2, 2.70)
Fri. (1 p.m.) - RHP
Peyton Stumbo (4-1, 6.23) vs. RHP Jake Sansing (2-1, 5.89)
Sat. (1 p.m.) - RHP
Cam Walty (2-3, 5.28) vs. RHP Ryan Stohr (1-2, 3.10)
Sun. (1 p.m.) - RHP
Casey Burfield (1-1, 7.76) vs. LHP Seungmin Shim (3-3, 5.51)
RENO, Nev. - Nevada begins a five-game home stand Thursday, opening a four-game set with Air Force at Peccole Park.
While the Pack and Falcons will play four games, all 1 p.m. starts, Thursday-Sunday, Thursday's contest will be the makeup of March 5's postponed contest at The Academy, and thus Air Force will be the home team.
Friday's game will be broadcast locally on Nevada Sports Net, and all four games will be carried over the airwaves at 94.1 FM/1450 AM CBS Sports Radio, with John Ramey on the call.
This weekend is Salute to Service Weekend, as Nevada Baseball will be celebrating and honoring our current and former service members throughout the entire series.
Friday will have the color guard for the national anthem. Nevada Football head coach Ken Wilson will be throwing out the first pitch. And it is our $2 Howler special.
Saturday will feature a chorus performing the anthem, as well as an Armed Forces Tribute Medley. Colonel Jo Meacham will be throwing out the first pitch as Military Hero of the Game. Col. Meacham served in the Nevada Air National Guard for 35 years, retiring in 2021. The second set of Trading Cards will also be given away to the first 50 fans
Sunday will be the Easter game, featuring free admission for all. Nevada will do a "Lucky Easter Egg" contest, featuring a bin full of plastic Easter eggs, most of which contain candy, but others will contain mystery prizes such as lanyards, wolf pack stickers, etc. One egg per fan. And then, as per usual for Sunday games, it will be Kids Sunday Funday, where kids 12 and under will be able to come down to the field and run the bases after the game.
LAST TIME OUT
Nevada captured its road series at UNLV, taking two of three and narrowly missing the sweep.
The Pack came from behind late in all three games, despite falling in 10 innings Sunday. Friday, the Pack came back from down 6-1, tying it up in the ninth and prevailing, 9-7, in 10 innings. The next day, Nevada was down 8-5 after three innings, but stormed back late to take the 22-13 series-clinching victory.
ABOUT AIR FORCE
Air Force (14-16, 4-7 MW) has won five of its past six entering the weekend. The Falcons' last Mountain West action was from April 1-3, when they took two of three at Fresno State.
The Pack and Falcons played two of the scheduled three games at The Academy in early March, splitting the games before the finale was postponed due to inclement weather.
Last season, the teams split their six meetings. Air Force took two of three in Reno from April 2-3, before the Pack returned the favor by winning the series at Air Force from April 24-25.
MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK (AGAIN)
Senior infielder Joshua Zamora was named Mountain West Player of the Week for the second time this season April 11, after helping the Pack to a 3-1 mark including taking two of three at UNLV. For the week, Zamora batted .588 (10-for-17) with 12 RBIs and nine runs, three doubles, and a grand slam. At UNLV, Zamora batted .571 (8-for-14) with seven RBIs, six runs, three walks, a double and a grand slam.
He earned his first conference weekly honor of 2022 on Feb. 21 after hitting .667 (8-for-12) with two doubles, three home runs, and five RBI in the series win at Grand Canyon.
MORE ON ZAMORA
Joshua Zamora has had a strong 2022 season, batting .381 (10th in the country) with team highs of 10 home runs, 38 runs, and 44 RBIs. His .735 slugging percentage is also first on the team. Zamora has hit 39 home runs in his career which is tied for fifth in Nevada baseball history with Lyle Overbay (1996-99) and Jacob Butler (2002-05).
Of Zamora's 10 homers this season, two have been grand slams, coming March 13 against San José State and April 9 at UNLV.
GOMEZ FOR THE CYCLE
Dario Gomez hit for the cycle in Saturday's 22-13 victory at UNLV, becoming the first Wolf Pack player to achieve the feat since Keaton Smith on April 28. 2019, at Air Force.
Gomez went home run, single, double, triple for his cycle Saturday, and finished the day 4-for-7 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
CAN'T ELIMINATE THIS MIDDLE MAN
Sophomore reliever Kade Morris has been a key factor as the Pack's "middle man" on its pitching staff. And, the sophomore's put together a solid run of outings since taking a loss in relief March 16 against Dixie State.
Over his five outings since, Morris has gone 4-1, striking out 20 batters and allowing just five earned runs over 16.0 innings of work. At UNLV, Morris picked up the win Saturday, going the final 3.1 innings and striking out four while allowing just one run as the Pack rolled late for a 22-13 win.
Despite taking the loss in March 29's 14-13, 11-inning loss to No. 2 Oregon State, Morris acquitted himself well, striking out six batters and allowing just one run in three innings of work. On the year, Morris is 4-3, striking out 28 over 26.2 innings in nine appearances.
