Preview: Baylor Baseball Prepares to Host Air Force in Last Non-Conference Series

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (6-6) returns home for its final series of non-conference play against the Air Force Falcons (3-8). The Bears will kick off the series at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Saturday’s game is slated for 2 p.m., while the series finale on Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m. All three games this weekend will be streamed on ESPN+.

Baylor Bears

• Record: 6-6
• RPI: 25th
• SOS: 9th

Head Coach: Mitch Thompson

• Career Record: 453-232 (13th season) 
• Record at Baylor: 81-94 (4th season) 

2026 Projections

• D1Baseball: 10th in Big 12
• Coaches Poll: 11th in Big 12

Air Force Falcons

• Record: 3-8
• RPI: 196th
• SOS: 137th

Head Coach: Mike Kazlausky

• Career Record: 341-448 (16th season) 
• Record at Air Force: 341-448 (16th season) 

2026 Projections

• D1Baseball: 9th in Mountain West
• Coaches Poll: 9th in Mountain West

Projected Starting Lineup

• SS: Travis Sanders (RJr.): (.467 BAVG, 1.208 OPS, 45 AB)
• 2B: Pearson Riebock (So.): (.250 BAVG, .777 OPS, 36 AB)
• 1B: Tyce Armstrong (RSr.): (.283 BAVG, 1.066 OPS, 46 AB)
• RF: Brady Janusek (Fr.): (.273 BAVG, .894 OPS, 44 AB)
• DH: Brayden Buchanan (RSo.): (.286 BAVG, .751 OPS, 28 AB)
• LF: Hunter Snow (RFr.): (.206 BAVG, .827 OPS, 34 AB)
• C: JJ Kennett (Jr.): (.333 BAVG, .874 OPS, 15 AB)
• CF: Ty Johnson (5Sr.): (.148 BAVG, .583 OPS, 27 AB)
• 3B: Brytton Clements (RFr.): (.316 BAVG, .891 OPS, 19 AB)

Projected Bench

• C: Cash McDade (Fr.): (.250 BAVG, .857 OPS, 12 AB) 
• INF: Cade Dodson (So.): (.083 BAVG, .350 OPS, 24 AB)
• OF: Caleb Bergman (Sr.): (.250 BAVG, .900 OPS, 4 AB)
• OF: Bo Caraway (Fr.): (.222 BAVG, .444 OPS, 18 AB)
• DH: John Youens (RSo.): (.211 BAVG, .885 OPS, 19 AB)

*2026 Stats: (BAVG = Batting Average, OB% = On-Base Percentage, AB = At-Bats, GP = Games Played)*

Probable Starting Pitchers

• BU SP 1 – RHP: Lucas Davenport (RJr.); (0.00 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 4.2 IP, APP)
• AF SP 1 – RHP: Gaines Estridge (Jr.); (4.42 ERA, 1.15, 18.1 IP, 3 APP)
• BU SP 2 – RHP: Cade Hansen (Sr.); (10.32 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 11.1 IP, 3 APP)
• AF SP 2 – LHP: Josh Holst (Fr.); (4.42 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 14 IP, 3 APP)
• BU SP 3 – LHP: Ethan Calder (Sr.); (2.31 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 3 APP)
• AF SP 3 – RHP: Bowen Brantingham (Jr.); (8.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 9.2 IP, 3 APP)

*2026 Stats: (ERA = Earned Run Average, WHIP = Walks & Hits Per Inning Pitched, IP = Innings-Pitched, APP = Appearances)