Air Force baseball is set to open its 2026 season at the MLB Desert Invitational, beginning with a matchup against Penn State on Friday, February 13 at Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona. The game marks the Falcons’ first appearance at the event and will be their first contest against Penn State since 2008, when they lost 12-2.
During their participation in the tournament, Air Force will also play games against Iowa, UConn, and Kansas State. The invitational features several other teams making their debut alongside Air Force, including Northeastern, Nebraska, and Grand Canyon.
The Falcons are entering the new season after finishing with a record of 20-34 last year. Head Coach Mike Kazlausky emphasized the importance of preparation for the upcoming schedule: “The guys have great energy and are getting hype for some play time.” He added that this preseason has focused on “doing the little things correct.”
Returning experience is expected to be a key strength for Air Force this year. The team brings back 25 letterwinners from last season, including seven starters from the 2025 lineup—six of whom are projected to start again—and thirteen pitchers.
Leadership will come from seniors Walker Zapp and Joey Collier, who were selected as team captains by teammates and coaches. Both have played all four years at the Academy and hold leadership positions within their cadet squadrons. Collier serves as cadet squadron 22 Group 3 A Staff while Zapp is cadet squadron 24 Flight Commander.
Senior catcher Walker Zapp returns after leading Air Force offensively last year with a .330 batting average along with seven home runs, eighteen doubles, and five triples. Zapp was named to the Mountain West Preseason All-Conference team for 2026 and recognized as one of the top catchers nationally by D1 Baseball.
On the pitching side, previous starters Ethan Dillinger, Cranz Smelcer, and Gaines Estridge return to anchor the staff. Estridge is slated to start in Game One following his seventeen appearances last season where he recorded twenty-three strikeouts over thirty-six innings. Reliever Patrick Davidson led Air Force in wins (five) and saves (three) last year; Davis Rhyne, Sam Hentges, and Bowen Brantingham add depth to the bullpen.
Fifteen newcomers join Air Force’s roster this season—all true freshmen due to restrictions preventing transfers or NIL participation within service academies. Among them is left-handed pitcher Josh Holst who is expected to make his collegiate debut against Iowa on February 14. Pitching Coach Kyle Winkler said Holst has “a good fastball and commanding change ups.” Right-hander Jordan Watkins also joins as a promising addition.
In addition to Holst and Watkins on defense, Wyatt Hanoian and Brooks Burdine are anticipated to make their debuts in starting roles.
Penn State enters Friday’s opener coming off a winning campaign in which they finished 33-23 overall with an even Big Ten conference record before falling in their conference tournament semifinal against Nebraska.
