March 7, 2002
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THIS WEEK
San Diego State will face UC Irvine in a three-game series this weekend with two of those contests at Irvine and one in San Diego.
The teams will meet on Friday, March 8, at 6:00 p.m. at Anteater Ballpark, then play at Tony Gwynn Stadium the next day (Saturday, March 9) at 4:00 p.m.
The series concludes with a 1:00 contest on Sunday (March 10) at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine.
SERIES RECORD
The Aztecs lead the series with the Anteaters 42-17-1. The teams first met in 1970 and their last encounter came during the 1992 campaign, UCI's last season of baseball prior to this year.
SDSU won four of the seven meetings between the teams in the 1990s.
SCOUTING THE ANTEATERS
UC Irvine (12-10) has resurrected its baseball program this season after dropping the sport at the conclusion of the 1992 campaign. Through the first third of the season, the Anteaters have already racked up some impressive wins including a win over USC this past Tuesday. UCI has also won two-of-three from Brigham Young and Hawaii, and was projected by Baseball America in the preseason as an NCAA Tournament team.
The Anteaters are led offensively by first baseman Matt Anderson (.414, 7 doubles, 14 RBI) and catcher Chris Miller (.348, 5 HR, 24 RBI). Second baseman Effren Trejo has contributed 16 RBI with a .268 batting average. As a team, the Anteaters are hitting .276.
UCI's expected pitching rotation this weekend includes Sean Tracey (3-1. 2.29), Brett Smith (2-0, 5.19) and Paul French (1-3, 5.12). Irvine's closer is Michael Koehler, who has recorded four saves with a 2.31 earned run average. The team's ERA stands at 3.96.
COACH JIM DIETZ
Aztec head coach Jim Dietz is in his 31st season at San Diego State, where he has compiled a career record of 1202-733-18 (.620). His win total ranks seventh among active Division I coaches. Dietz picked up his 1200th career victory with SDSU's 11-2 win over Southern Utah on March 1.
He was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in a ceremony that took place at the organization's annual convention in Orlando on January 4.
Dietz has announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2002 campaign. He will be succeeded by former Aztec and San Diego Padre Tony Gwynn, who is serving as an assistant coach this season.
MOST RECENTLY
San Diego State swept a three-game series with Southern Utah at Tony Gwynn Stadium last weekend by scores of 11-2, 19-4 and 4-3.
In the opener, nine different Aztecs had at least one hit apiece in the team's 11-hit attack. Chris Dunwell picked up his first win of the season, going six innings and striking out nine while allowing just one hit.
On Saturday, SDSU batted around twice in the fifth inning, scoring 13 times to erase a 2-1 deficit. Riley Barrett enjoyed his best day as an Aztec, going 4-for-6 with a pair of triples, four RBI and three runs scored. Rory Shortell upped his record to 4-1, going seven innings and giving up a pair of unearned runs on three hits.
The series finale was a closely contested game that saw the score knotted at 3-3 in the eighth. SDSU outfielder Josh Hill then delivered an RBI single to score Carlo Cota in the bottom of that inning with what proved to be the winning run. Joe Carque (3-0) picked up the win in relief while Royce Ring struck out the side in the ninth to record his fifth save of the season.
HOME COOKIN'
San Diego has won its first eight home contests at Tony Gwynn Stadium this season.
That ties the Aztecs' longest home win streak since the facility opened in 1997 as SDSU won eight consecutive games at Tony Gwynn Stadium during the 1998 campaign.
In their eight home contests, the Aztecs are hitting .350 with a 2.62 earned average. This compares with their contests away from Tony Gwynn Stadium where the team's batting average is .294 and the team ERA is 3.11.
The one disparity is in fielding percentage where SDSU has a .952 mark at home and a .968 mark on the road.
COTA CONTINUES OFFENSIVE SURGE
Senior second baseman Carlo Cota has been one of the team's hottest and most consistent hitters through the early part of the 2002 campaign.
He has hit safely in 10 of San Diego State's last 11 contests. He had an eight-game hitting streak stopped in the opener of the Southern Utah series.
Over his last 11 games, Cota is hitting .447 (17-for-38) with five doubles, a triple, 12 runs scored and seven RBI. His eight doubles this season leads the team lead in that category.
He has had multiple-hit games in 10 of SDSU's 20 contests this season. That number includes three three-hit efforts and seven two-hit performances.
Cota has also scored at least one run in seven straight games and 11 of the Aztecs' last 12 contests.
GWYNN HITTING STREAK REACHES 11 GAMES
Anthony Gwynn is currently in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak, the longest on the team this season.
In SDSU's last 11 contests, he is batting .363 (16-for-44) with 13 runs scored and seven stolen bases.
Gwynn has raised his season batting average 84 points over the last three weeks. He enters the weekend with a .303 average.
He leads the team in runs (17), walks (9) and stolen bases (13).
MCLINTOCK AMONG TEAM'S TOP HITTERS
Outfielder Jake McLintock is beginning make an impression both at the plate and in the field during his first season at San Diego State.
The freshman from Bonita Vista High in nearby Bonita, Calif., is currently on a 10-game hitting streak (second-longest on the team in 2002) during which he is batting .457 (16-for-35) with three doubles, nine RBIs and seven runs scored. He has also made several stellar defensive plays in right field.
McLintock was projected by Baseball America in the preseason as the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year.
STEPHENS STELLAR
Junior Jon Stephens, a transfer from Saddleback Junior College, has solidified the first base position since his arrival at San Diego State.
A third baseman through much of his baseball career, he was asked to step in at first base for the Aztecs this season. Through 20 games he has committed only two errors at his new position and is fielding .988 (168 chances). He had a string of 12 errorless games snapped in last Saturday's game vs. Southern Utah.
At the plate, he is becoming a force as well. He had a seven-game hitting streak ended last Friday against Southern Utah, but has hit safely in 9 of the team's last 10 contests. Over those games, he is batting .412 (14-for-34) with 10 RBI, eight runs scored, two doubles, a homer and six bases on balls.
HILL STEADY AT THE PLATE
Sophomore Josh Hill, who has claimed a starting role in left field, is on a seven-game hitting streak during which he is 10-for-27 (.455) with 10 RBI, four runs scored, a double and a triple.
His RBI single in the eighth last Sunday vs. Southern Utah drove in the game-winning run in SDSU's 4-3 victory.
Hill has recorded multiple-RBI in six games this season to lead the team i n that category.
GRIN AND BARRETT
After a slow start which saw him go 1-for-11 at the plate, junior utility man Riley Barrett broke out in four games last week.
Over that span, he went 7-for-13 (.538) with seven RBI, five runs scored, a double, two triples and a home run.
In the process, he raised his batting average from .091 to .333.
Barrett's two triples in Saturday's game tied an Aztec single-game record held by many. The last time it occurred was on March 19, 200, when Billy Montgomery had a pair of three-baggers vs. New Mexico.
His four RBI's in Saturday's game represents a season high for the Aztecs.
SHORTELL GETTING IT DONE
Junior right-hander Rory Shortell (4-1) has made five starts and has been involved in the decision in each of those contests.
He is one of two Aztecs hurlers with no wild pitchers this season. The other is Rob Harrand (13.1 innings).
Although he has no wild pitches, he does lead the team in hit batters with seven.
Shortell has gone seven complete innings in each of his last three starts, all wins.
RING 'EM UP
Royce Ring continues to be the master of all he surveys at home plate. He picked up his fifth save of the year against Southern Utah last Sunday, striking out the side in the ninth.
He has accumulated 16 strikeouts in his eight innings this season (nine appearances). He has allowed three hits and walked two batters.
His career total of 14 saves ties him for the number-two spot on the Aztec career list with Thad Troedson (1975-78). The Aztec career save mark of 17 is held by Mark Williamson (1981-82).
LEE ON THE OFFENSIVE
Junior shortstop Taber Lee had his best week of the season in the Aztecs' five contests last week.
In those five games, he went 7-for-13 (.538) five runs scored, two doubles and two RBI.
In the three middle games of the five contests last week, Lee reached based safely in 11 straight at bats. Included in that run were four singles, two doubles, three walks and two hit by pitch.
He has raised his batting average almost 100 points (from .170 to its current .269) over SDSU's seven games since Feb. 22.
APPROACHING RECORDS
Two Aztecs are on the verge of setting SDSU career marks.
Second baseman Carlo Cota enters the week with 13 career sacrifice flies, a total that ties him for the Aztec record with Kerwin Danley ((1980-83) and Bobby Meacham (1979-81). His next sac fly will give him sole possession of the SDSU mark.
Junior pitcher Rory Shortell's seven hit batters this season gives him a career total of 25. The Aztec record in that category is 28 by Jeremy Cook (1997-200).
HIT 'EM AGAIN
With 27 hit batters through the first 20 games of the season, the Aztec pitching staff is on pace to surpass the school record for most hit batters in a season.
The SDSU mark of 60 was set by the 2000 squad over the course of 60 contests.
At its current pace, Aztecs hurlers could plunk 80 batters by season's end (over it's 59-game regular season schedule).
San Diego State has hit three or more batters in a game four times this year with a high of four coming at Loyola Marymount on Feb. 26.
HITTING COMING AROUND
The Aztecs have raised their team batting average by 30 points over their last seven games (from .286 to its present .316).
Over those seven contests, SDSU is hitting .370 (95-for-257).
The team has recorded 12 doubles in its last three games.
PITCHING STAFF POSTING IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS
SDSU hurlers have posted a team earned run average of 2.91 with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of well better than two-to one (176 Ks-68 BBs in 173.1 innings).
The staff has reached double figures in strikeouts in a game in nine of the team's 20 games.
Opposing teams have a combined batting average of .219 against SDSU.
AZTEC PLAYER NOTES
Garrett Cook had a modest four-game hitting steak ended last Sunday. In the four games prior to that contest, he went 6-for-15 with four runs scored, four RBI, a double and two walks.
Riley Barrett hit his first career home run in the 11-2 win over Southern Utah last Friday, a solo shot in the seventh.
Chad Corona leads the team in home runs with four, but has not hit a homer at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Junior right-hander Joe Carque is 3-0 with two of those wins coming in relief. San Diego State is 4-0 in games in which he is the starting pitcher.
Third baseman Chad Corona has hit safely in five of the last six (and nine of the last 11) contests in which he has appeared.
Lefty Daryl Harang is averaging almost 1.5 strikeouts per innings. In seven appearances, he has fanned 14 opposing batters in 9.1 innings.
Opponents are hitting just .188 against SDSU's number-three starter Mike Moat.
AZTEC TEAM NOTES
SDSU has won four in a row, one shy of its season-best win streak of five set after a season-opening loss at Hawaii-Hilo. The team's longest win streak last season was six games.
After starting the season with a record of 5-4 after their first nine games, the Aztecs are 9-2 over their last 11 contests.
San Diego State had a string of six games in which they reached double figures in hits snapped last Sunday vs. Southern Utah.
SDSU is averaging 2.5 stolen bases a game over its last four outings.
The Aztecs have been in double figures in hits in 12 of their 20 games and in doubles figures in runs on six occasions.
San Diego State has hit just nine home runs this season, four by one player (Chad Corona) and one each by five others.
SDSU has scored its fewest runs in the first (5 runs) and ninth (3 runs) innings through 20 contests. Their most production comes in the fourth and fifth, having scored 26 times in each of those innings.
SDSU is 8-2 in night games and 6-4 in day contests.
The Aztecs 14-6 start is its best since the 1997 campaign when they won 14 of their first 17 contests and finished 41-22-1.
San Diego State has hit at least one double in each of its last 13 games.
SDSU is averaging 7.1 runs and 11.2 hits a game compared to opponents 3.9 runs and 7.1 hits per contest.
ON DECK
San Diego State will open Mountain West Conference play with a three-game series against Air Force starting Friday, March 15, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Saturday's game is also slated for a 6:00 p.m. start with the series finale on Sunday set to begin at 1:00 p.m.
The MWC opener on Friday will be televised live locally on Cox Channel 4 in San Diego.