May 21, 2002
MWC TOURNAMENT
San Diego State is in Provo, Utah, this week to participate in the third annual Mountain West Conference Tournament. BYU will host this year's event at Larry H. Miller Stadium.
SDSU is the number-one seed in the tourney by virtue of winning the league's regular-season championship.
The Aztecs will open play on Wednesday morning against number-six seed New Mexico at 11:00 a.m. (MDT). The second game of the day will have #2 Utah vs. #5 UNLV at 3:00 p.m. followed by #3 Brigham Young vs. #4 Air Force at 7:00 p.m.
Should the Aztecs win their opening round game, they would play the loser of the Air Force-Brigham Young game at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. If they lose their first game, they will face the loser of the UNLV-Utah contest at 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning.
The tournament winner receives the Mountain West Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.
The Aztecs are 7-2 in the previous two league tournaments. SDSU's records against the other five MWC teams in the first two conference tourneys are as follows:
Air Force.....2-0New Mexico....1-0BYU...........2-1Utah..........1-0UNLV..........1-1
AZTECS VS. THE FIELD
Here are the series records for San Diego State vs. each of the league teams, both all-time and for the 2002 season only:
All-Time 2002Air Force........42-14......2-4Brigham Young....51-30-1....6-0UNLV.............38-19......5-1New Mexico.......72-31......5-1Utah.............68-14......2-4
SDSU ROTATION
The Aztecs expect to have Rory Shortell (7-6, 4.17) starting the first game of the conference tournament against New Mexico on Wednesday.
Chris Dunwell (8-3, 3.77) will likely get the start in SDSU's second game on Thursday.
Should the Aztecs continue beyond Thursday, the likely starter for game three would be Joe Carque (8-3, 5.69).
AZTECS CLINCH TITLE
With their win at New Mexico on May 12, the Aztecs clinched the regular-season Mountain West Conference title for the first time in the three-year existence of the league.
It is the first regular-season baseball championship for San Diego State since the 1990 season when they finished first in the eight-team Western Athletic Conference. SDSU also won the four-team double elimination conference tournament that season
AZTEC MWC TOURNEY HISTORY
San Diego State has advanced to the title game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament each of the first two years the event has been contested.
In 2000, the Aztecs defeated UNLV, Brigham Young (twice) and Air Force to win the tournament championship.
Last season, SDSU dropped its opening contest to UNLV, then came back to defeat Air Force, Utah and New Mexico to advance to the final. In the championship game, SDSU fell to Brigham Young, 4-3, to finish second.
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 1228-748-18 (.620). His win total ranks seventh among active Division I coaches. He picked up his 1200th career victory in the 11-2 win over Southern Utah on March 1.
He was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) 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. Former Aztec and San Diego Padre Tony Gwynn, who is serving as a volunteer assistant coach this season, will succeed him.
MOST RECENTLY
San Diego State concluded its 2002 regular season by winning two of three games at UNLV last weekend.
In the opener in Las Vegas, SDSU was held to just five hits by Rebel starter Robbie Van, falling 12-1.Five different players had one hit apiece for San Diego State, which scored an unearned run in the eighth to avoid the shutout.
In the second game of the series, the lead changed hands four times before the Aztecs scored three in the seventh to take a 7-4 lead en route to a 10-5 win. Carlo Cota had four hits with a double while Jake McLintock contributed three hits with a triple and two RBI. Chris Hartshorn picked up his second win of the season in relief of starter Chris Dunwell.
In the series finale, SDSU got three-run homers from Garrett Cook and McLintock to post an 8-5 victory. Anthony Gwynn and Jon Stephens also had two hits apiece for the Aztecs. Starting pitcher Joe Carque recorded the win, his eighth of the year.
AZTECS IN THE POLLS
Although San Diego State is not ranked in any of the three major polls this week, it did receive votes in the ESPN/Baseball Weekly rankings.
The votes received would place the Aztecs 33rd in that poll.
SDSU's lone appearance in the Top 25 this season came on April 22 when it was ranked 25th by Baseball America.
AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS
In this week's NCAA statistics, which are published each Tuesday, Aztec junior Royce Ring ranks second in the nation in saves with 16 despite having only one save opportunity the past three weeks.
The other stat where SDSU ranks among the national leaders is defense, where its .970 fielding percentage ranks 15th.
MWC TEAM RANKINGS
The Aztecs rank first in the conference in team earned run average and fielding percentage heading into the weekend.
The team's 4.56 ERA is almost 1.5 runs better than number-two Utah (6.03). SDSU's fielding percentage of .970 leads UNLV (.964) by six points.
San Diego State's team batting average of .324 is fourth in the MWC behind New Mexico (.348), Utah (.325) and Air Force (.324).
MWC INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
SDSU has three players ranked among the top 15 in the conference in batting average: junior Jon Stephens (5th at .377), freshman Jake McLintock (11th at .367) and junior Taber Lee (12th at .361).
Three Aztecs pitchers are among the league's top 10 in earned run average: Chris Dunwell (2nd at 3.77), Rory Shortell (3rd at 4.17), and Joe Carque (8th at 5.69).
Three players are also ranked first in individual categories this week. Royce Ring leads the MWC with 16 saves while Anthony Gwynn's eight sacrifice bunts are also tops in the conference. Dunwell's .249 opponent batting average is also best in the league.
MCLINTOCK MAKING HIS MARK
Freshman outfielder Jake McLintock has emerged as one of SDSU's top offensive threats this season. He leads the team in runs batted in with 53.
He is second on the in batting average (.367), doubles (16) and home runs (6).
He has hit safely in each of SDSU's last six games and has driven in 12 runs in the last five contests.
McLintock has committed only one error this season, that coming at UC Irvine on March 10. He is fielding .990.
LEE CONTINUES OFFENSIVE SURGE
Junior shortstop Taber Lee had his seven-game hitting streak broken in last Saturday's game at UNLV. During that streak, Lee batted .411 (14-for-34) with eight runs scored.
He has hit safely in 12 of San Diego State's last 14 games. Over that 14-game span he is batting .462 (30-for-65) with 17 runs scored, 14 runs batted in, seven doubles and 14 walks.
His on-base percentage during the past 14 contests is .557.
Lee, who was hitting .278 after SDSU's first 22 games, is now batting .361, third best on the squad. His average in conference play is .407 with 30 runs scored and 23 RBIs in 27 games.
COTA SOLID AT SECOND
Carlo Cota had a 10-game hitting streak ended last Thursday at UNLV.
That game also ended a streak which saw him score at least one run in 12 straight contests. He has scored in 14 of SDSU's last 15 games (a total of 19 runs).
In the last five games, he is 11-for-22 (.500) with eight RBI, three doubles, a triple and six walks. His on-base percentage in those contests is .607.
He leads the team in doubles (25) and triples (5), and hits lead (84). He is second in RBI (45) and third in walks (32).
His doubles total ranks second in the conference this week as well and are the third-most two-baggers in a season by an Aztec. The SDSU record is 31 set by Chris Gwynn and Terry Jones during the 1984 season when SDSU played 89 games.
GWYNN HEATS UP
Anthony Gwynn's eight-game hitting streak was ended last Thursday in Las Vegas. He has now hit in 10 of San Diego State's last 11 contests.
In those 11 games, Gwynn is batting .409 (18-for-44) with 13 runs scored, nine RBI, two doubles, three triples and a home run.
He has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the team's last eight games.
RING 'EM UP
Royce Ring has recorded 16 saves this year, a number that is second in the nation this week. He has now eclipsed the school mark for saves in a season. The former record was set by Curtis Smith during the 1979 season.
He has a career total of 24 saves, bettering the school record of 17 held by former Baltimore Oriole hurler Mark Williamson (1981-82).
Ring has accumulated 51 strikeouts in his 36.2 innings this season (32 appearances). Opponents are hitting just .205 against him this season and his ERA stands at 1.96.
Four of the eight earned runs he has allowed this season came at New Mexico in a game played in 35-45 mph winds. That contest doubled his earned run total for the season. Discounting that game, his season ERA would be 1.01.
STEPHENS STANDS OUT
Jon Stephens came close to setting an Aztec single-game record with seven RBI in the 21-15 win at New Mexico. The school mark for RBI in a game is eight.
In the last five games, he is hitting .522 (12-for-23) with eight runs scored, nine RBI, three doubles and a home run.
Stephens' .381 batting average is the best among the Aztec regulars this week. He is second on the team in walks with 34 and has an on-base percentage of .480.
He is fielding .996 at first base with just two errors in 486 chances. He has also appeared in four games at third base the past two weeks, the position he has played throughout most of his baseball career.
PROVIDING RELIEF
Junior right-hander Chris Hartshorn has become one of SDSU's top middle relief pitchers this season.
In his last 16 appearances (21.2 innings), he has allowed three earned runs (1.27 ERA) while striking out 23 and walking seven. He has lowered his earned run average this spring to 2.36.
Hartshorn picked up his second win of the year in the 8-5 win at UNLV last Friday. He is now 2-0 on the year with one save.
DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING
The Aztecs' defense has been one of the team's strong points during the 2002 campaign. The team's fielding percentage stands at .970 entering the week.
The school record for defensive percentage is .966, set during the 1996 campaign. The exact percentage that year was .96560 while the current squad is sporting a .9699 fielding percentage.
The team's 69 errors represent the lowest total for the Aztecs since they moved to Division I in 1969. The team's record for fewest errors in a season in the Division I era is 78 in 1995 (55 games).
OUT AT HOME
San Diego State has thrown out an opposing runner at the plate in four of its last six games.
Three of those runners were gunned down by right fielder Jake McLintock, who leads all SDSU outfielders with seven assists this season.
The other runner was thrown out by shortstop Taber Lee who relayed a throw from center fielder Anthony Gwynn.
One other opposing runner was thrown out at the plate on a grounder to third baseman Chad Corona.
KER-PLUNK
After hitting three batters last weekend at UNLV, SDSU pitchers have set a school mark for hit batters in a season with 63. The old record of 60 was set by the 2000 squad over the course of 60 contests.
The Aztecs have hit three or more batters in a game five times this year with a high of four coming at Loyola Marymount on Feb. 26.
ATTENDANCE UP
San Diego State's final attendance average at home games this season was 803 (27 dates), the highest since the stadium opened in 1997.
The Aztecs played before six home crowds of 1,000 fans or more this season. Four of the 10 highest crowds at the facility have come this year.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
A total of five San Diego State players have won Mountain West Conference Player of the Week (3) and Pitcher of the Week (2) this season.
That quintet includes Players of the Week Chad Corona (Feb. 4), Taber Lee (March 25) and Rielly Embrey (April 22) plus Pitchers of the Week Joe Carque (Feb. 18) and Chris Dunwell (March 18).
In addition, Corona was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association National Player of the Week after the team's first series of the year at Hawaii-Hilo.
SCHOOL RECORDS
Aztec players have set or tied two single game, two season, and three career records during the 2002 campaign.
Those records are as follows:
Single gameDoubles - 3 by Jake McLintock vs. New Mexico, 4/7/02 and Josh Hill vs. New Mexico, 5/12/02Triples - 2 by Riley Barrett vs. Southern Utah, 3/2/02 (tied)SeasonHit By Pitch - 12 by Jon StephensSaves - 16 Royce RingHit batters - 16 by Rory ShortellCareerSac Flies - 13 by Carlo Cota (tied)Hit Batters - 34 by Rory ShortellSaves - 25 by Royce Ring
The following have recorded totals that rank among the single-season top 10s:Doubles - 25 Carlo Cota (3rd)Hit By Pitch - 8 by Taber Lee (tied 6th)Sac Flies - 9 by Jake McLintock (2nd)
Also moving into the San Diego State career top 10s are:Hit By Pitch - 13 by Taber Lee (tied 5th)Pitching Starts - 38 by Rory Shortell (7th)
AZTEC PLAYER NOTES
Jake McLintock has come to the plate 28 times with a runner on third and less than two outs, and has driven in the runner on 26 occasions for a .929 percentage.
Reserve outfielder Landon Burt has an on-base percentage of .533 over the team's last five games (four hits, four walks).
Second baseman Carlo Cota is the only player to have started all 61 games for SDSU this season. Anthony Gwynn, Taber Lee and Jon Stephens have all started 60 times.
Catcher Brian Manfred is 9-for-21 (.429) in the last five games in which he has come to the plate (he was a defensive replacement in the ninth inning last Saturday in game three at UNLV). In those five contests, he has five RBI and six runs scored.
Manfred is batting .451 with runners in scoring position, the best average on the squad.
Manfred has thrown out 21 runners attempting to steal this season, ranking third in the MWC in that category. His 15 in league games only was the second-best total in the conference. He led the conference in that statistic last season, but missed a month of the 2002 campaign with a broken bone in his hand.
Carlo Cota has 26 multiple-hit games this season, including seven three-hit efforts and two four-hit contests. Anthony Gwynn has recorded 24 multiple-hit efforts while Jon Stephens has 23.
Jake McLintock has the most multiple-RBI games on the team with 13. Cota has 12 while Taber Lee has 11.
The team's longest current hitting streak is 6 games by Jake McLintock. The longest hitting streak for the Aztecs this season was 16 by Jon Stephens.
AZTEC TEAM NOTES
San Diego State has turned 57 double plays this season after recording a total of 37 during the 2001 campaign.
The pitching staff's five shutouts this season is the most for the Aztecs since the 1990 team recorded 10.
SDSU's team total of 19 saves is the second most ever in a season, behind only the 21 saves recorded in 1982 (91 games). The 1979 Aztec staff also had 19 saves during its 73-game season.
Over the last five games, the Aztecs are hitting .391 (77-for-197) as a team with 14 doubles, three triples and five home runs.
The Aztecs have hit 24 triples this season with 27 home runs. The last time SDSU had more triples than homers was in 1991 when they recorded 28 triples while hitting just 13 home runs.
The team's 24 triples are the most since the 1998 season when they hit 34.
The Aztecs' team offensive total of 273 walks is also the most since 1994 when they finished with 277 bases on balls.
The Aztecs have been in double figures in hits in 35 of their 61 games (and four of their last six) and in doubles figures in runs on 16 occasions.
SDSU is averaging 7.2 runs and 11.4 hits a game compared to their opponents' 5.3 runs and 9.1 hits per contest.