April 2, 2003
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THIS WEEK
San Diego State returns home to take on Mountain West Conference rival Brigham Young in a three-game series. The Aztecs are currently in third place in the MWC at 6-3 while the Cougars are just one game behind them at 5-4.
SDSU and BYU open on Thursday (April 3) at Tony Gwynn Stadium at 6:00 p.m. (PST). The series continues on Friday (April 4) at the same time and concludes on Saturday (April 5) at 1:00 pm.
THROUGH THE YEARS
This year marks the 65th season of Aztec baseball since the sport was elevated to major status in 1936. The school did not field varsity teams from 1943 to 1945.
SDSU's all-time record entering the week (since 1936) stands at 1979-1187-37 (.623).
Since 1936, the program has had only four head coaches: Charlie Smith (1936-64), Lyle Olson (1965-71), Jim Dietz (1972-2002) and Tony Gwynn (present).
SERIES RECORDS
San Diego State holds a 52-33-1 advantage over Brigham Young in the series between the two teams that began in 1957.
Since both teams joined the Mountain West Conference in 2000, the Aztecs have a record of 14-10 against the Cougars. In their previous 18 regular-season MWC contests, SDSU is 11-7 against BYU. The teams have split their six meetings at the conference tournament over the past three seasons.
San Diego State's record against Brigham Young in games played in San Diego stands at 26-12. The Aztecs are 17-16 at the Cougars' home field and they hold a 9-5-1 advantage in games contested at neutral sites.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Brigham Young enters the weekend with a record of 12-14 overall and 5-4 in the Mountain West Conference. The Cougars swept a three-game series at Utah last weekend and have won five straight.
The BYU offense is led by shortstop Ranger Weins (.381, 11 2B, 17 RBI), center fielder Doug Jackson (.369, seven 3B, 15 RBI) and first baseman Jake Stubblefield (.368, 6 HR, 24 RBI). Third baseman Kainoa Obrey, who redshirted last season due to injury, is the team's RBI leader with 31.
The Rebel's pitching rotation for the weekend is expected to be:
Thursday - Jeff Mousser (RHP, 3-2, 5.25)Friday - Paul Jacinto (RHP, 3-4, 4.12)Satuday - Ken Gravely (LHP, 2-1, 5.82)
Jacinto threw a one-hit complete-game against UNLV when the Rebels played in Provo two weeks ago. BYU's primary relief pitcher is Tyler Dabo (0-1, 9.26). The Cougars' lone save this year was recorded by Jason Garcia.
MOST RECENTLY
San Diego State dropped two of three games at UNLV last weekend to fall out of first place in the conference at 5-4. The three-game series was the team's first league road trip of the season.
On Friday, the Aztecs were shut out 5-0 with UNLV's Matthew Luca tossing a no-hitter. SDSU's only base runners on the night were Landon Burt (two bases on balls) and Jordan Swaydan (reached on an error). SDSU starter Mike Moat was the hard-luck pitcher for the Aztecs as he saw his record slip to 2-3 on the year.
Saturday's game saw San Diego State have a 2-0 lead evaporate when UNLV got a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. Freshman Curt Mendoza tied the game in the next frame with a solo homer of his own, and the game remained deadlocked until the top of the 10th. Again it was Mendoza coming through, this time with an RBI single that drove in the game-winning run. Drew Jenson went the final 5.1 innings on the mound for SDSU, allowing no runs on three hits to pick up his team leading fourth win of the season. Jake McLintock led the Aztecs with three hits while Peter Stonard and Mendoza had two apiece.
The series finale was a back-and-forth affair that saw the game tied at 7-7 after seven innings. The game remained deadlocked until SDSU scored twice in the top of the 12th to take a 9-7 lead. Freshman Ronnie Lindsey had another excellent performance out of the bullpen, going 6.2 innings, but he tried in the final inning after putting two men on with one out. The Rebels then got back-to-back doubles off reliever Ryan Heil to pull out the victory, 10-9. SDSU's Peter Stonard had four hits on the day while Garrett Cook had a pair of hits including a bases-clearing double accounting for three of his team-leading four runs batted in.
HEAD COACH TONY GWYNN
Tony Gwynn was hired as San Diego State's head baseball coach on September 20, 2001. Last year he served as a volunteer coach for the Aztecs under Jim Dietz, who retired at the end of the 2002 season.
A former Aztec who played baseball at San Diego State from 1979 to 1981, Gwynn was a two-time all-American outfielder who finished his SDSU career with a .398 batting average. He also played basketball for four years at San Diego State, and still holds the school's single-game, season and career assist records.
Gwynn concluded a 20-year major league career with the San Diego Padres in 2001. With a career batting average of .338, he won eight National League batting titles, five Gold Gloves, and made 15 appearances in the annual All-Star Game.
AZTECS NO-HIT
San Diego State was the victim of a no-hitter at the hands of UNLV in the Rebels' 5-0 win over the Aztecs last Friday. SDSU had only three base runners on the night.
It was the first time that the Aztecs were no-hit since the 1982 season when they lost 4-3 to Lewis-Clark State without getting a hit. The night before that contest, SDSU's Matt Giampaoli had thrown a no-hitter in a 7-0 win over UC San Diego.
Friday's loss at UNLV was also the first time SDSU was shut out since Feb. 7 of last year when they lost 1-0 at Arizona. Two of the last three shutouts thrown against San Diego State have been by UNLV.
OFFENSE COMES ALIVE
Over their last 11 games, during which they have gone 7-4, the Aztecs seemed to have found their offensive rhythm.
In those contests, SDSU has batted .335 with 26 doubles, seven triples and 11 home runs for a .510 slugging percentage. The team is averaging 9.5 runs a game over that period.
San Diego State has also recorded 48 walks and 12 hit by pitch in its last eight outings for a .432 on-base percentage.
AZTEC PITCHING ROTATION
SDSU's pitching rotation for this weekend is expected to be as follows:
Thur. - Mike Moat (RHP, 2-3, 3.52)Fri. - Ben Coon (LHP, 3-1, 4.11)Sat. - Joe Carque (RHP, 3-2, 5.03)
JENSON PITCHING TOUGH
Junior lefty Drew Jenson notched his team-leading fourth win of the year in last Saturday's extra-inning victory at UNLV.
Jenson threw the final 5.1 innings, allowing three hits and a pair of walks while striking out six. The 5.1 innings represented his longest outing in three seasons at San Diego State.
In his last six relief appearances, he has given up two earned runs struck out 12 over 16 innings.
With last weekend's performance, he has lowered his earned run average to 1.65 this season.
LINDSEY PROVIDES RELIEF
Freshman Ronnie Lindsey has been superb out of the bullpen over the past four weeks as one of SDSU's most effective relievers.
The four runs he allowed in 6.2 innings at UNLV last Sunday were the first earned runs he had given up since Feb. 15. His 6.2 innings of work against the Rebels was his longest outing of the year.
In his last seven appearances covering 17.1 innings, Lindsey has allowed four earned runs and has struck out 26. In the process, he has lowered his ERA from 6.75 to 3.71.
His nine strikeouts against UNLV last Sunday was a career high for the first-year Aztec from Point Loma High School.
MCLINTOCK NEARS .300 MARK
After going 0-for-3 in the no-hitter last Friday, Jake McLintock got back on track in the final two contests at UNLV, going 5-for-11. His season average now stands at .292 overall.
Jake McLintock has now hit safely in five of San Diego State's last six contests. Over that span he has gone 12-for-28 (.429) with four runs scored, five RBI, two doubles and a home run.
In six conference games, McLintock is hitting .385 (15-for-39) with a .513 slugging percentage and a .467 on-base average.
McLintock has walked eight times this season after totaling nine bases on balls all of last season (257 plate appearances).
STONARD HITS KEEP COMIN'
Junior second baseman Peter Stonard had his team-high nine-game hitting streak halted last Friday at UNLV. He then proceeded to go 6-for-9 in the final two games of the series.
WStonard has hit safely in 11 of the Aztecs last 12 contests. During those games, he has gone 22-for-49 (.449) with five doubles, three triples, a homer, 14 runs scored and 14 RBI. He has at least one hit in 26 of San Diego State's 31 games this season.
In last Sunday's game at UNLV, he collected four hits, tying him for the most in a game by an Aztec this season.
Stonard is batting .486 in league play and has driven in 13 runs in six MWC contests.
He is hitting .432 with runners in scoring position (19-for-44).
BURT LEADS HITTERS
Junior left fielder Landon Burt continues to find ways to get on base. He was one of only two Aztecs to reach base in the no-hitter last weekend, drawing a pair of walks.
On Saturday, he failed to reach base with either a hit, walk or hit by pitch for the first time in 19 games. However, he made only one plate appearance in Saturday's contest, coming on as a defensive replacement late in the game.
Burt continues to lead the Aztec hitters with a .366 average, and his on-base percentage stands at .511 (also the best on the team).
SWAYDAN SWINGS AWAY
Freshman catcher Jordan Swaydan has raised his season batting average over 85 points in SDSU's last six games. He had a six-game hitting streak snapped last Friday at UNLV.
Over his last eight games, he is batting .393 (11-for-28) six runs scored, six RBI and a pair of doubles.
Defensively, he has committed only two errors behind the plate (in 119 chances) for a .983 fielding percentage.
COOK DOUBLES UP
Senior infielder Garrett Cook appears to have a knack for hitting doubles. Of his 13 hits this season, eight have been two-baggers.
His eight doubles ranks second on the team although he has appeared in only 22 games this season.
Last Sunday, his two-out bases-loaded double drove in three runs and helped spark a five-run Aztec uprising.
Cook has also been solid defensively while playing both first and third base. He has committed just one error this season (while at third) and is fielding .987 on the year.
GUERRERO GETS ON
Freshman James Guerrero continues to impress at the plate in his first season at SDSU. He has reached base safely (either via a hit or base on balls) in every game this seasonwith the exception of last Friday's contest at UNLV.
His 26 walks leads the team and is nine more than the next highest individual total. His season on-base percentage stands at .438. He has drawn 11 walks in SDSU's last nine contests.
Guerrero is also proving himself as a hitter in his first year at SDSU, batting .310 with seven doubles, two homers and 28 runs batted in. His RBI total ranks first on the squad, one ahead of second baseman Peter Stonard. He also ranks first in runs scored with 27.
He is batting .405 (17-for-42) with runners in scoring position and has recorded 10 two-out RBIs this season.
COON IN COMMAND
Freshman lefty Ben Coon continues to impress with his control on the mound. In his inaugural collegiate season, he has walked only nine batters while striking out 45 in 50.1 innings.
The three walks he gave up against UNLV last Saturday was the most in a game this season for Coon, and marked the first time he had more walks than strikeouts (2) this season.
He recorded a personal best 12 strikeouts vs. Air Force on March 22 over six innings of work.
GWYNN FOR THE DEFENSE
Junior Anthony Gwynn has been a defensive standout in center this season for the Aztecs. Twice at UNLV he made spectacular catches to rob the Rebels of a pair of hits and at least four runs. Both catches were full out diving grabs, one in right center and one in left center on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
He has struck out just 13 times in SDSU's first 31 games, an average of once every 11.5 plate appearances.
He leads the team in steals with 16 and is second in runs scored with 26.
SAFE AT FIRST
The Aztecs have used four players at first base this season: Rielly Embrey, Garrett Cook, Jon Stephens and Josh Hill.
That quarter is fielding .996 at its position with only on error in 278 chances.
TEAM LEAGUE LEADERS
San Diego State leads the conference in earned run average overall all games at 4.78. However, they are sixth in team batting average at .277.
Overall, the Aztecs are the team leader in walks with 142 and second in stolen bases with 39.
In MWC games only, SDSU ranks second in team ERA (4.43) and third in batting average (.333).
San Diego State tops the conference (MWC contests only) in runs scored with 89, walks with 53, and on-base percentage (.436).
INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS
Several Aztecs appear among the individual conference leaders in various categories.
Mike Moat (3.52) and Ben Coon (4.11) rank second and third in overall earned run average. James Guerrero is tied for first in walks (26) while Anthony Gwynn is tied for the lead in stolen bases (16).
In MWC games only, Landon Burt and Peter Stonard are tied for the batting lead with .366 averages while Drew Jenson's 1.80 earned run average also ranks first. Others league leaders include Burt in on-base percentage (.6421), Guerrero in walks (11) and Gwynn in steals (4).
TONY GWYNN STADIUM
The Aztecs' home facility has been ranked 17th in the nation in a poll of collegiate coaches conducted by Baseball America.
It ranks as the fourth-best in the western U.S. behind stadiums at Stanford, Arizona State and Hawaii.
Tony Gwynn Stadium was ranked 15th in a poll of college baseball Sports Information Directors. Again, the park was fourth in the west, this time behind Hawaii, Stanford and Fresno State.
Since the facility opened for the 1997 season, San Diego State's record there stands at 122-71 (.632).
AZTEC NOTES
Peter Stonard leads San Diego State with 14 multiple-hit games this season. Jake McLintock has recorded six multiple-RBI contests to lead the team in that category.
The Aztecs have had four-hit games by two players this season: Stonard and Jordan Swaydan.
Stonard's five RBI's vs. Air Force earlier this year is the most in a game for an Aztec player in 2003. Four others have recorded four-RBI games: Landon Burt, Garrett Cook, James Guerrero and Anthony Gwynn.
Ryan Wilson has hit safely in four if his last five games. Last Sunday at UNLV, he came up with a two-out RBI single in the 12th inning that gave SDSU a 9-7 lead in a game it eventually lost.
Mike Moat has not walked a batter while striking out 13 over 13.1 innings in his last two outings
Anthony Gwynn and Peter Stonard are the only two Aztecs to have started all 31 games this season.
Josh Allen has SDSU's current longest hitting streak (6 games) during which he is 7-for-22 with four runs and four RBI.
Senior pitcher Joe Carque has walked just three batters in his last three starts covering 16.2 innings. He has picked up victories in two of those outings.
Aztec pinch hitters are 5-for-20 (.250) this season. Landon Burt is 2-for-3 in a pinch-hitting role while James Guerrero, Garrett Cook and Josh Allen have all recorded hits in their lone pinch-hitting appearances.
In its last nine games, the Aztec pitching staff has struck out 78 and walked 20.
Josh Allen is tied for third on the team in double with seven despite having played in only 18 contests.
SDSU has recorded 16 triples this season compared to just three by opponents. In nine league games, the Aztecs have six three-baggers to none by foes.
Last Friday and Saturday marked the first time the Aztecs have gone back-to-back games without a double.
ON DECK
San Diego State hits the road next week for the first of three consecutive Mountain West Conference road series that will include trip to Albuquerque, Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs.
It begins with a three-game series at MWC co-leader New Mexico starting next Friday (April 11) at 2:00 p.m. at Lobo Field on the UNM campus. The teams will also meet on Saturday (April 12) and Sunday (April 13) at 1:00 p.m. each day.