April 7, 2011
Complete Release and Season Statistics in PDF Format
WHAT'S ON TAP THIS WEEKEND IN AZTEC BASEBALL
San Diego State resumes Mountain West Conference play this weekend as it hosts the University of Utah for a three-game series. The first contest between the Aztecs and Utes is scheduled for Friday, April 8, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The teams will also meet in games on Saturday (April 9) and Sunday (April 10) with both starting at 1:00 p.m.
SERIES RECORD
SDSU has a record of 99-30 against Utah in a series that began in 1964. Over the past two seasons the Aztecs and Utes have spit 10 contests. Last year San Diego State won two of three games in San Diego during the regular season, but lost to Utah while hosting the MWC Tournament. The Aztecs are 63-15 vs. Utah in San Diego, 26-11 in Salt Lake City and 10-4 at neutral sites.
SEEKING NO. 100
San Diego State will be looking for its 100th win against Utah which it will achieve with its next victory over the Utes. The current 99 wins against the Utes are the most for the Aztec baseball program against any team. Its next highest win total is vs. New Mexico against whom SDSU has an all-time record of 97-55. The Aztecs have played the most games vs. Fresno State, a total of 163 contests with a 79-84 record. In addition to those three teams, SDSU has played over 100 contests against seven other schools including Brigham Young (71-55-1), Cal State Los Angeles (75-46), Hawaii (67-78), Long Beach State (77-47-1), San Diego (65-48-3), UC Santa Barbara (80-29-1) and UNLV (58-44).
SCOUTING THE UTES
Utah enters the week with a record of 12-10 overall and 5-2 in the Mountain West Conference. The Utes are led by first baseman C.J. Cron (.476, 10 doubles, 5 HR, 25 RBI), shortstop James Brooks (.341, 3 triples) and outfielder Shaun Cooper (.329, 6 doubles, 16 RBI). Top pitchers include Rick Anton (3-1, 2.20) and Zach Adams (2-0, 2.40). Closer Tyler Wagner (0.57) has recorded seven saves. Utes are hitting .282 with a 3.81 earned run average.
SWANSON SOLID ON THE MOUND
Left-hander Cole Swanson had his third straight excellent outing in a start vs. Oral Roberts last Saturday (April 2). In that contest he went 8.0 innings, allowing a run on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts. He was not involved in the decision after departing the contest with the score tied at 1-1. Swanson recorded his first career win in SDSU's victory over BYU in the series finale on Saturday (March 26). In that game he went nine innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.
SMITH HEATING UP
Freshman outfielder Cody Smith hit safely in all three games against Oral Roberts this past weekend, going 4-for-9 with a double, home runs, four runs scored and four RBI. He hit his first homer as an Aztec in Sunday's contest, a three-run shot over the right field fence. He has hit safely 10 of the last 11 games, going 14-for-41 (.341) with three doubles, a triple, a homer, seven runs and six RBI. He leads the Aztecs with six stolen bases in six attempts.
WALBY GETTING IT DONE
Freshman Philip Walby has quietly turned into one of SDSU's most effective short relievers. In his last six appearances covering 6.1 innings, he has given up no runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. In his 11 relief stints this season, he has allowed runs in only one contest.
COLWELL COMING ON
Fifth-year senior center fielder Pat Colwell had a five-game hitting streak end in Sunday's (April 3) contest vs. Oral Roberts. During that streak he batted 7-for-23 (.304) four runs scored and six RBI. Usually a fixture in center field, Colwell has started the last seven games at third base. Prior to this season, he had appeared at third on only four occasions, starting there in four contests during the 2009 campaign. He has also made two starts at shortstop during his SDSU career - one in 2007 and one in 2009.
TORRES AT THE PLATE
Over the last seven games Jomel Torres has gone 8-for-24 (.333) with four doubles, two home runs, six runs scored and three runs batted in. He also walked nine times and was hit by pitch twice for an on-base percentage of .543 in those five contests.
CRABB REGAINING FORM
Although he has struggled as a starter this season, sophomore pitcher Bryan Crabb has been stellar out of the bullpen. In five relief appearances covering 13.0 innings, he has allowed just two earned runs on two hits with two walks and five strikeouts. He recorded his first save as an Aztec with five perfect innings at UC Riverside on March 22.
HAYNAL HITS
Freshman catcher Brad Haynal has reached base (via a hit, walk or HBP) in each of the last seven games. He had reached base safely in 14 straight games before failing to do so in the game against New Mexico on March 20. He has scored in each of SDSU's last four games and five of the last seven.
GETTING PLUNKED
Two of SDSU's players adept at getting hit by pitch during their college careers will be on the field this season. Senior Pat Colwell is the Aztec career leader with 33 plunkings while junior Brandon Meredith ranks second with 30. Meredith was hit 14 times during the 2010 season, a total that ranks second all-time for an SDSU batter.
AZTEC NOTES
After starting the season with a 2-12 record, the Aztecs are 6-6 in their last 12 games ... After six conference contests, SDSU is hitting .296 with a 4.42 ERA in league play ... San Diego State has a record of 3-1 in one-run games this season and is 2-1 in extra-inning contests ... San Diego State has three players ranked among the top 10 in batting average in conference games: Chris Wilson (7th - .417), Jomel Torres (9th - .381) and Cody Smith (10th - .375) ... Freshman Kyle Hayes got his first hit, an RBI double in the first inning of Sunday's (April 3) contest against Oral Roberts ... SDSU's most productive innings on offense has been the first when it has scored 24 runs. Conversely, the Aztecs have put only five runs in the ninth ... Two of SDSU's five pinch hits this season have been solo home runs (Denny Vigo and Brad Haynal) ... Senior Craig Rasmussen has picked off five runners, bettering his previous season best of four set in 2009.