May 24, 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - San Diego State freshman pitch TJ Kendzora and freshman outfielder Dillon Bryant have been named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher and co-Player of the Week respectively. It was the first career accolade for both Bryant and Kendzora as they were honored for their performances in SDSU's three-game series at UNLV this past weekend.
Bryant went 7-for-11 (.636) with a pair of doubles, five RBI and three runs scored over three games against the Rebels. The product of Orange, Calif. (Orange Lutheran HS) also had a pair of walks for a .692 on-base percentage during the series. In the 4-3 loss on Thursday, he recorded two singles, a double and scored the tying run in the top of the ninth.
On Friday he had an RBI single along with an RBI double while scoring once to help the Aztecs to an 11-4 victory. In Saturday's 6-0 win, he drove in a run with a single and added two more RBI with a two-out bases-loaded single to account for three of the team's six RBI in the contest. He did not strike out in 14 plate appearances and was errorless in six chances in the outfield. Bryant shared the weekly award with TCU first baseman Joe Weik.
Kendzora tossed eight shutout innings in SDSU's 6-0 win at UNLV on Saturday. The freshman right-hander surrendered only two hits to a Rebel team that led the conference in hitting with a .307 team average entering the contest. He held UNLV to a .040 batting average (2-for-25) while handing the Rebels their first shutout of the 2011 campaign. The Trabuco Canyon, Calif (El Toro HS) native finished with three walks and four strikeouts on the afternoon, allowing only two runners advanced as far as second base.
This week San Diego State is hosting the 2011 Mountain West Conference Tournament at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The six-team double elimination is underway with the Aztecs facing UNLV in a contest that begins at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening.