May 28, 2015
Complete Release and Season Statistics
AZTECS WIN CONFERENCE TOURNEY, ADVANCE TO NCAA REGIONALS
San Diego State came back after an opening-game loss to Fresno State last Thursday (May 21) to win five straight games over the next three days and claim the title at the 2015 Mountain West Tournament held in Reno, Nev. With that championship came the league's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Regionals. The Aztecs were slotted into the Lake Elsinore Regional hosted by UC Santa Barbara at The Diamond, the home field of the Class A Lake Elsinore Storm. It marks San Diego State's fourth Regional appearance since 2009 when it played at UC Irvine.
2015 NCAA REGIONAL
San Diego State will open its Regional schedule with a contest against 13th-ranked UC Santa Barbara, on Friday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m. (PT). The Gauchos are the No. 1 seed at the Regional while the Aztecs are seeded fourth. The other two teams in the double elimination tourney are No. 2 seed USC and third-seeded Virginia. Those two schools will square off at 3:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday.
NCAA REGIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE
All games during the 2015 NCAA Regionals will be televised on ESPN3. That channel is available only over the Internet on a computer or mobile device (mobile phone, tablet, etc.). All of SDSU's game will be broadcast on ESPN 1700 AM in San Diego with Chris Ello calling the action. A link for both the ESPN3 and radio broadcasts as well as live stats will also be available at www.GoAztecs.com.
ALL-TOURNAMENT AZTECS
Five Aztecs were named to the all-tournament team at last week's Mountain West Championship event. The group included catcher Seby Zavala, outfielder Spencer Thornton and designated hitter Justin Wylie along with pitchers Mark Seyler and Jacob Erickson. Zavala was named the tournament MVP after hitting .435 (10-for-23) with two doubles, five home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs scored. He also had a 1.174 slugging percentage and a .536 on-base mark.
FRANCE ROLLS ON
Third baseman Ty France enters the NCAA Regional on a seven-game hitting streak during which he has posted three doubles, six RBI and seven runs scored. He has scored at least once in six of SDSU's last seven contests. He has reached base safely (via hit, walk or hit by pitch) in 20 straight games. He was hit by pitch in the game against Air Force on Thursday (May 22) to bring his career total to 47. He is now the all-time Aztec career leader in that category.
PALLARES STREAKING
Senior Steven Pallares has hit safely in each of the last 18 games, the longest hitting streak by an Aztec in 2015. During that streak he has batted .354 (28-for-79) and recorded two doubles, three home runs, 13 RBI and 18 runs scored. He has reached base in each of the last 24 games. He hit his eighth home run of the season in the game vs. Fresno State last Thursday (May 21).
SHEEHAN SOLID AT SHORT
Danny Sheehan was one of 47 players nationwide on the inaugural watch list for the 2015 Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award. He is the lone player from the Mountain West on the list. During last week's six games at the Mountain West Tournament he hit .423 (11-for-26) with three doubles, three home runs and nine RBI. His three homers came in consecutive games vs. Air Force, Nevada and Fresno State. He comes into the NCAA Regional on a nine-game hitting streak.
ZAVALA POWERS UP
Junior catcher Seby Zavala enters the week on a six-game hitting streak from last week's conference tournament. He had his team-leading 17th multiple-RBI game of the season with three in the win over New Mexico last Saturday (May 23). He hit his team-leading 14th home run in that contest as well. He has reached base safely in each of the last 14 games.
TREJO TURNS IT ON
Freshman second baseman Alan Trejo hit .333 (6-for-18) during the Mountain West Tournament last week. He connected for his first home run of the year in the win over New Mexico on Saturday (May 23). His three RBI in that contest was his Aztec career best.
ERICKSON EFFECTIVE
Lefty Jacob Erickson made his first start of the season in last Saturday's (May 23) game vs. New Mexico at the conference tournament. In that contest he allowed a run in the first inning then tossed six shutout frames in the Aztecs' 11-1 seven-inning win (10-run rule in effect). He allowed the Lobos just three hits and three walks while striking out three. He has allowed only one hit with a strikeout in his last five relief appearances.
SEYLER DELIVERS
Junior right-hander Mark Seyler picked up his team-leading ninth win of the year on May 22 vs. Air Force at the Mountain West Tournament. In that contest he tossed seven innings allowing two runs on seven hits. He was not involved in the decision in each of his prior three starts. He came back on one day's rest to start the championship game vs. New Mexico on Sunday (May 24).
AZTEC NOTES
Five different SDSU pitchers won the conference Pitcher of the Week award this season (Derby, Reyes, Saylor, Seyler and Thompson) ... Ty France has had multiple hits in almost half of SDSU's games this season (26 of 61) ... Freshman Brody Westmoreland hit a grand slam in the contest at Fresno State on Saturday (April 25). It was the second by an Aztec this season with Steven Pallares accomplishing the feat vs. Air Force on March 21 ... Danny Sheehan is the lone Aztec to have started and played the same position (shortstop) in all 61 games this season ... SDSU is 34-1 when leading after six innings, 31-1 after seven and 33-0 when leading after eight innings.