March 1, 2017
Complete Release and Season Statistics
WHAT'S ON TAP THIS WEEK IN AZTEC BASEBALL
After its 6-2 win at Long Beach State on Tuesday (Feb. 28), the San Diego State baseball team returns home to host three contests against Cal Poly this weekend. The series with the Mustangs will get underway on Friday, March 3, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Cal Poly and SDSU will also meet for games on Saturday (March 4) and Sunday (March 5) at 1:00 p.m. each day.
AZTECS ON THE AIR
The Friday contest vs. Cal Poly will have live audio coverage on KCR Radio, the San Diego State campus station, with a link to that broadcast available at the SDSU web site (www.GoAztecs.com). Saturday's and Sunday's games will be broadcast on ESPN 1700 AM in San Diego. Links to that broadcast will also be available on the Aztec web site.
SERIES RECORD
The Aztecs have a record of 61-32 against Cal Poly in a series that began in 1946. The most recent meeting between the teams came in a four-game series in San Luis Obispo during the 2012 season when SDSU won the first contest and the Mustangs captured the next three. The Aztecs have a record of 37-10 vs. Cal Poly at home and 24-22 in San Luis Obispo.
SAYLOR STANDS TALL ON THE MOUND
Senior right-hander CJ Saylor has had a hand in each of SDSU's last three victories. He recorded his second save of the year at Long Beach State on Tuesday (Feb. 28) when he came on in the eighth with the bases loaded for Long Beach State and finished the contest without allowing a run. In his role as closer, he tossed the final inning in the victory at No. 7/11 Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 21 to pick up his first save of the year. On Saturday (Feb. 25), he tossed the final 2.1 innings as the Aztecs came back to defeat Notre Dame, 7-6. He was credited with the win in that contest.
VERDON STREAKING
First baseman Jordan Verdon has hit safely in seven straight games and eight of SDSU's nine contests this season. He hit his team-leading third triple of the season on Tuesday at Long Beach State. Verdon is the only player in the Mountain West to have recorded more than one three-bagger this season. He is the lone SDSU infielder without an error after nine games.
MARTINEZ SOLID AS DH
Senior Andrew Martinez has impressed early in the role of designated hitter. Through nine games, he is hitting .367 with two doubles, a home run and six RBI. He has also drawn three walks for a .441 on-base percentage. Martinez played the past three seasons at UC Irvine, graduating last year with one season of eligibility remaining after redshirting there one year (2013). The native of nearby Chula Vista (Mater Dei HS), he chose to compete for the Aztecs in his final season.
ESCOBEDO COMING ON
Freshman center fielder Julian Escobedo (Eastlake HS) had his best day as an Aztec last Saturday (Feb 25) in the games vs. Seton Hall and Notre Dame. He came on as a pinch hitter vs. Seton Hall and drove in two runs with a single. In the contest vs. Notre Dame, he went 2-for-3 with a run scored. At Long Beach State on Tuesday, he has his first career triple and scored a run. He has appeared in eight games with four starts (all in center field) and is hitting .364.
HENSLEY HEATS UP
Outfielder David Hensley has hit safely in six of SDSU's last seven contests. Over that span he has gone 9-for-21 (.429) with three doubles, five RBI and three runs scored. He is one of two Aztecs to lead the squad with two stolen bases in two attempts (Julian Escobedo is the other).
SHEEHAN RETURNS
After redshirting during the 2016 season, senior Danny Sheehan has returned for his final year and claimed the starting shortstop role he held in 2015. After nine games, he is tied for the team lead with seven RBI and has a .432 on-base percentage. He is also tied for the team lead with two multiple-RBI games.
STREAKS
Jordan Verdon's current seven-game hitting streak is the longest for an Aztec this season. Chad Bible is on a five-game hitting streak, but has recorded a hit in all five games in which he has appeared in 2017. Andrew Brown has a five-game hitting streak in progress. Three Aztecs have reached base safely (via hit, walk or hit by pitch) in every game including Verdon, Andrew Martinez and Danny Sheehan. Brown has recorded a team-leading five multiple-hit contests each with Sheehan and David Hensley having two multiple-RBI games apiece.
AZTEC NOTES
Either SDSU or its opponent has scored in the first inning of all nine games this season. When the opponent scores in the opening inning, the Aztecs are 2-4. When SDSU scores in the first frame, it has a record of 3-0 ... The Aztecs are 4-0 when leading after six or seven innings, and 5-0 when leading after eight ... SDSU has committed seven errors in its first nine contests for a .979 fielding percentage. The team record for fielding percentage in a season is .978 set during the 2013 campaign ... After nine games, the Aztecs rank second in the Mountain West in team hitting at .299. Their 4.61 earned run average ranks third and they are second in fielding (.979) ... Danny Sheehan has been hit by pitch three times this season to bring his career total to 16. That ranks17th on the SDSU all-time top 20 in that category ... Second baseman Alan Trejo made his second appearance on the mound this season in the contest at Long Beach State on Tuesday, going 1.2 innings allowing a run on four hits with three strikeouts. Against UC Irvine on Feb.21, he tossed the ninth inning, retiring the side in order on a pair of fly balls and a strikeout ... David Hensley's three doubles leads the team. Last season he also had three doubles after SDSU's first eight game and ended the season with six.