March 10, 2017
RENO, Nev. - San Diego State will open its 2017 Mountain West campaign when it faces Nevada this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. PT at Peccole Park in Reno. The contest is the first of a three-game series as SDSU becomes the final team to join in conference play this year.
Nevada enters today with a record of 3-9 (1-2 Mountain West) after dropping a 4-0 decision at St. Mary's on Tuesday. The Wolf Pack began its league season last weekend by winning one of three games at Fresno State.
The Wolf Pack proved to be the Aztecs' nemesis in 2016 as it won eight times in eight contests vs. San Diego State. That included six regular-season games plus two more during the Mountain West Tournament. Nevada has won 14 of the last 16 against SDSU.
The Wolf Pack is led offensively by third baseman Jordan Pearce (.310, HR, 4 RBI, right fielder Mike Echavia (.308, 4 2B, 5 RBI) and second baseman Keaton Smith (.306, 3 HR, 7 RBI). Nevada has a team batting average of .250 along with a 6.38 earned run average.
The Wolf Pack is expected to start right-hander Trevor Charpie (0-2, 3.79) on the mound this afternoon where he will be opposed by Aztec senior lefty Brett Seeburger (2-0, 2.16).
Senior designated hitter Andrew Martinez continues to lead the team in batting in the role of designated hitter. Through 13 games, he is hitting .349 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBI. He has also drawn four walks for a .417 on-base percentage.
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. He is currently on an eight-game hitting streak during which he is batting .333 (10-for-30) with a double, three RBI and six runs scored. After 13 games, he is tied for the team lead with 17 hits and nine RBI.
Over the past five games, the SDSU pitching staff has given up a total of seven runs (six earned), posting a 4-1 record with a 1.00 earned run average. Opponents hit just .215 over the five games with 31 of their 35 hits being singles (other four were doubles). Included in that run was a pair of shutout victories. The Aztecs recorded only one shutout during the 2016 season.
San Diego State and Nevada will continue their weekend series on Saturday (March 11) with a game scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. in Reno.