April 12, 2017
Complete Release and Season Statistics
WHAT'S ON TAP THIS WEEKEND IN AZTEC BASEBALL
After its 9-3 win over UC Irvine on Tuesday, San Diego State hits the road for a three-game Mountain West series vs. UNLV. Due to Easter falling on Sunday, the opening game of that set is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, at 6:05 p.m. PT at the Rebels' Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Aztecs and Rebels will also meet up for games on Friday (April 14) and Saturday (April 15) at 6:05 p.m. and 2:05 p.m. PT respectively.
SERIES RECORD
The Aztecs have a record of 84-59 against UNLV in a series that began in 1978. SDSU has had the upper hand against the Rebels in recent years including winning two of three from them in mid-March this season in San Diego. The Aztecs have won 11 of their last 15 contests against UNLV. The Aztecs are 41-20 at home, 40-34 away and 3-5 at neutral sites against the Rebels.
WEEKEND ROTATION
SDSU's pitching rotation will change slightly this week due to the series starting on Thursday. Junior right-hander Jorge Fernandez (0-0, 0.00) will get the start vs. UNLV in the series opener. It will be just the third start of the year for Fernandez, who has not pitched since March 14 in a start at the University of San Diego. Senior lefty Brett Seeburger (6-1, 2.65) will start Friday's contest with fellow senior Dominic Purpura (5-0, 3.06) getting the call for Saturday's game.
TREJO DOES IT ALL
Alan Trejo has been stellar both at the plate and on the mound in 2017. On Tuesday vs. UC Irvine, he collected a pair of hits along with an RBI and run scored. In Sunday's win over Nevada, he went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks and run scored. As a pitcher, he tossed two late scoreless innings to pick up his first win. Trejo leads the team in runs scored (31), doubles (11) and stolen bases (7). He has also made nine appearances on the mound this season and is 1-1 with one save and a 1.50 ERA.
BROWN STAYS CONSISTENT
Third baseman Andrew Brown continues to be one of the Aztecs' most consistent offensive players. He had a nine-game hitting streak end last Saturday (April 8) vs. Nevada. During that streak he went 14-for-38 (.368) with a double, triple, nine RBI and five runs scored. Brown has reached base safely (via hit, walk or hit by pitch) in each of the past 12 contests.
ADKISON MAKES HIS MARK
Outfielder Tyler Adkison was named a second team Perfect Game/Rawlings Midseason All-American. He has also been added to the 40-player mid-season watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, presented to the top amateur baseball player in the country. He hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season on Tuesday (April 11) vs. UC Irvine and he has accounted for almost a third of the team's 28 homers in 2017.
ERICKSON PROVIDES RELIEF
Junior left-hander Jacob Erickson has been impressive out of the bullpen this season. In his last 17 appearances covering 25.1 innings, he has allowed two runs on 18 hits with 10 strikeouts. In the process, he has lowered his earned run average to 1.50.
CALABUIG HEATING UP
Outfielder Chase Calabuig has hit safely in eight of the last nine contests. Over that span he is hitting .387 (12-for-31) with three doubles, a home run, seven RBI and six runs scored.
NEVAREZ COMES THROUGH
Catcher Dean Nevarez has hit safely in five of the last six games in which he has appeared. His RBI single in the eighth inning on Sunday (April 9) vs. Nevada tied the contest, and he would score the winning run later in the inning. Nevarez's first two home runs this season came in the series finale against UNLV in San Diego on March 19.
SAYLOR STANDS TALL ON THE MOUND
Senior right-hander CJ Saylor has recorded nine saves along with a win this season as the Aztecs' closer. His latest save came on Friday (April 7) when he pitched a perfect ninth inning in the 6-3 win over Nevada. Saylor's ERA now stands at 1.80 and opponents are hitting .186 against him.
PITCHING DOMINATES
Over the past 16 games, the SDSU pitching staff has posted a 12-3 record with a 2.81 earned run average. Opponents have hit .254 over those 16 contests. Included in that run are a shutout victory and three one-run wins.
AZTEC NOTES
After opening the season with a 3-4 record, San Diego State is 21-6 in its last 26 contests … The Aztecs have not lost more than two games in a row this season and that has occurred on two occasions (Feb. 24 and 25 vs. Tennessee and Seton Hall; March 26 and 28 at Fresno State and at USC) … SDSU saw its longest win streak of the season (six games) end on Saturday (April 8) against Nevada … Over the last 16 contests, the Aztecs are hitting .323 to .254 by opponent. They also have a team ERA of 2.81 while opponents' ERA is 6.27 … The Aztecs are 19-0 when leading after six innings, 21-1 when leading after seven and 24-0 when leading after eight … SDSU has committed 24 errors in its first 34 contests for a .982 fielding percentage. The team record for fielding percentage in a season is .978 set during the 2013 campaign … Andrew Brown is hitting .439 with runners in scoring position while Tyler Adkison's average in that situation is .419 (13-for-31) and Danny Sheehan is .412 (14-for-34) … Junior David Hensley's 17 career sacrifice bunts tie him for 11th on the SDSU career top 20 in that category … Sophomore Jordan Verdon's 11 career sacrifice flies tie him for 12th on the SDSU career top 20 list … Brett Seeburger's 2.65 earned run average leads the conference this week while Dominic Purpura is third with a 3.06.