May 27, 2017
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - San Diego State will have a chance to capture the 2017 Mountain West championship when it plays the winner of the Fresno State-New Mexico game this evening at 5:00 p.m. MT in Albuquerque. After wins in their first two tourney contests, the Aztecs are the lone undefeated squad still competing for the league title.
Fresno State and New Mexico will get their elimination contest underway at 1:00 p.m. MT at the Lobos' Santa Ana Star Field. The winner moves on to the 5:00 p.m. game while the loser is will see its tourney run come to an end.
Friday night's 9-8 win over New Mexico improved San Diego State 40-18 on the season as they reached the 40-win plateau for the third time in the last four seasons. It was Head Coach Mark Martinez's 102nd win as he adds to his victory total after becoming the first coach in SDSU program history to record 100 wins in his first three seasons.
The Aztecs are expected to send senior right-hander Cody Thompson (2-1, 5.31) to the mound to start this evening's game.
After SDSU's first two games at the tournament, first baseman Jordan Verdon is hitting .625 (5-for-8) with two doubles, a home run, two RBI and six runs scored. Third baseman Andrew Brown is 5-for-9 (.556) with three RBI and three runs scored.
Three players lead the squad in tourney RBI with five apiece. That trio includes Andrew Martinez 4-for-8, 2 2B, HR), Tyler Adkison (3-for-7, 2B, HR) and David Hensley (5-for-11).
Should San Diego State fail to win this evening's contest, it will return to Santa Ana Star Field on Sunday to face the same team for the 2017 conference championship in a game scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. MT.