Projected Starting Pitcher Matchups
Friday, April 5 - 6:00 p.m. PT
SDSU: RHP Aaron Eden (1-0, 2.54 ERA)
Nevada: LHP Ryan Anderson (4-1, 2.66 ERA)
Saturday, April 6 - 6:00 p.m. PT - Mountain West Network
SDSU: RHP Justin Goossen-Brown (3-1, 3.63 ERA)
Nevada: RHP Owen Sharts (2-5, 6.25 ERA)
Sunday, April 7 - 1:00 p.m. PT
SDSU: TBA
Nevada: TBA
Aztec Storylines
SPRING BREAK: After splitting a two-game midweek series at No. 6/7 Oregon State, the Aztecs conclude a five-game roadtrip this weekend at Nevada.
Links for live stats are available on GoAztecs.com and Saturday's game will air live on the Mountain West Network.
EARLIER THIS YEAR AGAINST NEVADA: SDSU won two of three against the Wolf Pack earlier this season at Tony Gwynn Stadium, winning each of the first two games 3-1 and 8-5 before falling in a 10-inning series finale, 6-5.
Justin Goossen-Brown earned the win on Saturday night, allowing just one unearned run over five innings pitched with six strikeouts. For the series, Matt Rudick led the offense, going 5-for-14 at the plate with a team-high five RBIs and a pair of doubles.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST NEVADA: SDSU has won seven of the last 12 meetings against Nevada. SDSU's back-to-back wins against the Wolf Pack earlier this season marked the first time SDSU had posted back-to-back wins against the Wolf Pack since March 10-11, 2017.
Nevada leads the all-time series, 28-20.
NOTES FROM A BIG WIN AGAINST THE DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPS: San Diego State' 4-3 win over No. 6/7 Oregon State is tied for SDSU's highest-ranked win since SDSU defeated No. 5 San Diego 15-2 on Feb. 23, 2008. The Beavers were also ranked No. 6 when SDSU beat Oregon State 6-5 in Corvallis on March 28, 2016.
The Aztecs are now 7-2 in their last nine games against Pac-12 opponents and Wednesday's 8-1 loss snapped a four-game winning streak against Pac-12 programs. Over those nine games, SDSU has recorded five wins by a one-run margin. Overall, SDSU is 27-13 in their last 40 one-run games.
The Aztecs are now 6-8 against teams that played in the College World Series the year prior since 2015 and 2-3 against nationally ranked teams this season.
ADRIAN MARDUENO IS REALLY GOOD: After a dominating seven-inning relief outing against Oregon State on Tuesday, junior reliever Adrian Mardueno is first in the Mountain West with a .146 opponent batting average and fourth in the eague with a 1.69 earned run average. Exclusively in relief outings, Mardueno owns an ERA of 1.33 and an opponent batting average of .136.
This season, Mardueno has not allowed more than two hits in any of his 13 relief outings, which includes five outings that were two innings or longer. In addition, Mardueno has not allowed an earned run in his last 10.1 innings pitched.
RUDICK ON FIRE: Matt Rudick currently rides a career-long 21-game hitting streak, which is tied for the longest by an Aztec since Mitch Blackburn recorded a 23-game hitting streak in 2015.
Rudick is currently nine games shy of Steve Dietz's program-record 30-game hitting streak, which was set from April 4, 1992 - Jan. 29, 1993. Rudick's current hitting streak is the third longest by an Aztec in the Mountain West era.
Over Rudick's 21-game hitting streak, the sophomore is hitting a team-best .376 (35-for-93), with team-highs in extra-base hits (seven), RBIs (17) and doubles (five).
Longest SDSU hitting streaks since 2000:
Quintin Berry (2005) - 27
Mitch Blackburn (2010) - 23
Matt Rudick (2019) - 21
Cory Vaughn (2010) - 21
Tim Zier (2012) - 21
Steven Pallares (2015) - 21
ROAD TRIPPING: After playing each of their first eight, 16 of their first 18, and 21 of their first 27 at home, San Diego State is in the middle of a stretch where they will play nine of 10 on the road and only have six home games the entire month of March.
Due to SDSU's postponed games at Air Force in the beginning of March, the Aztecs and Falcons will play a five-game series on the weekend of April 18 -20. Dates and times are still to be determined.
PITCHERS WHO RAKE: San Diego State pitchers Michael Paredes, Casey Schmitt, Julian Escobedo and Brian Leonhardt have all had at bats while pitching this season. Combined, those four two-way players are hitting .385 (5-for-13) with three RBIs and three extra-base hits (2 2B, HR) when hitting as the Aztecs pitcher.
WHERE WE RANK IN THE MW: The Aztecs are the only team in the Mountain West to be hitting .275 or better while having an ERA under 4.50.
Matt Rudick ranks in the top 10 of the Mountain West in numerous categories, including hits (3rd - 43), batting average (6th - .344), runs scored (6th - 24), doubles (8th - eight), triples (4th - 2) RBIs (10th - 20), and total bases (10th - 55).
The Aztecs have four players with an on-base percentage of .400 or better (UNLV is the only other team in the conference with that distinction) including Angelo Armenta (6th - .440), Casey Schmitt (9th - .412), Matt Rudick (13th - .407) and Chad Bible (16th - .404).
SEEING DOUBLE: SDSU's 34 double plays turned are the second most in the country, trailing only George Washington's 35. Since the start of the 2017 season, SDSU's 160 double plays turned are the most among any team in the nation.
REBOUNDING QUICKLY: SDSU is 39-11 in their last 50 games following a loss.
MAKING THE MOST OF IT: Due to injuries on the pitching staff, SDSU has had to use 10 different starters during the 2019 season. SDSU's 10 different starters are tied for the most used in a season since 12 were used in the 2012 season. The Aztecs also had 10 different starting pitchers used in the 2017 and 2013 seasons.
All three of SDSU's opening weekend starters have not pitched in each of the last three weekend series and have not made an appearance since opening-day starter Logan Boyer threw 0.2 of an inning at CSUN on March 12.
STRIKEOUTS GALORE: SDSU has exceeded its 2018 total of 13 double-digit strikeout games, needing just 23 games this season to record 14 10+ strikeout games. The Aztecs are currently 41st in the country averaging 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Despite not even being halfway through the season, SDSU's 16 10+ strikeout games are the most since the 2015 team recorded 20 double-digit strikeout performances.
CALIFORNIA LOVE: Since 2014, the Aztecs lead all Division I California programs in win total. Also, over that span, SDSU is 99-49 (.669) when playing in-state counterparts.
Team Wins
San Diego State 201
Stanford 198
Cal State Fullerton 196
Sacramento State 188
UC Santa Barbara 188
Baseball Continues Road Trip at Nevada This Weekend
