SAN DIEGO - After getting pegged for a first-place finish in the Mountain West preseason poll, the San Diego State baseball team posted a 10-6 record in its first 16 games of the 2020 campaign. The Aztecs defeated a trio of ranked teams in No. 11 Oklahoma, No. 17 Long Beach State and No. 24 Cal State Fullerton to go with victories over recent national champions Coastal Carolina (2016) and Oregon State (2018, twice).
The Aztecs were slated to open their Mountain West schedule this weekend (April 3-5) against New Mexico at Tony Gwynn Stadium. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the team's remaining games.
Since the MW's inception in 2000, San Diego State has compiled a 13-7 record in conference openers, including a 10-2 mark at home. During that span, the Aztecs have captured 14 opening series against league opponents—15 if one includes a four-team round-robin event in 2006 when SDSU went 3-1.
Below is a capsule of the Aztecs' past 20 Mountain West openers, along with the standout performances from each game, as GoAztecs.com takes a stroll down memory lane.
March 10, 2000 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 20, Utah 1 | Box Score
The Aztecs won their first-ever Mountain West Conference game with a rout of Utah. SDSU banged out 22 hits and capitalized on eight errors by the Utes, scoring 12 unearned runs. Outfielder Billy Montgomery went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and three runs scored, while catcher Brandon Rogers finished with five RBIs, including a two-run homer in the third inning.
March 9, 2001 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 7, Brigham Young 5 | Box Score
The Aztecs handed Cougar ace Nate Fernley his first loss of the season after he opened with six straight wins. Designated hitter Sean Pierce hit two home runs off Fernley, while third baseman Pilar Amaya went deep as well. SDSU broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh on an RBI single by shortstop Taber Lee and first baseman Garrett Cook's sacrifice fly.
March 15, 2002 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 2, Air Force 1 | Box Score
Aztec pitchers Chris Dunwell and Royce Ring combined on a two-hitter. Dunwell fanned six batters in eight innings, while Ring struck out the side in the ninth to pick up the save, one of his 17 on the year.
March 14, 2003 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 9, Utah 7 | Box Score
Down 7-0 after two innings, the Aztecs scored nine unanswered runs to escape with the victory. Catcher Josh Allen put the Scarlet and Black in front with a clutch two-run double in the seventh, while second baseman Peter Stonard hit a solo homer in the eighth.
March 19, 2004 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 14, Air Force 0 | Box Score
Starting pitcher Scott Shoemaker struck out 12 batters in seven innings while yielding just two hits and one walk. Outfielder Landon Burt and first baseman Rielly Embry finished with four RBIs apiece.
March 18, 2005 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 9, Utah 3 | Box Score
The Aztecs broke a 3-3 tie with six runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Shortstop James Guerrero, first baseman Tim O'Brien and designated hitter Brock Ungricht drove in a pair of runs each. Bruce Billings scattered eight hits in seven innings for the win, while Andres Esquibel pitched two scoreless frames to earn the save.
March 29, 2006 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
New Mexico 3, San Diego State 2 (10 innings) | Box Score
Despite pitcher Justin Masterson's complete game, the Aztecs suffered their first loss in a Mountain West opener after winning six straight.
March 22, 2007 – USAF Academy, Colo.
San Diego State 12, Air Force 9 | Box Score
The Aztecs prevailed in their first-ever MWC opener on the road after exploding for eight runs in the top of the seventh. Third baseman Nick Romero (4 RBI) and shortstop Troy Hanzawa (2 triples) finished with four hits apiece. After giving up a leadoff walk in the ninth, closer Stephen Strasburg struck out the next three batters to collect the save.
March 13, 2008 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 5, Brigham Young 4 (14 innings) | Box Score
Outfielder Cory Vaughn hit a home run with one out in the 14th to lift the Scarlet and Black to victory. Aztec starter Stephen Strasburg gave up three runs (one earned) on eight hits in six innings of work, but reliever Addison Reed allowed just one hit over the final 3 1/3 innings to earn the win.
March 13, 2009 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 4, UNLV 3 | Box Score
Starter Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 Rebel batters in front of 2,109 fans at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs plated all four of their runs in the first two innings, highlighted by designated hitter T.J. Thomas' two-run single with two outs in the first. Catcher Erik Castro subsequently added a solo homer in the second. Despite yielding an unearned run in the ninth, Addison Reed picked up the save.
March 26, 2010 – Albuquerque, N.M.
New Mexico 12, San Diego State 7 | Box Score
The Lobos erupted for six runs in the bottom of the third and were never threatened. Outfielder Cory Vaughn hit a three-run homer for SDSU in the ninth, but it wasn't enough. First baseman Jomel Torres led the Aztecs with three hits.
March 18, 2011 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 7, New Mexico 4 | Box Score
The Aztecs broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of fifth with four runs on five consecutive hits, including a run-scoring triple by outfielder Cody Smith and an RBI double by first baseman Jomel Torres. Starter Ethan Miller got the win after allowing two earned runs on seven hits in six innings, while reliever Steven Moranda retired nine of the 10 batters he faced to earn the save.
March 16, 2012 – Albuquerque, N.M.
New Mexico 11, San Diego State 9 | Box Score
Two Aztec errors loomed large as the Lobos scored six unearned runs off those miscues to sink the Scarlet and Black. Catcher Seby Zavala led SDSU with four hits, while second baseman Matt Muñoz notched three hits, two runs and an RBI.
March 15, 2013 – Fresno, Calif.
Fresno State 1, San Diego State 0 | Box Score
The Aztecs had at least one baserunner in every inning except the fourth but could not dent the scoreboard. Michael Cederoth absorbed the hard-luck loss after scattering eight hits and two walks in eight innings.
Feb. 14, 2014 – San Jose, Calif.
San José State 6, San Diego State 4 | Box Score
In the earliest Mountain West opener for both squads, the Aztecs grabbed a 4-2 lead in the fourth on run-scoring singles by catcher Brad Haynal and outfielder Greg Allen sandwiched and RBI groundout by shortstop Evan Potter before the Spartans responded with three tallies of their own in the bottom of the frame to vault in front for good.
Feb. 27, 2015 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
San Diego State 4, San José State 2 | Box Score
The Aztecs received a two-run homer from catcher Seby Zavala to help down the Spartans in the first game of a doubleheader. Outfielder Andrew Brown paced the Scarlet and Black with three hits, while third baseman Ty France went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. CJ Saylor saved the game for starter Bubba Derby, who posted eight strikeouts against six hits and one walk in eight innings. SDSU also won the nightcap, 7-5.
March 4, 2016 – Tony Gwynn Stadium
Fresno State 3, San Diego State 2 (10 innings) | Box Score
Despite maintaining an 11-8 advantage in hits, the Aztecs stranded nine runners and were undone by a Bulldog solo homer in the top of the 10th. Outfielder Tyler Adkison, shortstop Alan Trejo and second baseman Justin Wylie had two hits apiece for SDSU.
March 10, 2017 – Reno, Nev.
San Diego State 7, Nevada 2 | Box Score
The Aztecs broke open a tight 3-2 score with four runs in the top of the eighth as the Scarlet and Black snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Wolf Pack. First baseman Jordan Verdon smacked a two-run homer in that frame, while designated hitter Andrew Martinez added a solo shot. Starter Brett Seeburger gave up two runs on five hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings, while Jorge Fernandez pitched the rest of the way to record the save.
March 4, 2018 – San Jose, Calif.
San Diego State 7, San José State 2 | Box Score
Shortstop David Hensley belted a three-run homer, while designated hitter Chad Bible and first baseman Jordan Verdon each delivered a solo blast to help the Aztecs overcome a 2-1 deficit.
March 1, 2019 – USAF Academy, Colo.
Air Force 9, San Diego State 5 | Box Score
The Aztecs maintained a 3-1 advantage before the Falcons scored five runs on four hits and two walks in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good. Shortstop Angelo Armenta went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for SDSU, while catcher Ryan Orr collected two hits of his own.