GAME WEEK PREVIEW
UC San Diego vs. San Diego State
*2020 Stats for UCSD staff
Friday, Feb. 26| 1 p.m. PT | Tony Gwynn Stadium
UCSD: Cameron Leonard, RHP (3-0, 2.30 ERA, 31.1 IP)*
SDSU: Troy Melton, RHP (1-0, 3.86 ERA, 4.2 IP)
Saturday, Feb. 27 | 1 p.m. PT | Tony Gwynn Stadium
UCSD: Chris Gilmartin, LHP (3-0, 4.76 ERA, 23.0 IP)*
SDSU: Kohl Simas, RHP (0-0, 21.60 ERA, 1.2 IP)
Sunday, Feb. 28 | 1 p.m. PT | Triton Ballpark
UCSD: Brandon Weed, RHP (4-0, 2.17 ERA, 29.0 IP)*
SDSU: Michael Paredes, RHP (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 5.0 IP)
Sunday, Feb. 28 | 4 p.m. PT | Triton Ballpark
UCSD: TBA
SDSU: TBA
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR AZTEC BASEBALL
> San Diego State returns to the diamond this weekend when it squares off against UC San Diego in a four-game series, Feb. 26-28.
> The Aztecs and Tritons will battle at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Friday and Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. PT, before the scene shifts to UCSD's Triton Ballpark for a Sunday doubleheader, which is scheduled to commence at 1 p.m. PT.
> The SDSU-UCSD series will be recognized as the sixth installment of the Tony Gwynn Legacy, which was launched in 2016. The Aztecs are 7-8 all-time in the Tony Gwynn Legacy, defeating Iowa (4-1) and Nebraska (4-2) at last year's tournament before falling to USC (11-5). The event has been scaled back this season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
> In accordance with state, local and university guidelines, fans will not be permitted to attend Aztec home baseball games at Tony Gwynn Stadium during the 2021 season.
> Live stats will be available throughout the weekend, while Friday's opener will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network. In addition, Saturday's clash will feature a unique split-screen four-camera video stream, while Sunday's twin bill will be streamed on the ESPN3. Links to all platforms will be available on GoAztecs.com.
> For the third straight season, San Diego State was picked first in the Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll.
> In addition, the Aztecs had three players selected to the preseason all-MW team in right fielder Jaden Fein, starting pitcher Troy Melton and center fielder Matt Rudick.
> With the Mountain West back to seven teams, the league returns to a double round-robin format for the 2021 campaign. The teams will play a 36-game conference schedule, with weekends consisting mostly of doubleheaders on Saturday and a Sunday series finale.
> The MW tournament has been eliminated and the regular-season champion will receive the league's automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
> The Mountain West Network will stream 14 SDSU home baseball games this year, as well as selected road contests against conference opponents.
> In addition, the Aztecs' other home games will feature a live stream on the team's YouTube channel, with a link available on GoAztecs.com.
AZTEC WEEKEND ROTATION
> San Diego State's projected pitching rotation this weekend will feature the same trio that opened the season against USD, while the starter for Sunday's doubleheader nightcap is still to be determined at press time.
> Troy Melton (1-0, 3.86 ERA) will open the series on Friday vs. the Tritons after picking up the victory in the 2021 lid-lifter against San Diego on Feb. 19. The SDSU right-hander allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk to go with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. In a shortened 2020 campaign, he shared the conference lead with three victories, which was tied for 23rd nationally, while his 26 strikeouts and .192 opposing batting average ranked second and third in the MW, respectively.
> On Saturday, Kohl Simas (0-0, 21.60 ERA) will make his second start as an Aztec after transferring from USD. His first appearance in a Scarlet and Black uniform was brief, yielding the mound after giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks to go with a pair of strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings against his former teammates on Feb. 20. In his lone season with the Toreros last year, the Fresno native pitched four games in relief, posting the second-lowest ERA on the team (2.45) while striking out 15 batters in 11.0 innings.
> Meanwhile, Michael Paredes (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 20.0 IP) is projected to get the call on Sunday in the first game of the doubleheader. In his first start of the 2021 campaign vs. USD on Feb. 21, the San Diego High alumnus allowed three runs on three hits and one walk to go with a pair of strikeouts before exiting after five innings. Last season, Paredes ranked among the Mountain West leaders in walks (T8th – 6) and earned runs allowed (T9th – 9). As a freshman in 2019, he made his collegiate debut against a Big West school, countering one hit and one walk with a pair of strikeouts in 2/3 innings vs. UC Irvine in a 9-3 Aztec victory.
SERIES RECORD VS. UCSD
> San Diego State leads the all-time series, 20-3, including a 16-2 mark at home and a 4-1 ledger on the road.
> The Aztecs and Tritons last faced each other on Feb. 20, 2002, when Mike Moat and Royce Ring combined on a one-hitter, as the Scarlet and Black completed a 3-0 shutout in front of 713 fans at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
> In that contest, Moat fanned 14 batters, giving up just one hit and one walk in eight innings for the victory, while Ring struck out the side in the ninth for the save.
> SDSU scored all three markers in the sixth inning, highlighted by Josh Hill's two-run single, while Josh Allen drove in another with a base hit to center.
> The two programs first squared off against one another on April 15, 1971, when the Aztecs claimed a 6-3 victory on the road.
> SDSU won the first 15 meetings in the series before suffering its first loss in a 7-4 setback on April 7, 1987, in La Jolla.
> This weekend will mark the first in-season series for the two teams. The Aztecs have played multiple single games against the Tritons in the same year in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1990 and 1991.
> SDSU has won 10 of its last 13 games vs. Big West foes and is 30-10 in its last 40 encounters against that conference, including a 7-2 triumph at home over then No. 17/17 Long Beach State on March 3, 2020.
AZTECS AMONG NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
> Following their offensive bonanza against USD, the Aztecs find themselves among the NCAA statistical leaders in several categories. As of Feb. 24, SDSU ranks second nationally with a .403 team batting average and a scoring average of 15.0 runs per game. In addition, the Scarlet and Black occupies the sixth spot in on-base percentage (.477) and runs (45) while ranking eighth in doubles per game (3.00).
> Individually, Jaden Fein is tied for seventh with 2.67 hits per game and shares the 13th position with eight hits overall, while Jacob Cruce is tied for 10th with three doubles.
> Heading into the weekend, the Aztecs have four players among the Mountain West individual top 10 in batting averaged, with Brian Leonhardt (.538), Jaden Fein (.533), Jacob Cruce (.500), Wyatt Hendrie (.463) holding down the second through fifth slots, respectively, behind Air Force's front-runner Blake Covin (.556).
> In addition, SDSU boasts nine of the conference's top 15 RBI producers in Leonhardt (T-1st, 7), Fein (T-1st, 7), Cruce (T-3rd, 6), Hendrie (T-3rd, 6), Mike Jarvis (T-8th, 3), Ryan Orr (T-8th, 3), Caden Miller (T-8th, 3), Cole Carrigg (T-8th, 3) and Matt Rudick (T14th, 2).
UCSD AT A GLANCE
> The Tritons are entering their first season as members of the Big West Conference, beginning their four-year transition to the NCAA Division I level that will be completed by the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, UCSD will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
> In their final year at the Division II level in 2020, the Tritons posted a 17-4 record, including a 12-4 mark in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) before the remainder of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UCSD was ranked No. 1 in the final poll by Collegiate Baseball magazine and third by the NCBWA.
> The Tritons were picked ninth in the Big West preseason coaches poll, receiving 33 points, ahead of UC Riverside (29 pts) and CSU Bakersfield (18 pts.). UC Santa Barbara was pegged for a first-place finish in the poll after garnering 119 pts and all 10 first-place votes, followed closely by Long Beach State (96 pts.), UC Irvine (95 pts.) and Cal Poly (94 pts.).
> UCSD returns four players who were named to the CCAA All-Star team a year ago, including the pitching trio of Brandon Weed, Cameron Leonard and Luke Mattson, along with first baseman Blake Baumgartner.
> The 2019 Division II West Region Pitcher of the Year, Weed posted a 4-0 record with a 2.17 ERA and 30 strikeouts in five starts last year, while Leonard compiled a 2-0 mark with a 2.30 ERA and 29 strikeouts in six starting appearances.
> Mattson was effective out of the bullpen, compiling a 4-0 record with a 0.78 ERA and one save while leading the squad with 35 strikeouts in 23 innings of relief.
> Baumgartner, meanwhile, started all 21 games at first base in 2020, leading the team with 21 walks and 24 runs scored to go with a .343 batting average. A redshirt junior, Baumgartner ranks 10th on the Tritons' career list with 21 home runs.
> Also back in the mix is third baseman Everett Lau, a former Auburn transfer who hit .303 with one home run and 11 RBIs last year to go with four doubles.
> UCSD competes at Triton Ballpark, which underwent extensive renovations in time for the 2015 campaign. Current features include a permanent grandstand with chair backs and cup holders for 500 spectators, sunken dugouts with lighting, power and signage, a press box above the grandstand with ethernet, wireless internet and phone lines, as well as a clubhouse with separate locker rooms for coaches and players, coaches' offices, player study/entertainment lounge, kitchen, patio, laundry and storage areas.
> Between the foul lines from left to right field, the dimensions of Triton Ballpark are symmetrical at 330-385-400-385-330.
> Eric Newman is entering his 10th season as head coach of the Triton program, compiling an overall record of 309-162 (.656). A native of Fremont, California, Newman earned three consecutive ABCA/Diamond West Region Coach of the Year honors (2017-19) and was twice named California Collegiate Athletic Coach of the Year (2012, 2019). In 2017, he directed UCSD to the NCAA Division II West Regional title and a runner-up finish in the national tournament. Prior to his arrival in La Jolla, Newman spent four years as the pitching coach at Nebraska (2008-11) and served as head coach at Dallas Baptist (2005-07) after working as the team's pitching coach and associate head coach (2002-04). He was a fifth-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 1994 and pitched professionally with four different organizations across eight seasons, including the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers.
TOUGH AT HOME
> Since the start of the 2012 season, San Diego State is 158-100 (.612) when playing at home.
> In 2018, the Aztecs set a program record with 25 home victories at Tony Gwynn Stadium (since 1997), besting the previous standard of 24 set in 1997, 2002 and 2014.
LOCAL HEROES
> San Diego State boasts 16 players on its current roster who are alumni of San Diego County high schools, including Tre Brown, Brian Leonhardt and Ricky Tibbett (Eastlake); Fisher Pyatt and Charlie Rhee (St. Augustine); Casey O'Sullivan and Joseph Ingrassia (Valhalla); Mike Jarvis (Clairemont); Ryan Orr (La Costa Canyon); Trevor Hazelhurst (Granite Hills), Deron Johnson (Poway); Noah Kaagan (Rancho Bernardo); Michael Paredes (San Diego); Matt Rudick (Scripps Ranch); Poncho Ruiz (Mater Dei Catholic) and Seth Urbon (Point Loma).
STRIKEOUTS GALORE
> San Diego State recorded 27 games with 10 or more strikeouts during the 2019 campaign, marking the most double-digit strikeout performances for the Aztecs in the MW era (since 2000). SDSU surpassed the previous MW record of 23 set in a 10-6 win at Fresno State on May 11, 2009.
> During the shortened 2020 season, the Aztec pitching staff notched seven games with 10 strikeouts: vs. Virginia Tech, Cal State Fullerton, Iowa, Nebraska, at UC Irvine and twice against Oregon State. Not surprisingly, the Scarlet and Black went 6-1 in those contests.
> Dating back to 2019, the Aztecs are 22-12 in their last 34 games when striking out 10 or more batters.
GOING, GOING, GONE
> In San Diego State's loss to USD on Feb. 21, the Aztecs had a four-game winning halted when hitting a home run.
> Still, SDSU has captured 16 of its last 20 dating back to 2019 when launching one out of the park.
> During the 2019 season, the Aztecs were 17-5 when going yard.
OTHER TRENDS
> In addition, the scoring the game's first run has proved to be important for the Aztecs, who posted a 6-2 ledger during the shortened 2020 season when scoring first.
> In 2019, SDSU compiled a 19-6 record when scoring first in comparison to a 13-17 mark when its opponent tallied the first run.
> The Aztecs are 68-12 in their last 80 games when scoring five or more runs, including a 6-2 record in 2020.
> San Diego State is 48-19 last 67 games following a loss.
> The Aztecs had their 29-game winning streak snapped when leading after six innings on Sunday.
> Conversely, SDSU put the brakes a 41-game losing streak when trailing after seven innings on Saturday.
> The Aztecs are 7-2 dating back to last year when scoring six or more runs.
Aztecs Prepare for Weekend Series vs. UCSD
