Series Preview
San Diego State at Fresno State
April 17-18, 2021
Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
Fresno, Calif.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Saturday, April 17 | 1:35 p.m. PT
SDSU: Michael Paredes, RHP (3-0, 3.97 ERA, 47.2 IP)
FS: Jamison Hill, RHP (3-1, 3.68 ERA, 36.2 IP)
Saturday, April 17 | 5:05 p.m. PT
SDSU: Troy Melton, RHP (3-2, 4.10 ERA, 41.2 IP)
FS: Jake Dixon, RHP (3-2, 4.89 ERA, 35.0 IP)
Sunday, April 18 | 1:35 p.m. PT
SDSU: Ricky Tibbett, RHP (2-1, 3.99 ERA, 29.1 IP)
FS: TBA
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR AZTEC BASEBALL
> San Diego State opens the second half of its 2021 Mountain West schedule this weekend when it travels to the Central Valley for a three-game series vs. Fresno State, April 17-18, at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium in Fresno, California.
> The Aztecs and Bulldogs will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 1:35 p.m. PT, before wrapping up the set with a single game on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. as well.
> Links to live stats and streaming video via the Mountain West Network will be available for all three games on GoAztecs.com.
> This weekend's series marks just the second time the Scarlet and Black will compete beyond the San Diego County line in 2021. SDSU is 4-2 away after winning two of three games at San José State, March 27-28.
QUICK HITS
> San Diego State (17-8, 12-6 MW) will be looking to rebound after dropping its first series of the season last weekend against Nevada at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Bolstered by Wyatt Hendrie's career-high six RBIs, the Aztecs rallied for a big 15-7 victory over the Wolf Pack in the opener of a doubleheader before dropping a 10-6 decision in the nightcap. In the rubber game the next day, SDSU was unable to seize the upper hand, as Nevada pulled away for a 5-3 victory.
> Despite suffering consecutive losses for the first time this season, the Aztecs still find themselves a game-and-half ahead of second-place UNLV in the Mountain West standings.
> San Diego State and Fresno State met last month in the conference-opening series for both squads, March 6-7, at Tony Gwynn Stadium. After suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat in the opener, the Aztecs roared to a 17-0 run-rule victory in the nightcap followed by a 12-7 conquest in the finale the next day.
> Entering this weekend's series, San Diego State leads the nation with a .336 batting average and ranks fourth with 9.0 runs per game. In addition, the Aztecs top the conference with 305 hits, which is best in the country for teams with 25 games played or less and is 27th overall.
> Individually, Jaden Fein ranks second in the nation with 1.92 hits per games and occupies the third spot with a .457 batting average while ranking seventh with 48 hits overall. In addition, Matt Rudick is the second-toughest player to strike out in the country, fanning just three times in 106 at-bats. Rudick, who finds himself just outside the top 10 in 11th place with a .434 batting average, also ranks third nationally in hits per game (1.84) and is tied for the No. 3 spot in runs per contest (1.40), along with teammate Mike Jarvis, who finds himself in the sixth position this week in hits per game (1.80).
> On April 14, Jaden Fein earned a spot on USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List.
AZTEC WEEKEND ROTATION
> For the fourth straight weekend, San Diego State's projected pitching rotation will feature the trio of Michael Paredes, Troy Melton and Ricky Tibbett. Doubleheader stalwarts Paredes and Melton have made consecutive starts in all eight series this season, while Tibbett is expected to get the call once again for Sunday's finale.
> Paredes (3-0, 3.97 ERA) is slated to pitch game one of Saturday's doubleheader after recording his shortest stint of the year against Nevada on April 10 when he allowed five runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout in 3 1/3 innings but did not factor in the decision, as the Scarlet Black overcame a 6-2 deficit en route to a 15-7 triumph. On March 27 at San José State, the Aztec redshirt sophomore yielded three runs on nine hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts in six innings for his third victory of the season. In an earlier start vs. Air Force on March 20, Paredes tied his career-high with nine strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. He has walked just seven batters this season, which is tied for eighth in the Mountain West this week. Last month, Paredes enjoyed a solid start in the doubleheader opener against Fresno State on March 6, when he allowed just one run on four hits and two walks against six strikeouts but did not earn a decision, as the Bulldogs rallied for a 3-2 win.
> Troy Melton (3-2, 4.10 ERA) is scheduled to start game two of the doubleheader vs. Fresno State after logging his second shortest outing of the season with 3 1/3 innings pitched against Nevada on April 10 as well. Against the Wolf Pack, the SDSU redshirt sophomore gave up two runs on three hits and three walks while fanning three, but like Paredes, did not figure in the decision, as Nevada struck in the late innings and pulled away for a 10-6 victory. Earlier this season, Melton earned MW Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time in his career on the strength of his complete-game shutout vs. Fresno State on Feb. 26. In that contest, the Aztec right-hander equaled his career high with nine strikeouts against four hits and one walk in SDSU's big 17-0 victory. Prior to the 2021 campaign, Melton landed a spot on the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List.
> Meanwhile, Tibbett (2-1, 3.99 ERA) is expected to make his fifth career start on Sunday after a five-inning stint in he series finale vs. Nevada on April 11, when he yielded three runs on eight hits with no walks and five strikeouts. However, the Aztec redshirt freshman was saddled with his first loss of the year, as the Wolf Pack added some insurance later in the contest to hold on for a 5-3 triumph. In his previous start vs. New Mexico on April 3, Tibbett combined for his first career shutout, allowing five hits and two walks against six strikeouts in five innings of work, as the Scarlet and Black rolled to a 15-0 run-rule victory in seven innings. He has walked just five batters this season, which is tied for third in the Mountain West this week. Earlier, Tibbett made a two-inning scoreless relief appearance in the Aztecs 12-7 victory over Fresno State on March 7, giving up two walks and a hit against three strikeouts.
SERIES RECORD VS. FRESNO STATE
> After winning two of three games against the Bulldogs last month, San Diego State tied the all-time series at 104-104. The two programs first met in 1939.
> The Aztecs have faced the Bulldogs more than any other team in school history.
> SDSU is 51-53 against Fresno State in San Diego, 46-48 in Fresno and 7-3 at neutral sites.
> The Bulldogs captured two out of three encounters the last time the two teams met in Fresno during the 2019 campaign.
> The Aztecs won the middle game of that weekend series by a 10-6 count, bookended by a 10-2 loss and an 8-3 setback.
> During Mark Martinez's seven-year tenure as head coach on The Mesa, SDSU is 14-15 vs. Fresno State , including a 7-8 mark at home, a 6-6 ledger on the road and a 1-1 record on a neutral field.
> In Martinez's first year at the helm of the Aztecs in 2015, the Scarlet and Black split two games with the Bulldogs at the Mountain West Championships, dropping the opener, 15-7, before rebounding in game four with a 7-6 victory in 10 innings en route to the winning the tournament crown.
> In the three-game set vs. Fresno State last month at Tony Gwynn Stadium, the Aztecs forged a doubleheader split, countering a 3-2 setback with a huge 17-0 run-rule shutout, before securing the series victory with a 15-7 triumph in the rubber game.
> With their performances in the series, Jaden Fein captured his third straight Mountain West Player of the Week honor, while Troy Melton garnered Conference Pitcher of the Week accolades.
> Against the Bulldogs, Fein finished with multiple hits in all three games, leading SDSU with a .750 batting average, nine hits, seven RBIs and a .786 on-base percentage while sharing the top spot with 10 total bases.
> Meanwhile, Melton tossed his first career complete-game shutout in the Aztecs' whitewash of Fresno State in game two of the doubleheader, matching his collegiate-best with nine strikeouts against four hits and one walk. The SDSU right-hander gave up all four hits with the bases empty and allowed just one runner to advance to third throughout the game.
> Among Aztec returners, Fein is batting .533 (16-30) in eight career games vs. the Bulldogs with one home run, four doubles, eight RBIs and eight runs scored.
> In addition, Matt Rudick owns a .400 batting average (20-50) in 12 career starts against Fresno State, posting one homer, four RBIs, 13 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.
AZTECS AMONG NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
> After the first eight weekends of the 2021 campaign, the Aztecs find themselves among the NCAA statistical leaders in several categories. As of April 16, San Diego State leads the nation with a .336 team batting average while occupying the fourth spot with a scoring average of 9.0 runs per game. In addition, the Scarlet and Black ranks 27th with 305 hits, which is tops in the country for schools that have played 25 games or less.
> Individually, Jaden Fein ranks second in the nation with 1.92 hits per contest and occupies the third spot with a .457 batting average while ranking seventh with 48 hits overall. In addition, Matt Rudick is the second-toughest player to strike out in the country, fanning just three times in 106 at-bats. Rudick, who finds himself just outside the top 10 in 11th place with a .434 batting average, also ranks third nationally in hits per game (1.84) and is tied for the No. 3 spot in runs per contest (1.40), along with teammate Mike Jarvis, ho finds himself in the sixth spot this week in hits per game (1.80), while Brian Leonhardt is tied for fourth with five sacrifice flies.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Jaden Fein still leads the Mountain West with a lofty .457 batting average, 43 hits and 35 RBIs.
> Fein also sits near the top of the conference perch in on-base percentage (3rd - .508), doubles (T-3rd - 10), runs scored (4th - 25) and slugging percentage (9th - .581).
> In addition, Matt Rudick leads the MW with 10 stolen bases and shares the top spot with 35 runs scored and has vaulted into second in both batting average (.434) and hits (46). The Aztec center fielder is also tied for third in RBIs (26) and ranks fifth in on-base percentage (.492).
> Meanwhile, Wyatt Hendrie shares the conference lead with six homers and ranks second and third in RBIs (30) and runs scored (30), respectively. The SDSU catcher is also tied for sixth in walks (14) while ranking seventh in slugging percentage (.589) and ninth in on-base percentage (.461).
> Not to be outdone, Mike Jarvis shares the top spot with Rudick in runs scored (35) and is tied for second in stolen bases (9). The SDSU shortstop has also climbed into third in hits (45) and finds himself tied for the third position in both doubles (10) and triples (2). In addition, Jarvis shares the eighth spot with 20 RBIs and ranks ninth with a .372 batting average.
> In all, the Aztecs boast six of the top 10 players in the league in runs scored, with Jacob Cruce and Caden Miller tying for the fifth spot this week with 24.
> Similarly, the MW's top-10 list of RBI producers features six SDSU players as well, as Brian Leonhardt ranks fourth with 26, while Jacob Cruce is tied for sixth, joining Fein, Hendrie, Rudick and Jarvis.
> On the mound, Michael Paredes and Troy Melton share the league lead with three victories apiece. Paredes is also tied for third in strikeouts (38) while ranking sixth in ERA (3.97) and eighth in opposing batting average (.253). Additionally, he shares the eighth spot with fewest walks allowed (7).
> Meanwhile, Melton enters the weekend ranked second in strikeouts (43), fourth in opponent batting average (.218), eighth in ERA (4.10) and 10th in fewest hits allowed (34).
> Not to be outdone, fellow righty Ricky Tibbett is tied for third with fewest walks allowed (5) and ranks seventh in ERA (3.99), eighth in strikeouts (30). He also shares the eighth spot with two wins.
> Elsewhere, Tre Brown is tied for second in the league with three saves.
> With huge production throughout the lineup, unsurprisingly San Diego State leads the MW in numerous offensive categories as a team this week, including batting average (.336), hits (305), runs (201), RBIs (225), total bases (414), stolen bases (5) and on-base percentage (.414). The Aztecs also occupy the second spot in the league this week in fewest strikeouts (132) and slugging percentage (.456).
> On the hill, SDSU pitchers lead the league with a .269 opposing team batting average and strikeouts (213) while ranking second in collective ERA (4.95).
FRESNO STATE AT A GLANCE
> The Bulldogs (9-16, 6-9 MW) have dropped two straight, including a narrow 2-1 setback at USC in their last outing on April 13.
> Entering the weekend, Fresno State and New Mexico are tied for sixth in the Mountain West standings with a 6-9 mark.
> The Bulldogs are 7-4 at home this season and 2-12 on the road.
> In its most recent home series vs. Air Force last weekend, Fresno State opened with a doubleheader sweep, winning 8-3 and 7-1, before dropping the finale, 12-6.
> The Bulldogs' scheduled starter for Saturday's game one, Jamison Hill, was victorious in his last outing against the Falcons, allowing two runs on five hits with no walks against seven strikeouts in six innings.
> Meanwhile, Jake Dixon, who is pegged to start game two on Saturday, collected MW Pitcher of the Week honors after tossing eight scoreless innings in the nightcap vs. Air Force on April 10, countering three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts of his own.
> For the season, outfielder EJ Andrews Jr. leads Fresno State with a .333 batting average and a conference-best 20 walks, while his .462 on-base percentage ranks eighth in the MW.
> In addition, third baseman Andrew Kachel is tied for the league lead with six home runs, while designated hitter Ryan Higgins and outfielder Nate Thimjon are tied for fourth with five homers apiece.
> Higgins also finds himself among the MW leaders in walks (2nd - 19), triples (t-3rd), RBIs (T-6th - 21) and runs scored (8th - 23), while Thimjon is tied for third in sacrifice flies (3) and ranks ninth in RBIs (20).
> Collectively, the Bulldogs lead the conference with 27 home runs and rank third in RBIs (145), on-base percentage (.364) and runs scored (148).
> However, Fresno State is last in the MW with a .260 team batting average and ranks sixth with 215 hits.
> As a staff, Bulldog pitchers are fifth in the league with a team ERA of 6.06 and 171 strikeouts while ranking sixth with a .305 opposing batting average.
> Mike Batesole is in his 19th season as head coach at Fresno State, compiling a record of 601-464-1 (.564) with the Bulldog program, highlighted by an NCAA College World Series title and National Coach of the Year honors in 2008. A native of Anaheim, California, Batesole guided Fresno State to Mountain West regular-season titles in 2016 and 2019 to go with a conference tournament crown in 2019. In all, Batesole has coached 64 first-team all-conference selections, 39 All-Americans and nine freshman All-Americans during his career, while 85 of his players have been selected in the MLB Draft.
GOING, GOING, GONE
> San Diego State has homered in 15 of 25 games this season, posting an 10-5 record in those contests.
> The Aztecs have emerged victorious in 31 of their last 44 games dating back to 2019 when launching one out of the park.
> The Aztecs went 17-5 during the 2019 campaign when going yard and 5-2 in 2020.
STREAKING AZTECS
> Matt Rudick has reached base in all 25 games this season, while Jaden Fein owns a current streak of getting aboard in 13 straight contests.
> Earlier Brian Leonhardt had his streak of safely reaching base snapped at 14 after coming up empty in nightcap of a doubleheader vs. Air Force on March 20.
> Fein possesses the team's longest current hitting streak of eight games, with multiple hits in four, followed by Matt Rudick (6) and Fisher Pyatt (5). Earlier, Fein crafted a season-long 11-game hitting streak, while Rudick had a 10-game string halted in the series vs. Air Force.
> Jarvis leads the Aztecs with multiple hits in 16 games and has posted two or more RBIs in 11 outings. In addition, Fein has recorded 15 multi-hit games, followed by Rudick (14), Caden Miller (12) and Jacob Cruce (11), while Leonhardt and Wyatt Hendrie have logged two or more RBIs in seven games this season.
TOP OF THE ORDER DELIVERING
> Over the last 12 games, San Diego State's top three hitters in its lineup – Matt Rudick, Mike Jarvis and Wyatt Hendrie have posted a collective .456 batting average (67-147), combining for 48 runs scored, 43 RBIs and nine stolen bases.
> During that stretch, Rudick has led the team in batting average (.500), RBIs (18), slugging percentage (.780) and on-base percentage (.542) while totaling 25 hits and 16 runs scored.
> In addition, Jarvis has batted .473 in that span with team-highs of 26 hits, five doubles, 20 runs scored, 41 total bases and five steals. He has also notched a .745 slugging percentage and a .540 on-base percentage.
> Meanwhile, Hendrie has notched a .381 batting average (16-42) over the last four series with 16 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
> All three players have hit two home runs over the last 12 contests.
OTHER TRENDS
> The Aztecs are 82-15 in their last 97 games when scoring five or more runs, including an 16-3 record already in 2021 after posting a 6-2 mark last year.
> San Diego State is 53-20 in its last 73 games following a loss, including a 6-1 mark this year.
> The Aztecs had their 29-game winning streak snapped when leading after six innings in the series finale against USD on Feb. 21.
> Conversely, SDSU put the brakes a 41-game losing streak when trailing after seven innings the previous day on Feb. 20.
> After scoring six runs in the bottom of the ninth in their dramatic 10-9 victory over New Mexico on April 2, the Aztecs snapped a 46-game losing streak when trailing after eight innings dating back to March 20, 2018 as SDSU rallied to beat CSU Bakersfield at home, 5-4.
STABILITY IN THE LINEUP
> Five players have started all 25 games for the Aztecs this season, including Mike Jarvis (SS), Caden Miller (2B), Jacob Cruce (1B), Matt Rudick (CF) and Jaden Fein (RF).
> In addition, Wyatt Hendrie (C) and Ryan Orr (LF) have made 24 starts at their respective positions, while Brian Leonhardt (DH) has logged 23 starts thus far in 2021.
HEAD COACH MARK MARTINEZ
> Mark Martinez is in his seventh season as head coach of the Aztecs and 16th overall as a member of the San Diego State staff after succeeding the late Tony Gwynn on August 20, 2014. He is just the fifth head coach in SDSU history since baseball was elevated to major sport status in 1936.
> During his tenure as the Aztecs' head coach, Martinez has compiled a 202-142 record (.589), highlighted by three Mountain West tournament championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. He has also posted a 101-72 ledger (.588) in conference regular-season games.
> Since 2015, SDSU has garnered 30 all-Mountain West accolades under Martinez's tutelage, including back-to-back MW Pitchers of the Year Brett Seeburger (2017) and Garrett Hill (2018), as well as 2017 MW Player of the Year Danny Sheehan.
> Additionally, Martinez has mentored three freshman All-Americans in Chase Calabuig (2015), Casey Schmitt (2018) and Jaden Fein (2019), with the latter also receiving Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year distinction last year.
> On April 2, 2021, Martinez earned his 200th career coaching victory after the Aztecs defeated New Mexico, 5-4, in 10 innings in the second game of a doubleheader.
> Not to be outdone, Martinez also became the fastest head coach in Mountain West history to win three conference championships when the Aztecs captured the league's tournament title in 2018.
> Martinez was hired as an assistant coach for the Aztecs in July of 2005 and served for nine years under head coach Tony Gwynn. During that time, he was promoted to the position of associate head coach.
> Since his arrival on The Mesa as an assistant coach, Martinez has witnessed 44 SDSU players get drafted into the professional ranks, with 10 of those selections reaching the major leagues (Stephen Strasburg, Addison Reed, Justin Masterson, Bruce Billings, Quintin Berry, Lance Zawadzki, Greg Allen, Ty France, Seby Zavala and Alan Trejo).
> Prior to his arrival at San Diego State, Martinez was an assistant coach at New Mexico for 17 seasons from 1989-2005. During his time as a hitting and infield coach, he helped develop the Lobos into one of the most prominent offensive teams in the country, with UNM ranking among the top 11 nationally in hitting over his final four seasons.
> Martinez served as an assistant at his alma mater, Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University) in Grand Junction, Colorado, from 1984-88. He played shortstop at the school from 1982-84, earning all-conference and all-district honors as a senior.
> Martinez graduated from Mesa State with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1984 and completed his master's in sports administration at New Mexico in 1990.
Aztecs Travel to Fresno State This Weekend
