Series Preview
New Mexico at San Diego State
April 2-3, 2021
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday. April 2 | 1 p.m. PT
UNM: Nathaniel Garley, RHP (0-1, 4.03 ERA, 22.1 IP)
SDSU: Michael Paredes, RHP (3-0, 2.56 ERA, 38.2 IP)
Friday, April 2 | 4:30 p.m. PT
UNM: Justin Armbruester, RHP (3-1, 2.92 ERA, 37.1 IP)
SDSU: Troy Melton, RHP (3-2, 4.31 ERA, 31.1 IP)
Saturday, April 3 | 1 p.m. PT
UNM: Tristin Lively, RHP (2-1, 4.85 ERA, 32.0 IP)
SDSU: Ricky Tibbett, RHP (1-0, 4.66 ERA, 19.1 IP)
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR AZTEC BASEBALL
> San Diego State will be aiming for its seventh straight series victory to open the season when it plays host to New Mexico in a three-game set, April 2-3, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
> The Aztecs and Lobos will square off in a doubleheader on Friday, beginning at 1 p.m. PT, before locking horns in a single game on Saturday with another 1 p.m. starting time.
> Friday's twin bill will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network, while Saturday's clash will feature a unique split-screen four-camera video stream. Links to both platforms, as well as live stats, will be available on GoAztecs.com.
QUICK HITS
> Making its first road trip past the county line this season, San Diego State (13-6, 8-4 MW) claimed its sixth consecutive series victory last weekend after winning two of three games at San José State. Behind the duo of Mike Jarvis and Matt Rudick, who combined for seven of the team's nine hits and scored four runs, the Aztecs emerged victorious in the opener of last Saturday's doubleheader, 6-4, before getting out-slugged in the nightcap, 12-7. However, the Scarlet and Black rebounded in a big way during Sunday's finale, posting a 14-4 run-rule victory in eight innings.
> With the results, SDSU has taken over sole possession of first place in the Mountain West standings, two full games ahead of this weekend's opponent New Mexico and UNLV, both of which sport 6-6 records in conference players.
> Following the San José State series, Jarvis received MW Player of the Week recognition for the first time in his career. The Aztec shortstop led the team in almost every offensive category including batting average (.615), slugging percentage (1.000), on-base percentage (.706), hits (8), runs (5), total bases (13) and walks (4).
> Entering the weekend, San Diego State leads the nation with a .325 batting average and is tied for fourth with 9.0 runs per game for all contests. In addition, the Aztecs top the conference with 226 hits, which is best in the country for teams with under 20 games played and tied for 26th overall.
> Individually, Jaden Fein leads the nation with 1.95 hits per game and is tied for seventh with 37 hits overall while occupying the 10th spot for the eighth spot with a .474 batting average.
> SDSU head coach Mark Martinez is just two wins shy of the 200-victory mark for his career. His record currently stands at 198-140.
> On April 1, Wyatt Hendrie was added to the Buster Posey Award Watch List by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.
AZTEC WEEKEND ROTATION
> For the second straight weekend, San Diego State's projected pitching rotation will feature the trio of Michael Paredes, Troy Melton and Ricky Tibbett. Doubleheader mainstays Paredes and Melton have made consecutive starts in all six series this year, while Tibbett is expected to get the call for Saturday's finale.
> Paredes (3-0, 2.56 ERA) is slated to pitch game one of Friday's doubleheader after collecting his third straight win at San José State on March 27. Against the Spartans, the Aztec redshirt sophomore allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts in six innings. In his previous start vs. Air Force on March 20, Paredes tied his career-high with nine strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
> Troy Melton (3-2, 4.31 ERA) is scheduled to start game two of the doubleheader vs. the Lobos after his shortest outing of the year last Saturday at San José State when he gave up six runs on six hits and two walks in just 2 2/3 innings. Last month, 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. Against the Bulldogs, the SDSU right-hander equaled his career high with nine strikeouts against four hits and one walk in the Aztecs' big 17-0 victory. Prior to the 2021 campaign, Melton landed a spot on the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List.
> Meanwhile, Tibbett (1-0, 4.66 ERA) is expected to make his third career start on Saturday after picking up his first win of the year in last Sunday's finale at San José State. The Aztec redshirt freshman set career highs with eight strikeouts and 6 1/3 innings pitched, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks. Tibbett retired eight of nine batters between the fourth and sixth innings, yielding one single during that stretch, and set down the Spartans in order three times during his start. He has walked just three batters this season, which ranks fourth in the MW.
SERIES RECORD VS. NEW MEXICO
> San Diego State leads the all-time series vs. the Lobos, 118-83.
> New Mexico is one of four schools the Aztecs have recorded 100 victories against. The other three are Air Force (113), Fresno State (103) and Utah (102).
> The Aztecs boast a 70-38 record against the Lobos in San Diego, a 38-41 mark in Albuquerque and a 10-4 ledger on a neutral field.
> During Mark Martinez's seven-year tenure as head coach on The Mesa, SDSU sports a 15-15 record vs. the Lobos, including a 6-9 mark at home, a 6-6 ledger on the road and a 3-0 record at a neutral park.
> In Martinez's first year at the helm of the Aztecs in 2015, the Scarlet and Black twice defeated UNM to capture the Mountain West tournament championship in Reno, Nevada.
> The teams split their six games against one another in 2019, with each side claiming a series victory on the road. The Lobos took two of three games in San Diego, while the Aztecs accomplished the same feat in Albuquerque.
> The series at Tony Gwynn Stadium that year marked the end of the regular season for San Diego State, which won the opener, 8-0, before falling in the next two games by scores of 2-0 and 7-4.
> In that 8-0 shutout, current Aztec Mike Jarvis went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Matt Rudick (2 runs), Jaden Fein and Ryan Orr finished with two hits apiece.
> In six games against New Mexico in 2019, Jarvis compiled a .500 batting average (11-22) with two doubles, a triple and five runs scored. In addition, Jaden Fein hit .400 (8-20) in five games vs. the Lobos with three doubles, four RBIs and four runs, while Brian Leonhardt hit .357 (5-14) in three games with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.
> Aaron Eden is the lone pitcher on the Aztecs' current staff with a victory against New Mexico, winning the series opener in Albuquerque on March 22, 2019, when he tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding six hits and no walks to go with a pair of strikeouts.
> Christian Winston (2.70 ERA, 6.2 IP) and Daniel Ritcheson (2.45 ERA, 7.1 IP) have each made three relief appearances vs. the Lobos in their respective careers.
AZTECS AMONG NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
> After the first six weekends of the 2021 campaign, the Aztecs find themselves among the NCAA statistical leaders in several categories. As of April 1, San Diego State is third nationally with a .325 team batting average while occupying the fourth spot with a scoring average of 9.0 runs per game. In addition, the Scarlet and Black is tied for 26th with 226 hits, which is tops in the country for schools that have played 19 games or less.
> Individually, Jaden Fein is third in the nation with 1.95 hits per game and is tied for seventh with 37 hits while occupying the 10th spot with a .474 batting average. Additionally, Brian Leonhardt is tied for second with five sacrifice flies, while Matt Rudick occupies the 13th position with 1.37 runs per game and is tied for 23rd with 26 runs scored, which ranks second among individuals with 19 games played or less.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Among those individuals with more than five games played, Jaden Fein still leads the Mountain West with a lofty .474 batting average, 37 hits, 26 RBIs and seven doubles.
> Fein also sits near the top of the conference perch in on-base percentage (3rd - .533), runs scored (5th - 19) and slugging percentage (6th - .603).
> In addition, Matt Rudick leads the MW with 26 runs scored and nine stolen bases. The Aztec center fielder also shares the third position in hits (31), while ranking sixth in walks (10), and ranks seventh in batting average (.378).
> Meanwhile, Wyatt Hendrie has taken over the top spot in the conference with five homers and ranks second with 25 runs scored. The SDSU catcher finds himself in the third position with 23 RBIs while ranking eighth in slugging percentage (.594) and ninth in on-base percentage.
> The Aztecs boast seven of the top 10 players in the league in runs scored. In addition to Rudick, Hendrie and Fein, Jarvis has maintained his hold on the third position with 24 runs, followed by Jacob Cruce (4th - 21), Brian Leonhardt (T-7th - 15) and Caden Miller (T-7th -15).
> Along with Fein and Rudick, SDSU has four other players among the MW leaders in hits, including Mike Jarvis (2nd - 32), Cruce (7th - 24), Hendrie (T-9th - 23) and Miller (T-9th - 23).
> Likewise, joining Fein and Hendrie on the league's top-10 list in RBIs are Leonhardt (2nd - 23rd), Cruce (4th - 20) and Jarvis (t-7th - 15) and Miller (T-9th - 14).
> On the mound, Michael Paredes and Troy Melton share the league lead with three victories apiece. Paredes ranks second in ERA (2.56), third in strikeouts (33) and fifth in opposing batting average (.171). He is also tied for seventh with fewest walks allowed (5).
> Melton enters the weekend fourth in strikeouts (32) and sixth in opponent batting average (.235).
> In addition, fellow righty Ricky Tibbett ranks fourth with fewest walks allowed (3), is tied for eighth in fewest hits given up (23) and shares the ninth spot with 19 strikeouts.
> Not to be outdone, Tre Brown is tied for the MW lead 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 (.325), hits (226), runs (171), RBIs (152), total bases (303), stolen bases (30) and on-base percentage (.402). The Aztecs also occupy the second spot in the league this week in fewest strikeouts (99), while ranking third in slugging percentage (.436).
> On the hill, SDSU pitchers lead the conference with a .269 opposing team batting average and rank second in strikeouts (165), while their 5.01 team ERA is third.
NEW MEXICO AT A GLANCE
> The Lobos, who were pegged for a third-place finish along with UNLV in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll, captured two out of three games at home against Nevada, March 27-28.
> UNM opened with a doubleheader split against the Wolf Pack, winning game one by a 6-5 count before dropping a 9-7 decision in the nightcap. The Lobos then rebounded with a 5-1 triumph in the rubber game the following day.
> As a result, New Mexico moves to 8-11 on the season and is tied with UNLV for second place in the MW standings at 6-6.
> The Lobos are 5-1 at home this year, 2-7 on the road and 1-3 on a neutral field.
> UNM returners 22 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished with a 14-4 record, including pitcher Justin Armbruester and first baseman Kyle Landers, who earned a spot on the preseason all-MW team.
> A 2020 all-MW honoree, Armbruester (3-1) earned two straight conference Pitcher of the Week awards (March 15-22) and leads the conference in strikeouts (53) while sharing the top spot in wins (3). He also ranks third in the league with a 2.92 ERA. Armbruester is expected to start in the second game of Friday's doubleheader.
> Friday's game one starter is projected to be Nathaniel Garley, who is 0-1 with a 4.03 ERA and 16 strikeouts, while reigning MW Pitcher of the Week Tristin Lively (2-1, 3.09 ERA, 36 strikeouts) is slated to get the call in Saturday's finale. Lively ranks second in the conference in opposing batting average (.171) and strikeouts, while occupying the fourth spot in ERA.
> Offensively, the Lobos have been led thus far by outfielder Kyler Castillo, who finds himself among the MW leaders in hits (T-3rd - 31), home runs (T-5th - 3), doubles (T-6th - 6), RBIs (T-7th - 15) and batting average (10th - .373).
> In addition, catcher Jack Silverman and infielder Jared Martin are tied for second in the conference with four home runs apiece. Martin also ranks seventh in slugging percentage (.596) and is tied for ninth with 14 RBIs. Meanwhile, Silverman occupies the 10th spot in both slugging percentage (.591) and on-base percentage (.444).
> Not to be outdone, infielder Mack Chambers is tied for fifth in the league with 29 hits and shares the seventh spot with 15 RBIs.
> Collectively, the Lobos rank fourth in the MW this week in batting average (.295), slugging percentage (.432) and on-base percentage (.373).
> As a staff, New Mexico pitchers lead the conference with 179 strikeouts and rank second in opposing batting average (.286) while ranking fourth in team ERA (5.24).
> Head coach Ray Birmingham is in his 14th season at the helm of the New Mexico program. His record with the Lobos stands at 406-327, while his career mark is 1,223-650. Prior to his hire at UNM, Birmingham served as head coach at the University of the Southwest (1988-89) and New Mexico Junior College (1990-2007). During his career as a head coach, a total of 167 of his pupils have gone on to play professionally, including 39 ex-Lobos.
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.
> After posting single digits in strikeouts during the opening series vs. USD, the Aztecs surpassed the double-digit plateau in that category in all four games against UC San Diego, including a season-high 13 in the first game of the doubleheader on Feb. 28.
> SDSU also fanned 12 batters in the first game of a twin-bill vs. Fresno State on March 6.
> Additionally, the Aztecs recorded 11 strikeouts in both games of a doubleheader vs. Air Force on March 20 before 10 Spartan batters whiffed in the series finale at San José State.
> During the shortened 2020 season, the SDSU 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 28-14 in their last 42 games when striking out 10 or more batters, including a 6-2 mark this season.
GOING,GOING, GONE
> San Diego State has homered in 12 of 19 games this season, posting an 8-4 record in those contests.
> The Aztecs have emerged victorious in 29 of their last 41 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 19 games this season, while Brian Leonhardt had his streak of getting aboard snapped at 14 after coming up empty in nightcap of a doubleheader vs. Air Force on March 20.
> Mike Jarvis owns the team's longest current hitting streak of five games followed by Jacob Cruce (3) and Caden Miller (3). Earlier, Jaden Fein crafted a season-long 11-game hitting streak, while Rudick had a 10-game streak halted in the series vs. Air Force.
> Fein still leads the Aztecs with multiple hits in 12 games and two or more RBIs in eight outings. In addition, Jarvis has recorded 11 multi-hit games, followed by Rudick, Cruce and Miller with nine each, while Hendrie, Leonhardt and Cruce have posted two or more RBIs in six games this season.
OTHER TRENDS
> The Aztecs are 78-14 in their last 92 games when scoring five or more runs, including an 12-3 record already in 2021 after posting a 6-2 mark last year.
> San Diego State is 53-19 in its last 72 games following a loss, including a spotless 6-0 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.
STABILITY IN THE LINEUP
> Six players have started all 19 games for the Aztecs this season, including Mike Jarvis (SS), Caden Miller (2B), Jacob Cruce (1B), Matt Rudick (CF), Jaden Fein (RF) and Brian Leonhardt (DH).
> In addition, Wyatt Hendrie (C) and Ryan Orr (LF) have made 18 starts at their respective positions so 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 198-140 record (.586), highlighted by three Mountain West tournament championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. He has also posted a 97-70 ledger (.581) 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.
> In 2017, Martinez recorded his 100th victory for the Scarlet and Black, becoming the fastest head coach in program history to reach the century mark in wins.
> 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 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 nine of those selections making the major leagues (Stephen Strasburg, Addison Reed, Justin Masterson, Bruce Billings, Quintin Berry, Lance Zawadzki, Greg Allen, Ty France and Seby Zavala).
> 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 Return Home to Face New Mexico This Weekend
