Series Preview
Dixie State at San Diego State
April 24-25, 2021
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Probable Pitching Matchups
Saturday, April 24 | 1 p.m. PT
DSU: Dillon Holliday, RHP (3-1, 3.13 ERA, 23.0 IP)
SDSU: Troy Melton, RHP (3-3, 4.34 ERA, 47.2 IP)
Saturday, April 24 | 4:30 p.m. PT
DSU: Jimmy Borzone, RHP (2-4, 6.86 ERA, 40.2 IP)
SDSU: TBA
Sunday, April 25 | Noon PT
DSU: Ryan Hardman, RHP (0-4, 11.45 ERA, 29.1 IP)
SDSU: Ricky Tibbett, RHP (2-1, 5.97 ERA, 31.2 IP)
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR AZTEC BASEBALL
> San Diego State takes a short break from Mountain West play this weekend when it plays host to Dixie State in a three-game non-conference series, April 24-25, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
> The Aztecs and Trailblazers will clash in a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. PT, before locking horns in a single game on Sunday with a starting time of noon PT.
> All three games this weekend will be carried over the airwaves on XTRA Sports 1360 AM, while a link to live stats and streaming video featuring a unique split-screen four-camera setup will be available on GoAztecs.com.
> San Diego State is 5-2 in non-conference games this year after winning two of three contests against the University of San Diego (Feb. 19-21) and capturing three of four encounters with UC San Diego (Feb. 26-28).
QUICK HITS
> San Diego State (19-9, 14-7 MW) will aiming for its ninth series victory in the first 10 weeks of the season after winning two of three games in dramatic fashion last weekend at Fresno State.
> The Aztecs crafted another heart-stopping comeback in the opener of a doubleheader on April 17, scoring seven runs with two outs in the eighth inning to erase a 9-5 deficit, as the Scarlet and Black held on in the ninth for a 12-11 nail-biter.
>After dropping the nightcap of Saturday's twin bill, 5-3, SDSU overcame a 14-5 deficit in Sunday's finale with 16 runs over the last four innings to beat the Bulldogs going away, 21-14. The Aztecs set season highs in that contest with 23 hits and 19 RBIs, as well as their 21-run outburst. San Diego State out-hit Fresno State in that series, 46-32.
> With the victory, the Aztecs have scored 10 or more runs in 13 of 28 games this season, posting a 12-1 mark in those contests. By contrast, SDSU surpassed the double-digit plateau in runs 12 times in 57 games during its last full schedule in 2019.
> Entering this weekend's series, the Aztecs lead the nation with a .339 batting average and a scoring average of 9.3 runs per game while ranking fifth with a .419 on-base percentage. In addition, the Aztecs top the conference with 351 hits, which is best in the country for teams with 30 games played or less and is 18th overall.
> Individually, Jaden Fein ranks second in the nation with a .475 batting average and 2.04 hits per game while sharing the fourth spot with 57 hits overall. In addition, Matt Rudick is the toughest player to strike out in the country, fanning just three times in 122 at-bats while ranking second in hits per game (1.86) and runs per contest (1.46), as well as sixth in batting average (.426).
> For his efforts at Fresno State when he batted .600 with one homer, three doubles, six RBIs and five runs scored, Fein garnered his record fourth Mountain West Player of the Week accolade. On April 21, Fein also earned a spot on the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Midseason Watch List.
AZTEC WEEKEND ROTATION
> At press time, San Diego State has settled on two pitchers for this weekend's series vs. Dixie State. Troy Melton is scheduled to start game one of Saturday's doubleheader, while Ricky Tibbett is expected to get the call for Sunday's finale.
> Melton (3-3, 4.34 ERA) will be seeking his first win in five starts when he allowed just one run in seven innings vs. Air Force on March 20, when the Aztecs posted a 5-1 victory. In his most recent outing at Fresno State last weekend, the redshirt sophomore absorbed the loss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, yielding four runs on seven hits and one walk against six strikeouts in six innings of work. Entering the weekend against Dixie State, Melton ranks second in the Mountain West in both strikeouts (49) and inning pitched (47.2), sixth in opposing batting average (.228) and seventh in ERA (4.34). 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 at home 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, 5.97 ERA) will be looking to rebound from his shortest stint as a starter this season at Fresno State on April 18, when he allowed eight runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. However, the Aztec redshirt freshman did not figure in the decision after the Aztecs stormed back for a big 21-14 victory. Earlier this month vs. New Mexico on April 3, Tibbett combined for his first career shutout, giving up 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 six 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 RECORDS VS. CURRENT WAC MEMBERS
> This weekend's series vs. the Trailblazers will mark the first meetings between the two squads.
> San Diego State is 39-24 against current members of the Western Athletic Conference.
> Sacramento State is the WAC team that the Aztecs have encountered most frequently, posting a 19-13 record since 1990.
> In addition, SDSU is 12-7 vs. Grand Canyon, 4-0 against Seattle University, 2-2 vs. California Baptist, 1-1 against New Mexico State, 1-0 vs. Northern Colorado and 0-1 vs. UT Rio Grande Valley (formerly Texas-Pan American).
> The Aztecs faced two WAC opponents at home in 2019, sweeping Seattle in three-game series (6-5, 12-8, 11-5) before dropping a 5-2 decision to California Baptist.
> SDSU was scheduled to play New Mexico State in a home series last year; however, the three-game set was suspended due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the remainder of the 2020 campaign was ultimately canceled.
AZTECS AMONG NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
> After the first nine weeks of the 2021 campaign, the Aztecs find themselves among the NCAA statistical leaders in several categories. For teams with more than six games played, San Diego State leads the nation with a .339 team batting average and a scoring average of 9.3 runs per contest. In addition, the Scarlet and Black occupies the fifth spot with a .419 on-base percentage and is tied for 14th with 350 hits, which is tops in the country for schools that have played 30 games or less.
> Individually, Jaden Fein leads the nation with a .475 batting average and 2.04 hits per game and is tied for third with 57 hits overall. In addition, the Aztec right fielder ranks seventh with 1.46 RBIs per game and is tied for 13th with 41 RBIs overall. Meanwhile, Matt Rudick is the toughest player to strike out in the country, fanning just three times in 122 at-bats. Rudick, who climbed into sixth this week with a .426 batting average, also occupies the second spot nationally in both hits per game (1.86) and runs per contest (1.46). Elsewhere, Brian Leonhardt leads the country with seven sacrifice flies, while Mike Jarvis ranks ninth in hits per game (1.64).
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Jaden Fein still leads the Mountain West with a lofty .475 batting average, 57 hits, 41 RBIs and a .526 on-base percentage while sharing the top spot with 13 doubles.
> Fein also sits near the top of the conference perch in slugging percentage (3rd - .633), runs scored (4th - 30) and stolen bases (5th - 7).
> In addition, Matt Rudick leads the MW with 41 runs scored and 11 stolen bases while occupying the second spot in both batting average (.426) and hits (52). The Aztec center fielder is also tied for second in RBIs (32) while ranking fourth in on-base percentage (.486) and seventh in slugging percentage (.582).
> Meanwhile, Wyatt Hendrie shares the conference lead with seven homers and is tied for second in RBIs (32) as well. The SDSU catcher also ranks third in hits (35), eighth in slugging percentage (.581) and ninth in on-base percentage (.451) while tying for fifth in walks (15).
> Not to be outdone, Caden Miller has moved into third place this week with a .488 on-base percentage while ranking fourth in walks (16), fifth in runs scored (28), sixth in batting average (.386) and sixth in hits (39). The Aztec second baseman also shares the seventh spot with four stolen bases and is tied for ninth with 21 RBIs.
> Elsewhere, shortstop Mike Jarvis finds himself among the league leaders in runs scored (2nd - 37), stolen bases (T-2nd - 9), hits (3rd - 46), doubles (4th - 10), triples (T-4th - 2), RBIs (T-9th - 21) and home runs (T-10th - 3).
> In all, the Aztecs boast seven of the top 10 RBI producers, with Brian Leonhardt (T-2nd - 32) and Jacob Cruce (T-6th - 23) joining Fein, Rudick, Hendrie, Jarvis and Miller.
> Similarly, SDSU features six players among the MW leaders in runs scored, as Cruce ranks seventh with 26, trailing Rudick, Jarvis, Hendrie, Fein and Miller.
> On the mound, reliever Tre Brown shares the conference lead with four wins and ranks second with four saves, while starters Michael Paredes and Troy Melton are among a logjam of eight pitchers tied for third with three victories apiece.
> Melton also ranks second in both strikeouts (49) and inning pitched (47.2), sixth in opposing batting average (.228) and seventh in ERA (4.34).
> Meanwhile, Paredes tops the conference with 53.0 innings pitched and ranks fourth with 42 strikeouts (38) while occupying the ninth spot with a 4.42 ERA and a .257 opposing batting average. Additionally, he shares the seventh spot with fewest walks allowed (8).
> Not to be outdone, fellow righty Ricky Tibbett is tied for third with fewest walks allowed (6) and is tied for seventh with 33 strikeouts.
> 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 (.339), hits (351), runs (261), RBIs (235), total bases (481), stolen bases (37) and on-base percentage (.419). The Aztecs also occupy the second spot in the league this week in fewest strikeouts (143) and slugging percentage (.465).
> On the hill, SDSU pitchers lead the league with a .273 opposing team batting average and strikeouts (238) while ranking third in collective ERA (5.37).
DIXIE STATE AT A GLANCE
> The Trailblazers are in their first year of transitioning to NCAA Division I status as one of two new members of the Western Athletic Conference, joining Tarleton State.
> Dixie State competed at the Division II level from 2007-20, winning four Pacific West Conference championships (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015) to go with six straight appearances in the NCAA tournament from 2012-17.
> The Trailblazers posted a 15-3 record in the final Division II campaign in 2020 before the balance of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DSU was ranked ninth in the final D-II poll by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and 25th by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
> The Trailblazers (11-23, 9-11 WAC), who were picked eighth in the WAC preseason poll, find themselves in a tie for fifth place in league standings with a 9-11 record.
> Dixie State has dropped three straight, including a narrow 3-2 setback at Brigham Young in its last outing on April 20.
> The Trailblazers are 5-9 at home and 6-14 on the road this season.
> Individually, DSU has been paced by Kaden Hollow, who enters the weekend in the second spot among WAC leaders in batting average (.373), on-base percentage (.457) and slugging percentage (.645). The Trailblazer catcher also ranks third in the league in home runs (7), fourth in hits (41) and fifth in doubles (9). He also tops the squad with 28 RBIs.
> In addition, outfielder Lane Pritchard is the only other DSU regular to sport a batting average over .300, hitting at a .339 clip to go with three homers, 18 RBIs and a team-high nine stolen bases, which is tied for third in the WAC.
> Elsewhere, infielder Jake Engel is tied for third on the Trailblazers with a .284 batting average to go with three homers and 16 RBIs of his own. He also tops the squad with 11 doubles and shares the team lead of 17 walks with Hollow.
> On the mound, Dillon Holliday, who is projected to be the game one starter on Saturday, leads Dixie State with a 3-1 record, a 3.13 ERA and a .202 opposing batting average. He has compiled 20 strikeouts in 23.0 innings.
> In addition, probable game two starter Jimmy Borzone (2-4, 6.86 ERA) collected WAC Pitcher of the Week honors after tossing a no-hitter vs. Tarleton State on April 2. Borzone, who allowed just four batters to get aboard (3 HBP and 1 BB), struck out eight in the seven-inning contest, retiring the final 14 hitters, as the Trailblazers prevailed, 5-1.
> Entering the weekend, Dixie State ranks eighth in the WAC with a .258 team batting average; however, the Trailblazers occupy the fourth spot in their conference in slugging percentage (.400) and are tied for the fourth position in on-base percentage.
> As a staff, Dixie State pitchers also share the fourth position in the WAC with 246 straight but are last in both hits allowed (388) and team ERA (9.64).
> Chris Pfatenhauer is in his ninth season as head coach of the Trailblazer baseball program. Since arrival on the St. George, Utah, campus in 2013, Pfatenhauer's charges have never had a losing season and captured consecutive PacWest titles in 2014 and 2015 to go with five straight NCAA Division II West Regional appearances from 2013-17. Prior to assuming the reins at Dixie State, Pfatenhauer served as an assistant at Nevada (2010-12) and Chico State (2008-09). His record with the Trailblazers stands at 265-151-1 (.636).
GOING, GOING, GONE
> San Diego State has homered in 18 of 28 games this season, posting an 12-6 record in those contests.
> The Aztecs have emerged victorious in 33 of their last 47 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 28 games this season, while Jaden Fein owns a current streak of getting aboard in 16 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 11 games, with multiple hits in six, followed by Matt Rudick (9) and Caden Miller (6). Earlier, Fein crafted an 11-game hitting streak to open the season; Rudick had a 10-game string halted in the series vs. Air Force, while Mike Jarvis had a 10-game streak of his own snapped in the series finale against Nevada on April 11.
> Fein leads the Aztecs with multiple hits in 17 games, including a career-high six at Fresno State on April 18, and has had two or more RBIs in 13 games. In addition, Rudick and Jarvis have collected multiple hits in 16 games, followed by Miller (15) and Jacob Cruce (11), while Leonhardt has logged two or more RBIs in nine games this season, just ahead of Rudick (8) and Hendrie (8).
PRODUCTION AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE LINEUP
> Over the last 15 games, the duo of Matt Rudick and Caden Miller have posted a collective .462 batting average (54-117), combining for 39 runs, 37 RBIs and seven stolen bases.
> During that stretch, Rudick, the Aztecs' No. 2 hitter in the lineup all season, led the team in batting average (.470), RBIs (24), slugging percentage (.712) and on-base percentage (.542) while tying for the top spot in runs scored (22).
> In addition, Miller batted .451 in that span (23-51), adding 17 runs, 13 RBIs and three stolen bases. SDSU's No. 9 hitter throughout the year, Miller topped the squad with a .576 on-base percentage in that stretch.
> Not to be outdone, leadoff hitter Mike Jarvis tied Rudick for the top spot on the team with 22 runs scored over the past 15 games while ranking second with a .583 slugging percentage and 42 total bases.
> In addition, the Aztecs' No. 3 hitter Wyatt Hendrie has smacked a team-high three home runs in that span and tied Miller for third on the team with 17 runs scored.
OTHER TRENDS
> The Aztecs are 84-15 in their last 99 games when scoring five or more runs, including an 18-3 record already in 2021 after posting a 6-2 mark last year.
> San Diego State is 55-20 in its last 75 games following a loss, including an 8-1 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 28 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 has made 26 starts at catcher and one in left field, while Brian Leonhardt has logged 25 starts at designated hitter and one in left field as well.
TOUGH AT HOME
> Since the start of the 2012 season, San Diego State is 169-106 (.615) when playing at home, including a 13-6 mark this year.
> 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.
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 204-143 record (.588), highlighted by three Mountain West tournament championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. He has also posted a 103-73 ledger (.585) 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.