Game Week Preview
Fresno State at San Diego State
March 25-27, 2022
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, March 25 | 6 p.m. PT
FS: Ixan Henderson, LHP (4-1, 1.27 ERA, 28.1 IP)
SDSU: Troy Melton, RHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.2 IP)
Saturday, March 26 | 6 p.m. PT
FS: Jake Dixon, LHP (0-2, 2.83 ERA, 28.2 IP)
SDSU: Kelena Sauer, RHP (1-3, 3.75 ERA, 24.0 IP)
Sunday, March 27 | 1 p.m. PT
FS: Roman Angelo, RHP (1-0, 4.58 ERA, 19.2 IP)
SDSU: TJ Fondtain, LHP (1-2, 4.07 ERA, 24.1 IP)
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR AZTEC BASEBALL
> San Diego State resumes its Mountain West slate this weekend when it welcomes Fresno State to "America's Finest City" for a three-game series, March 25-27, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
> The first two encounters with the Bulldogs are scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m. PT, while Sunday's finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
> In addition to live stats, all three games will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network, with Nick Rice handling the play-by-play responsibilities. Links to both live stats and the MW Network will be available on GoAztecs.com.
SETTING THE SCENE
> SDSU snapped a seven-game slide on Tuesday with a big 14-7 victory at UC San Diego. In addition to their run production, the Aztecs set season highs with 14 hits and 12 RBIs vs. the Tritons.
> As a staff, Aztec hurlers lead the Mountain West with a 4.77 ERA and a .251 opposing team batting average entering the weekend while ranking second with 199 strikeouts and 174 hits allowed.
> On the national stage, SDSU ranks 64th in the country with an average of 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
> Individually, three Aztec pitchers find themselves among the conference leaders in ERA, including Kelena Sauer (3.75), who ranks sixth, while TJ Fondtain (4.07) occupies the seventh spot, followed by Jacob Flores (4.62), who is slotted 10th.
> In addition, Sauer has landed in the MW top 10 this week in ERA (6th, 3.75), strikeouts (T-6th, 27) and hits allowed (9th, 24).
> Not to be outdone, Fondtain ranks fifth with a .222 opposing team batting average and is tied for the fifth spot in fewest hits allowed (20).
> SDSU right-hander Troy Melton, who has missed the first three weeks of the 2022 campaign is expected to make his third consecutive start on Friday against Fresno State. Melton was named to the preseason all-Mountain West team in February.
> Offensively, utility player Cole Carrigg has hit safely in eight straight games, batting .429 during that span, to raise his season average from .263 to a team-high .347, which ranks 12th in the Mountain West.
> As a team, the Aztecs lead the league with 22 stolen bases and 31 attempts while ranking second with 12 sacrifice bunts.
> Comparatively through 20 games last season, SDSU recorded just two sacrifice bunts.
> Individually, Carrigg leads the MW with four sacrifice bunts, which is tied for 24th nationally, while Irvin Weems shares the second spot in the conference in that category with three.
> Elsewhere, Caden Miller is tied for the MW lead with six stolen bases, while Carrigg ranks fifth with five thefts of his own.
> Following this weekend's set vs. the Bulldogs, SDSU will play host to UC San Diego at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Tuesday, March 29 in the second of four installments in the newly christened Trolley Series. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. PT.
AZTEC WEEKEND ROTATION
> For the second consecutive weekend, San Diego State will utilize the starting rotation of Troy Melton, Kelena Sauer and TJ Fondtain.
> Melton (0-0, O.00 ERA) is expected to get the call for Friday's series opener against the Bulldogs. The Aztec right-hander made his second start of the season at San José State on March 18, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and one walk against four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Last season, Melton finished among the Mountain West leaders in several categories, including strikeouts (2nd – 83), innings pitched (4th – 73.1), opposing batting average (8th – .291), wins (T-10th – 4), ERA (11th – 6.14) and fewest walks allowed (T-15th – 30). He also issued one walk or less in eight starts. The Anaheim, California, native enjoyed one of his finest collegiate performances against Fresno State last year on March 7, 2021, when he recorded his first career shutout. In that contest, Melton matched his career best with nine strikeouts while allowing just four hits and one walk in the complete-game victory, as the Aztecs romped to a 17-0 triumph. For that effort vs. the Bulldogs, he was named MW Pitcher of the Week.
> On Saturday, Kelena Sauer (1-3, 3.75 ERA) is slated to take the hill for the Scarlet and Black after enduring his shortest stint of the season at San José State last weekend. In the 8-7 setback to the Spartans, the SDSU sophomore absorbed the loss after giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits and five walks in just 2 2/3 innings. Despite going winless in his last four starts, Sauer still finds himself among the Mountain West leaders in several main categories this week, including ERA (6th, 3.75), strikeouts (T-6th, 27) and fewest hits allowed (9th, 24). Against UNLV at home on March 12, the Aztec right-hander struck out a career-high nine batters and gave up just one hit through the first five innings but was pulled in the top of the sixth after issuing a leadoff walk. Last month, Sauer emerged as the winning pitcher in SDSU's 4-3 victory over Houston at the MLB4 Tournament on Feb. 19. Against the Cougars, the Mililani, Hawai'i, product fanned six batters over five innings, surrendering just one run on three hits and two walks. As a true freshman in 2021, Sauer posted a 1-0 record with a 4.20 ERA, one save and 19 strikeouts in 15.0 innings over 14 games. In addition, he held opponents scoreless in his first four appearances and eight for the year.
> Meanwhile, TJ Fondtain (1-2, 4.07 ERA) is projected to make his second straight start and fifth of the season in Sunday's series finale. The SDSU left-hander returned to the rotation at San José State on March 20 and went six innings to tie his season-long stint but did not factor in the decision after yielding five runs on six hits and one walk in six innings to go with a trio of strikeouts. Despite a bullpen appearance vs. UNLV on March 11, Fondtain still ranks ninth in the MW this week with 24.1 innings pitched. In addition, the Clovis, California, native finds himself among the conference leaders in opposing batting average (5th, .222), fewest hits allowed (T-5th, 20), ERA (7th, 4.07) and fewest walks allowed (7th, 9). Fondtain garnered Mountain West Pitcher of the Week accolades after collecting his first career victory in the Aztecs' 7-1 triumph over Hawai'i in the Tony Gwynn Legacy on Feb. 25. Against the Rainbow Warriors, he tallied a career-high seven strikeouts, allowing just one unearned run on a scant three hits and no walks in 6.0 innings.
SERIES RECORD VS. FRESNO STATE
> After winning four of six games against the Bulldogs last season, San Diego State owns a slim 106-105 advantage in the all-time series. The two programs first met in 1939.
> The Aztecs have faced Fresno State more than any other team in school history.
> SDSU is 51-53 against the Bulldogs in San Diego, 48-49 in Fresno and 7-3 at neutral sites.
> During Mark Martinez's eight-year tenure as head coach on The Mesa, SDSU is 16-16 vs. Fresno State, including a 7-8 mark at home, an 8-7 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 Championship, dropping the opener, 15-7, before rebounding in game four with a 7-6 victory in 10 innings en route to the capturing the tournament crown.
> The last time SDSU battled Fresno State at Tony Gwynn Stadium in March 2021, 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.
> Troy Melton tossed his first career complete-game shutout in SDSU's whitewash of the Bulldogs in game two of that twin bill, matching his collegiate-best with nine strikeouts against four hits and one walk. The Aztec right-hander gave up all four hits with the bases empty and allowed just one runner to advance to third throughout the game. For his efforts, Melton collected Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honors.
> In six games against Fresno State last season, Caden Miller batted .545 (12-22) with seven RBIs and eight runs scored.
> In addition, Brian Leonhardt hit .435 (10-23) vs. the Bulldogs last year with 10 RBIs and five runs scored.
TOUGH AT HOME
> Since the start of the 2012 season, San Diego State is 178-114 (.610) 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.
YOUTH SHALL BE SERVED
> In all, San Diego State has had 19 of 37 players make their initial appearances in an Aztec uniform this season, including 10 true freshmen.
> Tyler Glowacki, a true freshman from nearby Santana High School, has started 18 games in the outfield (13 RF, 5 LF) and leads all SDSU rookies with a .274 batting average, 17 hits and seven RBIs while sharing the top spot on the squad with four doubles.
> Another outfielder Irvin Weems has started 10 of 13 games, including the last four, batting .412 in that stretch (7-17) with four RBIs and four runs scored.
> In last Saturday's contest at San José State that was completed the following day due to rain, Weems went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored, highlighted by his first collegiate homer, a two-run shot in the eighth. In the series finale against the Spartans, the Las Vegas native added two more hits and swiped his first career base.
> After sitting out the 2021 campaign as a redshirt, Johnny Giannola has made 15 starts this season, including 12 in left field and three at designated hitter. The Dana Point, California, native has had three games with multiple hits thus far, including the Aztecs' 7-1 triumph over Hawai'i in the Tony Gwynn Legacy on Feb. 25, when he scored two runs and drove in another. Giannola has two triples this season, which is tied for third in the Mountain West.
STRIKEOUTS GALORE
> San Diego State has recorded double-digit strikeouts in 11 of 20 games this year, including a season-high 21 vs. Hawai'i in 15 innings on Feb. 28.
> Jonny Guzman and Kelena Sauer share the team's single-game high this year with nine strikeouts, marking career bests for both players. Guzman fanned nine hitters in his first collegiate start at UC Irvine on Feb. 22, while Sauer accomplished the feat against UNLV on March 12.
> In addition, two other Aztec starters have compiled career-best strikeout totals already this season: TJ Fondtain (7 vs. Hawai'i, Feb. 25) and Jacob Flores (7 vs. Utah, Feb. 27).
> Entering the weekend, SDSU leads the Mountain West with 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranks 64th in the nation.
> SDSU recorded 27 games with 10 or more strikeouts during the 2019 campaign, marking the most double-digit strikeout performances for the Scarlet and Black 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, 2019.
> Last season, the Scarlet and Black registered 10 or more strikeouts in 18 games, notching a 15-3 record in those contests.
> The Aztecs posted double-digit strikeouts in their last six home games of the 2021 campaign, including a combined 33 Ks in their three-game sweep over San José State, May 8-9, 2021.
> Previously, in San Diego State's sweep of Dixie State, April 24-25, 2021, Trailblazer hitters were punched out 42 times during the series, including 15 in the doubleheader opener, which marked a season-high for the SDSU staff.
> During the shortened 2020 season, the SDSU pitching staff completed 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 40-23 in their last 63 games when striking out 10 or more batters.
STREAKING AZTECS
> Cole Carrigg has reached base safely in 10 consecutive games and owns the team's longest current hitting streak of eight straight outings. During that span, the Turlock, California, native has hit .429, raising his season batting average from .263 to .347.
> Tino Bethancourt has hit safely in seven straight games, followed by Caden Miller (6) and Irvin Weems (4).
> Poncho Ruiz had his nine-game hitting streak snapped in the second game of the Arizona State series on March 6. Ruiz's streak marks the team's longest this season.
> Carrigg and Miller lead the Scarlet and Black with multiple hits in seven games. In fact, Carrigg has compiled three hits on three occasions in his last 10 outings.
> Not to be outdone, Carrigg has recorded two RBIs in back-to-back games and five times in his last 10 starts.
> Miller and Ruiz are the only two Aztecs to start all 20 games this year. Miller has made 20 starts at shortstop, while Ruiz has earned 16 starts at catcher and four at designated hitter.
> As the team's leadoff hitter, Miller is the lone Aztec to appear in the same spot in the batting order throughout the season.
> In addition, Carrigg, Bethancourt and Tyler Glowacki are tied for the third on the squad with 18 starts apiece. Carrigg has made nine starts in center, five at second base, three at catcher and once each at pitcher and designated hitter. Bethancourt has cracked the starting lineup 10 times at first base and on eight occasions at third. Glowacki, meanwhile, has earned 13 starts in right field and five in left.
OTHER TRENDS
> The Aztecs are 97-23 in their last 120 games when scoring five or more runs, including a stellar 29-6 record last year after posting a 6-2 mark in 2020.
> San Diego State is 63-33 in its last 96 games following a loss, including an 11-5 mark in 2021. The Scarlet and Black is off to a 5-10 start this season in games following a loss.
> Since allowing three runs in the top of the ninth to then-No. 17 TCU in the season opener, SDSU has won four straight games when leading after eight innings.
> The Aztecs are 3-5 so far this year in one-run games, recording all three victories in that category by 4-3 scores.
> San Diego State has posted a 12-7 record in Sunday games since the start of the 2021 campaign.
HEAD COACH MARK MARTINEZ
> Mark Martinez is in his eighth season as head coach of the Aztecs and 17th 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 220-165 record (.571), highlighted by three Mountain West tournament championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. He has also posted a 106-78 ledger (.576) 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 49 SDSU players get drafted into the professional ranks, with 10 of those selections making 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 College (now Colorado Mesa) with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1984 and completed his master's in sports administration at New Mexico in 1990.
> During the offseason, Martinez signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him at San Diego State through the 2026 season.