SAN DIEGO – San Diego State returns to the diamond on Tuesday when it battles UC San Diego in the second edition of the newly launched Trolley Series at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m. PT, and the contest can be heard over the air on XTRA Sports 1360 AM.
The Aztecs are projected to start left-hander Brian Leonhardt (0-0, 6.75 ERA), while the Tritons are expected to go with right-hander Cole Dale (0-0, 4.70 ERA).
An Eastlake High School alumnus, Leonhardt struck out a career-high eight batters in his only other start of the year vs. Hawai'i on Feb. 25. However, the SDSU junior did not factor in the decision after giving up three runs on three hits and three walks in four innings as the Rainbow Warriors ultimately prevailed 8-5 in a 15-inning affair.
Dale, meanwhile, recorded his longest stint of the year in a 7-0 defeat at home to Cal Poly on March 25, when he pitched the final three innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk. He also yielded two walks in the ninth inning against the Aztecs last Tuesday to finish the game.
San Diego State defeated UCSD 14-7 in La Jolla on March 22 in the first of four meetings between the two programs this year. In that contest, the Scarlet and Black set season highs with 14 runs and 14 hits to raise their record to 4-1 in their last five games vs. the Tritons and 24-4 in the all-time series dating back to 1971.
Eight of SDSU's nine position players recorded at least one hit, including Cole Carrigg and Caden Miller, the latter of whom tied his career high with four RBIs. In addition, the Aztecs had 11 players score at least one run, including late-inning substitutes Xavier Carter and Kenny LeBeau.
Trailing 4-3, San Diego State seized control in the top of the sixth with six runs on five hits, punctuated by Leonhardt's two-run double with two outs.
Despite their 5-18 record, the Aztecs' pitching staff enters the week leading the Mountain West in strikeouts (230) and opposing team batting average (.243) while ranking second in ERA (4.71). In addition, SDSU tops the conference with 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranks 57th in the country.
Offensively, the Aztecs have been paced this year by shortstop Caden Miller (.326, 2 HR, 12 RBIs) and utility player Cole Carrigg (.313, 3 2B, 13 RBIs), along with catcher Poncho Ruiz (.272, 4 2B, 11 RBIs).
At the start of the week, Miller occupies the second spot in the conference with seven stolen bases and ranks 11th with a .449 on-base percentage, while his 28 hits and .326 batting average are good for 16th and 17th, respectively. Carrigg also finds himself among the MW top 20 in hits (T-18th, 26) and average (.313, 20th).
Irvin Weems has reached base in seven straight games, tying for the team lead with Tino Bethancourt, who has been sidelined since last week after getting hit by a pitch at UCSD.
Miller, meanwhile, leads the Aztecs with multiple hits in eight games, just ahead of Carrigg's seven, followed by Leonhardt, Ruiz and Tyler Glowacki, all of whom have four.
San Diego State has had 19 of 37 players make their initial appearances in an Aztec uniform this season, including 10 true freshmen.
UCSD (8-15) dropped two of three games against Cal Poly this past weekend, suffering a 7-0 whitewash in the opener and a 4-2 setback in the finale, sandwiched around a 12-1 romp on Saturday.
Jalen Smith leads the Tritons with a .325 batting average, which ranks 15th in the Big West entering the week and shares the top spot on the team with 25 hits, which is tied for ninth in the conference, joining fellow infielder Michael Fuhrman and outfielder Austin Smith (no relation). In addition, Austin Smith (17) and outfielder Matt Halback (16) rank eighth and ninth in the Big West, respectively, in RBIs.
Collectively, the Tritons occupy the fourth spot in the league in home runs (18), slugging percentage (.412) and on-base percentage (.363) while ranking in RBIs (112) and runs scored (126).
On the mound, UCSD has landed in the seventh position in the Big West this week in ERA (5.13) and opposing batting average (.263) and has allowed the third-most walks (99) for the year.
Following Tuesday's clash, San Diego State travels to the Silver State to face Nevada in a three-game Mountain West series, April 1-3, at Peccole Park in Reno.
Aztecs to Renew Acquaintances with UCSD on Tuesday
