Game Week Preview
San Diego State at Nevada
Don Weir Field at Peccole Park | Reno, Nev.
April 1-3, 2022
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, April 1 | 6 p.m. PT
SDSU: Troy Melton, RHP (0-1, 1.64 ERA, 11.0 IP)
NEV: Peyton Stumbo, RHP (4-0, 3.57 ERA, 22.2 IP)
Saturday, April 2 | 6 p.m. PT
SDSU: Kelena Sauer, RHP (1-4, 4.50 ERA, 28.0 IP)
NEV: Cam Walty, RHP (1-3, 5.23 ERA, 32.2 IP)
Sunday, April 3 | 1 p.m. PT
SDSU: TJ Fondtain, LHP (1-3, 4.30 ERA, 29.1 IP)
NEV: Casey Burfield, RHP (1-1, 8.44 ERA, 21.1 IP)
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR AZTEC BASEBALL
> San Diego State embarks on the second road trip of its Mountain West schedule this weekend when it travels to the Silver State for a three-game series against Nevada, April 1-3, at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park.
> The first two meetings with the Wolf Pack in Reno 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 links to both platforms available on GoAztecs.com.
SETTING THE SCENE
> SDSU will be looking to put the brakes on a four-game losing streak after dropping a 4-0 decision at home to UC San Diego on Tuesday night.
> Prior to the Aztecs-Tritons clash at Tony Gwynn Stadium, San Diego State held a moment of silence to honor Hall of Fame head coach Jim Dietz, who passed away on March 27 at the age of 83. Dietz guided the Aztec program for 31 seasons from 1972-2002, compiling a record of 1,231-750-18 (.620), which ranked seventh nationally among active Division I coaches at the time of his retirement.
> As a staff, Aztec pitchers lead the Mountain West in strikeouts (238), opposing team batting average (.242) and fewest hits allowed (199) while ranking second in team ERA (4.64).
> On the national stage, SDSU ranks 61st in the country with a league-leading strikeouts per nine innings.
> Individually, three Aztec pitchers find themselves among the conference leaders in ERA, including TJ Fondtain (4.30), who ranks seventh, while Kelena Sauer (4.50) occupies the ninth spot, followed by Jacob Flores (4.67), who is slotted 11th.
> In addition, the aforementioned trio has landed in the MW top 10 this week in opposing team batting average, led by Fondtain (2nd, .208), Flores (6th, .243) and Sauer (8th, .261).
> Not to be outdone, the SDSU triumvirate are also ranked near the top of the league in strikeouts, paced by Flores (6th, 30), Sauer (T-7th, 28) and Fondtain (10th, 24). Sauer also occupies the ninth position in fewest hits allowed (29).
> Aztec right-hander Troy Melton, who has missed the first three weeks of the 2022 campaign is expected to make his fourth consecutive start on Friday against Nevada. Melton was named to the preseason all-Mountain West team in February.
> Offensively, Caden Miller continues to be a bright spot for SDSU, hitting .429 over his last 10 games (15-35) with six RBIs and five runs scored. The Aztec shortstop tops the squad with a .341 average for the season and is tied for the conference lead with 10 stolen bases. Against UCSD on Tuesday, Miller set a career high with three stolen bases.
> As a team, SDSU leads the league with 29 stolen bases and 40 attempts while ranking second with 14 sacrifice bunts.
> Following this weekend's series with the Wolf Pack, SDSU will play host to Long Beach State on Tuesday, April 5, starting at 6 p.m. PT.
AZTEC WEEKEND ROTATION
> For the third consecutive weekend, San Diego State will employ the starting rotation of Troy Melton, Kelena Sauer and TJ Fondtain.
> Melton (0-1, 1.64 ERA) is slated to take the hill for Friday's series opener against the Wolf Pack. The Aztec right-hander made his third start of the year against Fresno State on March 25, striking out a season-high six batters in 4 1/3 innings. However, Melton was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on four hits and three walks. In his previous start at San José State on March 18, the Anaheim, California, native yielded two unearned runs on three hits and one walk against four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings, but did not factor in the decision. 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. For his efforts, he was named to the preseason all-MW team prior to the 2022 campaign.
> On Saturday, Kelena Sauer (1-4, 4.50 ERA) is expected to get the call for the Scarlet and Black after a four-inning stint against Fresno State on March 26, when he gave up five runs (one unearned) on five hits and three walks against only one strikeout, his lowest total of the year. Despite a victory drought in his last five starts, the Aztec right-hander still finds himself among the Mountain West leaders in several main categories this week, including strikeouts (T-7th, 28), ERA (9th, 4.50), opposing batting average (8th, .261), fewest hits allowed (8th, 24) and fewest walks allowed (T-13th, 16). Against UNLV at home on March 12, Sauer 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. On Feb. 19, he emerged as the winning pitcher in SDSU's 4-3 victory over Houston at the MLB4 Tournament. 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 (1-4, 4.30 ERA) is pegged to make his fourth straight start and seventh of the season in Sunday's series finale. In his previous start against Fresno State on March 27, the SDSU left-hander retired the first nine batters he faced until giving up three runs on two hits and three walks in the fateful fourth inning, as the Bulldogs ultimately prevailed 4-0. Fondtain 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, he still ranks eighth in the MW this week with 29.1 innings pitched. In addition, the Clovis, California, native finds himself among the conference leaders in opposing batting average (2nd, .208), fewest hits allowed (T-3rd, 22), ERA (7th, 4.30) and fewest walks allowed (T-8th, 12). 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. NEVADA
> The Wolf Pack lead the Aztecs 35-23 in the all-time series, which dates back to 1986.
> SDSU is 11-14 vs. Nevada in San Diego, 8-18 in Reno and 4-3 at a neutral site.
> The Wolf Pack won of five of six games from the Aztecs last season, including a series sweep in Reno that helped propel Nevada to the Mountain West regular-season championship.
> San Diego State last defeated Nevada at Peccole Park in an 11-3 triumph on April 7, 2019, capturing the series victory after claiming a 6-2 decision the previous day.
> In that series finale, Brian Leonhardt went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. In addition, Jacob Flores pitched the final two innings, yielding one run on two hits and walk while posting four strikeouts.
> During Mark Martinez's seven-year tenure as head coach on The Mesa, the Aztecs have compiled an 11-21 record vs. the Wolf Pack, including a 5-10 mark at home and a 6-11 ledger on the road.
> In Martinez's first year at the helm of the Aztecs in 2015, the Scarlet and Black defeated No. 23 Nevada, 9-7, on its home field at the Mountain West Championship, posting the second of five straight victories en route to the tournament crown.
> Caden Miller started all six games against the Wolf Pack last season, hitting .294 (5-17) with five runs scored and an RBI.
> Cole Carrigg also earned four starts vs. Nevada as a freshman in 2021, batting .273 (3-11) with two doubles, three RBIs and a run scored. He also pitched 1/3 of an inning at home on April 11, 2021.
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 21 games in the outfield (16 RF, 5 LF) and leads all SDSU rookies with a .268 batting average, 19 hits and seven RBIs while sharing the top spot on the squad with four doubles.
> Another outfielder Irvin Weems has started 13 of 17 games, including seven straight from March 19-27, batting .346 in that stretch (9-26) with four RBIs and five runs scored.
> In the second game of the MW series at San José State that was completed on March 20, 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 16 starts this season, including 13 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 12 of 24 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, Flores is occupies the sixth spot in the Mountain West with 30 strikeouts, followed by Sauer (T-7th, 28) and Fondtain (10th, 24).
> Collectively, San Diego State leads the Mountain West with 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranks 61st 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 SDSU'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 40-24 in their last 64 games when striking out 10 or more batters.
STREAKING AZTECS
> Tino Bethancourt, who has not played since getting hit by a pitch at UC San Diego on March 22, leads the team with a current seven-game hitting streak.
> 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.
> Caden Miller leads the Scarlet and Black with multiple hits in 10 games, accomplishing the feat in four of his last five starts.
> In addition, Cole Carrigg has recorded two RBIs one five occasions in his last 14 starts.
> Miller and Ruiz are the only two Aztecs to start all 24 games this year. Miller has made 24 starts at shortstop, while Ruiz has earned 19 starts at catcher and five 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, while Ruiz has batted third on 22 occasions and twice in the cleanup spot.
> In addition, Carrigg ranks third on the squad with 22 starts, including nine in both center and at second base, three at catcher and once each at pitcher and designated hitter.
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 63-36 in its last 99 games following a loss, including an 11-5 mark in 2021. The Scarlet and Black is off to a 5-13 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 12-8 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 220-169 record (.566), highlighted by three Mountain West tournament championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. He has also posted a 106-87 ledger (.549) 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.
Aztecs Ready for Road Series at Nevada This Weekend
