Game Week Preview
Nevada at San Diego State
May 13-15, 2022
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, May 13 | 6 p.m. PT
NEV: Peyton Stumbo, RHP (5-1, 5.84 ERA, 57.0 IP)
SDSU: Troy Melton, RHP (4-2, 1.55 ERA, 52.1 IP)
Saturday, May 14 | 6 p.m. PT
NEV: Cam Walty, RHP (5-4, 5.13 ERA, 72.0 IP)
SDSU: TJ Fondtain, LHP (2-6, 4.91 ERA, 58.2 IP)
Sunday, May 15 | 1 p.m. PT
NEV: Kade Morris, RHP (5-4, 4.40 ERA, 47.0 IP)
SDSU: Chris Canada, LHP (2-0, 4.73 ERA, 40.0 IP)
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR AZTEC BASEBALL
> San Diego State closes out the home portion of its 2022 regular-season campaign this weekend when it squares off against Nevada, May 13-15, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
> The Aztecs and Wolf Pack will lock horns at 6 p.m. PT on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday's finale is set to get underway at 1 p.m.
> In addition to live stats, all three games will feature a live stream via the Mountain West Network, with links to both platforms available on GoAztecs.com.
> Prior to Sunday's contest, the Scarlet and Black will celebrate the accomplishments of Trevor Hazelhurst, Deron Johnson, Kenny LeBeau, Brian Leonhardt, Troy Melton and team manager Justin Lawrence in a special ceremony highlighting Senior Day festivities.
> Following this weekend's action, San Diego State wraps up its regular-season slate when it travels to Sin City to battle UNLV, May 19-21, at Earl Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
SETTING THE SCENE
> SDSU is coming off its third consecutive Mountain West series victory after winning two of three games against Air Force, May 6-8, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
> The Aztecs experienced a disappointing 10-8 defeat in the opener before rebounding with a 12-0 conquest in game two, followed by a thrilling 7-6 comeback victory in 12 innings in last Sunday's finale.
> With the results, SDSU finds itself four games behind fourth-place Fresno State with six games remaining in the regular season. The top four teams in the conference qualify for the MW Championship, May 26-29, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
> Against the Falcons last Saturday, Aztec left-hander TJ Fondtain tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits without a walk to earn Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this spring.
> As of May 11, Aztec pitchers continue to lead the Mountain West in several categories, including ERA (4.85), fewest hits allowed (439) and opposing team batting average (.254).
> On the national stage, SDSU ranks 67th in hits allowed per nine innings (8.83), 72nd in strikeouts per nine innings (9.3) and 94th in ERA.
> This season, the Aztecs have been running with reckless abandon on the base paths, tying for 39th in the country with a league-best 75 stolen bases.
> Individually, sophomore Cole Carrigg owns an 11-game hitting streak and has raised his batting average to .393, which is tied for third in the MW and tied for 28th nationally. In addition, the SDSU utility player ranks second in the league with 19 stolen bases, which is tied for 68th in the country.
> Since April 1, Carrigg has hit safely in 23 of 25 games, hitting .471 (49-104) with 21 RBIs, 20 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. The Turlock, California, native has posted multiple hits in 16 starts during that span, including a 6-for-6 effort with four RBIs at New Mexico on April 15. Consequently, Carrigg has raised his season batting average from .299 to .393 in that stretch.
AZTEC WEEKEND ROTATION
> For the sixth straight week, San Diego State will utilize the starting rotation of Troy Melton, TJ Fondtain and Chris Canada.
> Melton (4-2, 1.55 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for Friday's series opener against the Wolf Pack. In his last start vs. Air Force on May 6, the Aztec right-hander set a career-high with 11 strikeouts, which marked the highest total by an SDSU hurler since Bubba Derby fanned 15 batters against the same Falcon program on April 4, 2014. However, Melton did not figure in the decision in that start, as Air Force rallied for a 10-8 victory following his departure. Against Grand Canyon on April 22, the Aztec junior tossed his second complete game as a collegian, lifting the Scarlet and Black to a 2-1 triumph. With his performance that featured just one unearned run, Melton garnered Mountain West Pitcher of the Week accolades for the third time in his career. Earlier on April 1, Melton picked up his first victory of the year at Nevada after yielding just one unearned run on four hits and one walk in a season-long seven innings. He collected six strikeouts for the second straight outing and limited Wolf Pack to a combined .160 batting average (4-25), as the Scarlet and Black rolled to a 13-1 conquest. Melton faced Nevada twice during the 2021 campaign, posting an 0-1 record with a 7.71 ERA and seven strikeouts. Entering the weekend, the Anaheim, California, native leads the conference in ERA (1.55) and opposing batting average (.222), while his strikeout total (56) is tied for fifth.
> TJ Fondtain (2-6, 4.91 ERA) is scheduled to make his ninth consecutive start and 12th of the year on Saturday against the Wolf Pack. Last Saturday vs. Air Force, the Aztec left-hander turned in a masterful performance, tossing a complete-game shutout to snap an eight-start victory drought. Fondtain yielded just four hits without a walk while posting seven strikeouts, becoming the first SDSU hurler to pitch a complete-game shutout since Justin Goossen-Brown accomplished the feat in an 8-0 whitewash of New Mexico at home on May 16, 2019. With his effort, the Clovis, California, native garnered Mountain West Pitcher of the Week accolades for the second time this season. For the season, Fondtain ranks among the Mountain West leaders in several categories this week, including opposing batting average (5th, .240), fewest hits allowed (7th, 55), fewest earned runs allowed (T-7th, 32), earned run average (8th, 4.91) and innings pitched (8th, 58.2). Last month, he posted a career-high eight strikeouts in just 4 2/3 innings vs. San José State on April 9, but did not factor in the decision. Fondtain has recorded five or more strikeouts on three other occasions, including a start against Fresno State when he fanned six Bulldogs in five innings on March 27. The Aztec sophomore received MW Pitcher of the Week recognition after collecting his first career victory in SDSU's 7-1 triumph over Hawai'i in the Tony Gwynn Legacy on Feb. 25. Against the Rainbow Warriors, he tallied a then career-high seven strikeouts, allowing just one unearned run on a scant three hits and no walks in 6.0 innings.
> Meanwhile, Chris Canada (2-0, 4.72 ERA) is projected to make his seventh career start in Sunday's finale vs. Nevada. The Aztec left-hander registered his second career win on May 1 at Fresno State after yielding three runs on two hits and four walks in five innings of work, as the Scarlet and Black downed the Bulldogs, 8-5. Last Sunday, Canada matched his career-high with seven strikeouts, offsetting five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings but not factor in the decision before the Aztecs rallied for a 7-6 triumph in 12 innings. The SDSU freshman collected his first collegiate victory in the Aztecs' 5-1 victory over Long Beach State at home on April 5, after recording a personal-best seven strikeouts in five scoreless innings during which he scattered three and a pair of walks. Against San José State on April 10, Canada completed a season-long stint of 6 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on three hits and a trio of walks but did not figure in the decision in that contest as well. A 2021 alumnus of Orange Lutheran High School, Canada earned all-CIF Division I honors as a senior after helping the Lancers reach the semifinals of both the CIF Southern Section playoffs and the CIF regional championships. During his final prep campaign, he posted an 8-0 record with a 1.39 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 72.0 innings while collecting two saves and limiting the opposition to a .159 batting average, In addition, Canada garnered all-Trinity League accolades and competed in the Orange County All-Star Game.
SERIES RECORD VS. NEVADA
> After dropping two of three games to the Wolf Pack in Reno, April 1-3, San Diego State trails the all-time series 24-37. The two programs first met in 1986.
> SDSU is 11-14 vs. Nevada in San Diego, 9-20 in Reno and 4-3 at a neutral site.
> During Mark Martinez's eight-year tenure as head coach on The Mesa, the Aztecs have compiled an 12-23 record vs. the Wolf Pack, including a 5-10 mark at home and a 7-13 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.
> In last month's showdown with the Wolf Pack, SDSU rolled to a 13-1 conquest in the opener before dropping the final two encounters by scores of 12-6 and 8-6.
> Poncho Ruiz led the Aztecs with seven hits and 12 total bases in that series, compiling a .467 batting average and an .800 slugging percentage, highlighted by a homer, two doubles and four runs scored.
> In addition, Cole Carrigg hit .429 that weekend (6-14) with two doubles and a pair of stolen bases, while Brian Leonhardt totaled six RBIs.
> In addition, Cole Carrigg hit .429 (6-14) with two doubles and a pair of stolen bases in that series, while Trevor Hazelhurst garnered three starts at first base, batting .333 (4-12) with two RBIs, highlighted by a solo homer in the Aztecs 13-1 rout in the opener.
OFFENSE HEATING UP SINCE APRIL 1
> Although more improvement is needed, San Diego State has been producing higher offensive totals since April 1, posting a slash line of .286/.373/.406 and 46 stolen bases to help forge an 11-15 record in that stretch.
> In the first 24 games of the season, the Aztecs compiled a slash line of .226/.334/.304 with 29 steals, recording a 5-19 mark in that span.
> In addition, the Scarlet and Black has scored 5.88 runs per game since April 1, compared to an average of 3.96 runs prior that date.
> Individually, SDSU has been led by Cole Carrigg (.471/.509/.577, 1 HR, 8 2B, 21 RBIs, 14 SB) during that stretch, followed by Poncho Ruiz (.347/.509/.577, 4 HR, 6 2B, 19 RBI, 27 R, 3 SB).
> Not to be outdone, TJ Fondtain (.424/.457/.848, 2 HR, 6 2B, 9 RBIs, 6 R) has given the Aztecs a boost at the plate with seven starts at designated hitter and one in left field since April 1.
AZTECS AMONG NATION'S BEST AT THE PLATE
> Despite its slow start this year, San Diego State has demonstrated historical success at the plate over the previous eight seasons, ranking 10th nationally with a collective batting average of .296 between 2014-21.
> With their performance, the Aztecs trail Morehead State (.310), Jackson State (.308), UNC Greensboro (.308), New Mexico (.305), New Mexico State (.305), Arizona (.301). Bryant (.299), Tennessee Tech (.298) and Air Force (.297) during that span.
> Last season, SDSU finished with a team batting average of .335, which ranked second in the country.
STREAKING AZTECS
> Poncho Ruiz has reached base in 20 consecutive games since April 9, matching Irvin Weems for the team's longest streak this season. Weems had his 20-game streak snapped last Saturday vs. Air Force.
> Cole Carrigg has hit safely in 11 straight games since April 21, raising his batting average from .360 to .393, which ranks fourth in the Mountain West. Ruiz also compiled a season-best 11-game hitting streak from April 19 to May 6.
> In addition, Carrigg leads the Scarlet and Black with multiple hits in 23 games, accomplishing the feat in two straight outings and 12 of his last 16 starts, followed by Caden Miller (15), Ruiz (13) and Brian Leonhardt (13).
> A sophomore utility player, Carrigg became just the second Aztec player in the last six seasons to record six hits in a single game (Jaden Fein - 2021) when he notched a career-high 6-for-6 effort at New Mexico on April 15.
> In addition, Carrigg tops the squad with multiple RBIs in 11contests, highlighted by the aforementioned performance vs. the Lobos, where he set a collegiate best with four runners driven in.
> Ruiz has started all 49 games he has played, sitting out just one contest vs. CSUN on May 4., The SDSU sophomore has earned 40 starts at catcher and nine at designated hitter. In addition, Ruiz has batted third in 47 games and twice in the cleanup position.
> Miller, meanwhile, has missed just two games this year, making 34 consecutive starts before sitting out the series finale at New Mexico on April 17. The SDSU sophomore did not start the CSUN game, but entered later in the contest as a pinch hitter. Miller has started 16 of the last 20 games at second base after playing exclusively at shortstop.
> Additionally, Carrigg ranks third on the squad with 47 position starts, including 18 at shortstop, 14 at second base, nine in center field, five at catcher and one at designated hitter.
NEVADA AT A GLANCE
> The Wolf Pack (25-21, 15-9 MW), who occupy the second spot in the conference standings, are coming off a series victory over New Mexico at home last weekend.
> Against the Lobos, Nevada dropped a 17-10 decision in game two, sandwiched between an 18-10 victory in the opener and a 13-4 triumph in the finale.
> The Wolf Pack are 13-6 at home this season and 12-15 on the road.
> Offensively, Nevada is led by Joshua Zamora, who sports a team-best .366 batting average, which ranks eighth in the Mountain West. The Wolf Pack infielder also finds himself among the conference leaders in RBIs (2nd, 61), slugging percentage (3rd, .645), on-base percentage (4th, .474), home runs (4th, 11) and walks (4th, 33).
> Five additional Nevada regulars sport batting averages over .300, including utility player Landon Wallace (.359), outfielder Anthony Flores (.345), outfielder Patrick Caulfield (.332), infielder Ryan Jackson (.313) and outfielder Jacob Stinson (.306).
> Entering the weekend, Wallace ranks second in the conference with a .491 on-base percentage and ninth in batting average.
> Elsewhere, Caulfield leads the league with 21 stolen bases and shares the top spot with seven sacrifice flies, while Stinson ranks fifth with 13 steals of his own.
> Zamora and Caulfield are the only two players to start all 46 games for the Wolf Pack this season, while outfielder Dario Gomez has earned a starting nod in 45 of 46 appearances.
> Collectively, Nevada occupies the second spot in the Mountain West in batting average (.313), on-base percentage (.408) and stolen bases (57), while ranking third in hits (525), runs scored (400) and RBIs (367) to go with a fourth-place standing in slugging percentage (.483).
> The Wolf Pack are projected to employ the starting rotation of right-handers Peyton Stumbo, Cam Walty and Kade Morris, all of whom are tied for eighth in the Mountain West with five victories apiece.
> Stumbo (5-1, 5.84 ERA) will be making his seventh start of the season on Friday after pitching a season-long seven innings in Nevada's aforementioned 18-10 conquest of New Mexico at home on May 6. Against the Lobos, the Auburn, California, native was credited with the victory after yielding four runs (two earned) on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out six batters. Stumbo also pitched in the series opener against the Aztecs in Reno on April 1 but was tagged with the loss after surrendering nine runs on 13 hits and two walks against only three strikeouts. Entering the weekend, he is tied for fifth in the MW in fewest walks allowed (18).
> Walty (5-4, 5.13 ERA), who is projected to take the mound on Saturday, leads the conference with 72.0 innings pitched and is tied for fifth with 56 strikeouts while ranking 10th in ERA (5.13). In his last start, the Elk Grove, California, product was rocked for 13 runs (9 earned) in 3 2/3 innings against New Mexico last Saturday before Nevada dropped a 17-10 decision. Prior to that outing, Walty tossed a complete-game shutout at Arizona on April 30, when he offset three hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Walty also earned the victory against in the Wolf Pack's 12-6 win over the Aztecs on April 2, despite giving up four runs on eight hits and three walks against five strikeouts in six innings.
> Morris (5-4, 4.40 ERA), who is expected to start on Sunday at SDSU, ranks sixth in the MW with a 4.40 ERA and seventh with a .260 batting average. A native of Turlock, California, Morris pitched a season-long eight innings against New Mexico last Sunday, earning the victory after ceding four runs on five hits and one walk to go with six strikeouts, as Nevada posted a 13-4 rout. He was also credited with the win in relief against the Aztecs on April 3, despite giving up two runs on four hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings, as the Wolf Pack outlasted the Scarlet and Black, 8-6.
> As a staff, Nevada pitchers have allowed the third-fewest hits in the Mountain West (485) while ranking fourth in opposing team batting average (.294) and fifth in ERA (6.64). In addition, the Wolf Pack have struck out the second-fewest hitters in the league thus far (316).
> Head coach T.J. Bruce is in his seventh season at the controls of the Wolf Pack program. His record at Nevada stands at 167-161, including a 126-78 mark in conference play. Prior to his arrival on the Reno campus, Bruce served a five-year stint as an assistant coach at UCLA from 2011-15 after spending four seasons in a similar capacity at his alma mater Long Beach State from 2007-10.
STRIKEOUTS GALORE
> San Diego State has recorded double-digit strikeouts in 21 of 50 games this year, including a season-high 21 vs. Hawai'i in 15 innings on Feb. 28.
> Troy Melton fanned a career-best 11 hitters in his last outing against Air Force on May 6, marking the highest total by an Aztec pitcher this season and the most since Bubba Derby struck out 15 batters against the same Falcon program on April 4, 2014.
> Last month, Melton also posted 10 strikeouts in a home start against San José State on April 8, marking the first double-digit total since Logan Boyer also struck out 10 batters vs. San Francisco on Feb. 15, 2019.
> Following Melton are Jonny Guzman add Kelena Sauer, both of whom posted career-high strikeouts with nine Ks apiece. 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, four other Aztec hurlers have compiled career-best totals with over five strikeouts this season: TJ Fondtain (8 vs. San José State, April 9), Jacob Flores (7 vs. Utah, Feb. 27), Jadon Bercovich (7 vs. Hawaii, Feb.28), Chris Canada (7 vs. Long Beach State, April 5 & vs. Air Force, May 8 ) and Hunter Hargett (6 at UC San Diego, April 19).
> Entering the weekend, Melton is tied for fifth in the Mountain West with 56 strikeouts, while Fondtain (48) and Guzman (47) rank 12th and 13th, respectively.
> Collectively, San Diego State ranks second in the conference with 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranks 72nd in the nation as of May 11.
OTHER TRENDS
> The Aztecs are 106-29 in their last 135 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 70-44 in its last 114 games following a loss, including an 11-5 mark in 2021. The Scarlet and Black is off to an 12-22 start this season in games following a loss.
> SDSU snapped a 28-game losing streak when trailing after eight innings on May 8, when it rallied for a 7-6 triumph over
> The Aztecs are 7-5 so far this year in one-run games, recording four of their six victories in that category by 4-3 scores.
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 229-185 record (.553), highlighted by three Mountain West tournament championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
> 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 Wrap Up Homestand vs. Nevada This Weekend
