COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – San Diego State left-hander TJ Fondtain (Clovis Calif./Buchanan HS) was named Mountain West Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season as announced Monday by the conference office.
Fondtain was brilliant in his latest start vs. Air Force when he tossed a complete-game shutout, the first of his career, to key the Aztecs' 12-0 conquest on May 7.
With his effort, the Clovis, California, product became the first SDSU pitcher to record 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.
Against the Falcons last Saturday, Fondtain yielded just four hits without a walk and struck out seven batters, which was one short of his career high. The Aztec sophomore limited Air Force to a paltry .129 batting average (4-31) after it entered the contest with a .312 clip as a team and boasted three players with averages over .354.
In addition, Fondtain retired the side in five of nine innings and reached ball three in the pitching count just twice during the game. Not to be outdone, he allowed only two batters to reach second on doubles in the eighth and ninth inning, but he prevented further advance on both occasions to keep the shutout intact.
Though not a criterion for his award, Fondtain helped his own cause with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate, notching two doubles, an RBI and a run scored to help SDSU blank the Falcons for the first time since the 2013 campaign.
With his honor, Fondtain gave the Aztecs six weekly accolades this season after fellow hurler Troy Melton received the same award on April 25, while Alex Rodriguez (Feb. 21), Tyler Glowacki (March 7) and Shaun Montoya (April 18) each merited freshman of the week distinction.
Earlier this year, Fondtain was tabbed MW Pitcher of the Week after leading the Scarlet and Black to a 7-1 victory over Hawai'i in its home opener on Feb. 25.
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).
Fondtain and the Aztecs wrap up their regular-season home schedule this weekend when they play host to Nevada in a key three-game conference series, May 13-15, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.