SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State hits the road for its final series of the season this week when it ventures to Sin City to battle first-place UNLV, May 19-21, at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aztecs and Rebels will square off at 6:05 p.m. PT on Thursday and Friday, while Saturday's finale is set to get underway at 12:05 p.m.
Live stats and streaming video will be available for all three games, including a feed via the Mountain West Network for Saturday's finale. Links to all platforms can be found on GoAztecs.com.
SETTING THE SCENE
> SDSU dropped two of three games in its final home series of the year vs. Nevada last weekend at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
> The Aztecs were dealt a 6-3 defeat in the opener before rebounding with a 9-2 triumph in game two. However, the Scarlet and Black was denied its fourth straight Mountain West series victory when the Wolf Pack pulled away for a 10-3 win to spoil SDSU's Senior Day festivities.
> With their results, the Aztecs were eliminated from the MW Championship later this month in San Diego, as the top four teams qualify for the conference's postseason tournament. San Diego State is tied with New Mexico for sixth place, four games behind Air Force and Fresno State, which are tied for fourth with three games remaining.
> Against Nevada last Saturday, Aztec left-hander TJ Fondtain tossed his second complete game in a row, matching his career-high with eight strikeouts to garner his second straight Mountain West Pitcher of the Week accolade and third of the spring.
> As of May 18, Aztec pitchers continue to lead the Mountain West in several categories, including ERA (4.86), fewest hits allowed (465) and opposing team batting average (.255).
> On the national stage, SDSU ranks 65th in hits allowed per nine innings (8.80), 82nd in strikeouts per nine innings (9.1) and 87th in ERA.
> This season, the Aztecs have been running with reckless abandon on the basepaths, tying for 48th in the country with a league-best 76 stolen bases.
> Individually, sophomore Cole Carrigg owns a 14-game hitting streak and has raised his batting average to .398, which is good for third in the MW and 22nd nationally. In addition, the SDSU utility player ranks second in the league with 19 stolen bases, which is tied for 82nd in the country.
> Since April 1, Carrigg has hit safely in 26 of 28 games, hitting .474 (54-114) with 25 RBIs, 23 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. The Turlock, California, native has posted multiple hits in 18 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 .398 in that stretch.
SERIES RECORD VS. UNLV
> Despite dropping all three games to the Rebels in San Diego, March 11-13, San Diego State still leads the all-time series 96-71. The two programs first met in 1978.
> The Aztecs are 48-24 against the Rebels in San Diego, 45-41 in Las Vegas and 3-6 at neutral sites.
> During Mark Martinez's eight-year tenure as head coach on The Mesa, SDSU sports a 21-16 record vs. UNLV, including a 12-8 mark at home, an 8-7 ledger on the road and a 1-1 record on neutral fields.
> Earlier this season, the Aztecs were victimized by late rallies in their three meetings against the Rebels, who posted scores of 5-2, 4-3 and 10-8 to complete the sweep.
> In the series opener, UNLV overcame a 2-1 deficit with a two-run single in the seventh, followed by solo homers in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to escape with the win.
> In game two, SDSU built a 3-0 advantage, but the Rebels combined for four runs between the sixth and eighth innings to hand the Scarlet and Black a heart-breaking defeat.
> UNLV duplicated the feat in the series finale, crafting a six-run blitz in the eighth inning to erase a 6-4 deficit.
> Cole Carrigg hit a team-high .538 in that series, leading the Aztecs with seven hits, including two doubles, to go with four runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.
> In addition, Poncho Ruiz batted .500 that weekend (4-8) with a double and three RBIs while drawing three walks to lead the squad with a .615 on-base percentage.
> SDSU pitchers posted 36 strikeouts in that series, including 18 in game two alone, while limiting the Rebels to a .221 batting average for the weekend. However, the Aztecs were plagued by a combined 17 walks, nine wild pitches and six hit batters.
> In seven career games vs. UNLV, Carrigg is batting .400 (10-25) with four RBIs and seven runs scored.
UNLV AT A GLANCE
> Entering the final weekend of the regular season, the Rebels (34-19, 19-8 MW) sit atop the conference standings with a two-game lead over second-place Nevada (26-22, 17-10 MW).
> UNLV captured two of three games at Fresno State last weekend, splitting a pair of 11-inning thrillers (9-8, 7-8) before recording a big 13-7 victory in the finale.
> The Rebels sport a 16-11 record at home, a 15-6 mark on the road and a 3-2 ledger at a neutral site.
> As of May 18, UNLV leads the nation with a .334 batting average, 675 hits, 137 doubles and 505 runs scored, while ranking third in scoring (9.5 runs/game), sixth in on-base percentage (.422) and 10th in slugging percentage (.530).
> Individually, the Rebels boast four players among the Mountain West top 10 in batting average, including infielder Rylan Charles (2nd, .398), followed by outfielders Henry Zeisler (4th, .393), Santino Panaro (7th, .363) and Joey Walls (8th, .361). Not to be outdone, infielder Diego Alarcon (.355) and outfielder Austin Kryszczuk (.352) have also hit over .350 for the season.
> Charles (94 hits) and Walls (25 doubles) lead the nation in their respective statistical categories, while Kryszczuk (2nd, 72 runs), Alarcon (3rd, 71 runs; 4th, 1.37 runs/game; T-10th, 81 hits), Zeisler (T-10th, 81 hits, 67 RBIs) and infielder Edarian Williams (T-19th, 63 RBIs) also find themselves among the NCAA top 20 this week.
> Conversely, the UNLV pitching staff ranks fourth with a 6.57 ERA and sixth with a .319 opposing batting average. In addition, the Rebels have allowed a league-high 72 home runs this season.
> The Rebels' projected pitching rotation for the series has not been determined at press time.
> Right-hander Josh Ibarra has been one of UNLV's top pitchers this season, posting a 6-1 record with a 5.53 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 68.1 innings. The Rebel senior enters the week ranked fourth in the Mountan West in strikeouts and fifth in innings pitched while tying for the fifth position in wins.
> Despite a modest 6.13 ERA, sophomore right-hander Noah Beal (7-1, 50 SO) is tied for third in the conference in victories, while fellow classmate and left-hander Josh Sharman (3-4, 6.65 ERA) is eighth with 55 strikeouts.
> In addition, another sophomore lefty, Noah Mattera (6.33 ERA) sports a 5-0 record in 10 starts this year, adding 51 strikeouts, while junior right-handed reliever Troy Balko (2-3, 6.17 ERA, 37 SO) is tied for third in the league with five saves, followed by fellow classmate Hayden Nierman (2-0, 4.75 ERA, 32 SO), who shares the sixth spot with four saves of his own.
> UNLV is guided by eighth-year head coach Stan Stolte, who served as the program's associate head coach from 2011-15. Prior to his arrival in Las Vegas, Stolte spent 14 seasons on the staff at Nevada, including the last three as the Wolf Pack's associate head coach. He also worked as an assistant coach for seven years at the University of the Pacific and coached at Northwest Missouri State. During his career, Stolte has coached 115 players who have signed professional contracts, including 17 that made their way to the Major Leagues.
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 .284/.372/.407 and 47 stolen bases to help forge a 12-17 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 5.79 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 (.474/.516/.614, 2 HR, 10 2B, 25 RBIs, 14 SB) during that stretch, followed by Poncho Ruiz (.355/.441/.536, 4 HR, 8 2B, 20 RBIs, 30 R, 3 SB).
> Not to be outdone, TJ Fondtain (.405/.432/.762, 2 HR, 7 2B, 10 RBIs, 7 R) has given the Aztecs a boost at the plate with seven starts at designated hitter and one in left field since April 1.
STREAKING AZTECS
> Poncho Ruiz has reached base in 22 consecutive games since April 9, marking the team's longest streak this season. Irvin Weems had his 20-game streak snapped vs. Air Force on May 7.
> Cole Carrigg has hit safely in 14 straight games since April 21, raising his batting average from .360 to .398, which ranks third 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 25 games, accomplishing the feat in 14 of his last 19 starts, followed by Caden Miller (15), Ruiz (14) 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 12 contests, highlighted by the aforementioned performance vs. the Lobos, where he set a collegiate best with four runners driven in.
> Ruiz has started 51 of 52 games he has played, sitting out just one contest vs. CSUN on May 4. The SDSU sophomore has earned 42 starts at catcher and nine at designated hitter. In addition, Ruiz has batted third in 49 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 19 of the last 23 games at second base after playing exclusively at shortstop.
> Additionally, Carrigg ranks third on the squad with 50 position starts, including 21 at shortstop, 14 at second base, nine in center field, five at catcher and one at designated hitter.
OTHER TRENDS
> The Aztecs are 107-29 in their last 136 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 71-44 in its last 115 games following a loss, including an 11-5 mark in 2021. The Scarlet and Black is off to an 13-22 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 Air Force.
> 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.
YOUTH SHALL BE SERVED
> In all, San Diego State has had 20 of 37 players make their initial appearances in an Aztec uniform this season, including 10 true freshmen.
> Shaun Montoya, a redshirt freshman, has started 36 of 39 games in the outfield (26 RF, 10 CF) and leads all SDSU rookies with a .293 batting average while ranking second with 36 hits and a .383 on-base percentage to go with five stolen bases.
> In 20 Mountain West games as a starter, Montoya also occupies the second spot on the squad overall with a .380 batting average (27-71) and a .450 on-base percentage while ranking third with 27 hits and fourth with a .423 slugging percentage.
> A native of Rancho Cucamonga, California, Montoya batted a combined .714 (10-14) with seven runs and five RBIs in the three-game series at New Mexico, garnering Mountain West Freshman of the Week accolades on April 18. The UC Irvine transfer posted four hits in each of the first two encounters with the Lobos, becoming the first Aztec player to record four hits in consecutive games since Danny Sheehan accomplished the feat at Air Force in May 2017.
> Entering the week, Montoya leads the Mountain West with eight sacrifice bunts, which is tied for 28th in the nation.
> Meanwhile, true freshman Irvin Weems (.257) has started 37 of 43 games in the outfield (34 CF, 3 RF) and leads all SDSU newcomers with 37 hits and 13 stolen bases, the latter of which ranks second on the team and third in the Mountain West.
> Weems posted a six-game hitting streak from April 9-16, when he batted .458 (11-24) with eight stolen bases, seven RBIs and six runs scored. The Las Vegas native has collected multiple hits in 10 games this season and has five games with two or more RBIs to his credit.
> 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, he added two more hits and swiped his first career base.
> Fellow classmate Tyler Glowacki (.248), an alumnus of nearby Santana High School, has started 33 games in the outfield (20 RF, 13 LF) and ranks third among all SDSU rookies with 30 hits while sharing the sixth spot on the squad with five doubles. He is also tied for seventh on the team with multiple hits in six games.
> In addition to Montoya, Glowacki (March 7) and infielder Alex Rodriguez (Feb. 21) have netted Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors.
> After sitting out the 2021 campaign as a redshirt, Johnny Giannola has made 23 starts this season, including 17 in left field and six at designated hitter. The Dana Point, California, native has had five 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 also hit two triples this season.
> Tino Bethancourt, another redshirt freshman, has displayed his versatility in 40 starts (24 3B, 16 1B) and has reached base safely in 25 of his last 30 games. Despite a modest .248 batting average, the El Dorado Hills, California, product ranks second on the squad with 27 walks, which is tied for ninth in the MW, while his .416 on-base percentage is third among SDSU regulars.
> On the mound, true freshmen Chris Canada and Eldridge Armstrong III have each made 14 appearances in their first season on The Mesa.
> Canada earned seven starts this season, posting a 2-1 record with a 5.19 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innnigs. The Aztec lefty 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. Against Air Force on May 8, 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 SDSU rallied for a 7-6 triumph in 12 innings. The Orange County native 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.
> Armstrong, meanwhile, is 1-0 on the year with a 4.44 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings. The SDSU right-hander picked up his first collegiate victory on April 16 in the Aztecs' 11-8 triumph at New Mexico. He also struck out a season-high six batters in just three innings of relief vs. UCSD on May 3.
STRIKEOUTS GALORE
> San Diego State has recorded double-digit strikeouts in 21 of 53 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 and 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, TJ Fondtain struck out a career-high eight batters on two occasions vs. Nevada (May 14) and San José State (April 9).
> In addition, five other Aztec hurlers have compiled collegiate-best totals with over five strikeouts this season: 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 ), Hunter Hargett (6 at UC San Diego, April 19) and Eldridge Armstrong (6, vs. UC San Diego, May 3).
> Entering the weekend, Melton is tied for fifth in the Mountain West with 61 strikeouts, while Fondtain (56) ranks seventh, followed by Guzman, who is tied for 15th with 48 Ks of his own.
> Collectively, San Diego State occupies the second spot in the conference with 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranks 81st in the nation as of May 18.
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 232-186 record (.555), 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 Season at UNLV This Week
