SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State opens its 23rd season of Mountain West baseball competition this weekend when it travels to Silver State for a three-game series vs. UNLV, March 3-5, at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Friday's opener is scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m. PT, while Saturday's clash is set to get underway at 1:05 p.m., followed by Sunday's finale at 12:05 p.m.
Live stats will be available for the entire weekend, while Friday and Saturday's games are slated to air on the Mountain West Network. In addition, Sunday's finale will feature a live video stream as well. Links to all platforms can be found on GoAztecs.com.
SDSU will launch its MW schedule against UNLV for the second straight season and just the third time since the league's first baseball campaign in 2000.
Last year, the Aztecs were victimized by late rallies in their three home meetings against the Rebels, who posted scores of 5-2, 4-3 and 10-8 to complete the sweep of the conference-opening series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
SETTING THE SCENE
> After dropping its first five games of the season, San Diego State has won two straight, defeating North Dakota State 9-2 and Hawai'i 3-2 in the final two games of the Tony Gwynn Legacy.
> Against the Bison last Sunday night, the Aztecs erupted for seven runs in the fourth inning, while four SDSU pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts against eight hits, allowing just two unearned runs.
> Individually, Cole Carrigg led the Scarlet and Black with four RBIs vs. NDSU, finishing with a 2-for-4 performance with a double and a run scored while contributing a pair of Herculean defensive efforts in the late innings to help quash any Bison comeback hopes.
> In addition, TJ Fondtain ignited the Aztecs' outburst with his second home run of the year, a two-run shot, after Caden Miller walked to lead off the fourth.
> The following night against Hawai'i, pinch-hitter Maddox Haley singled home Poncho Ruiz with two outs in the bottom of the eighth for the eventual game-winning run after Tino Bethancourt's solo blast in the seventh knotted the score at 2-2.
> Right-hander Jonny Guzman (10.0 IP), who set a season high with seven strikeouts vs. the Rainbow Warriors, is one of 22 pitchers in the country who has not yielded an earned run this year with at least 10 innings pitched, while lefty Chris Canada (0-1) is tied for second in the Mountain West with 14 strikeouts.
FOR OPENERS (MW EDITION)
> Since the first year of Mountain West baseball action in 2000, San Diego State has compiled a 14-8 record in conference openers, including an 11-3 mark at home.
> During that span, San Diego State has captured 15 opening series against league opponents—16 if one includes a four-team round-robin event in 2006 when the Aztecs went 3-1.
> As MW rivals, SDSU has faced UNLV in a conference opener on just one other occasion prior to last season, winning by a 4-3 count on March 14, 2009 at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Aztec Hall of Famer and 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg posted 14 strikeouts en route to the victory, fanning every Rebel player at least once in six innings of work. Not to be outdone, SDSU went on to sweep the series after capturing the second game (6-1) and the finale (15-2). In the latter contest, outfielder Cory Vaughn totaled four hits and seven RBIs, falling a double short of hitting for the cycle.
AZTEC WEEKEND ROTATION
> For the conference-opening weekend at UNLV, San Diego State is projected to utilize the starting rotation of TJ Fondtain, Chris Canada and Jonny Guzman.
> TJ Fondtain (0-1, 11.57 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the Aztecs on Friday. The SDSU left-hander will be looking to rebound from his last start against Washington State in the Tony Gwynn Legacy on Feb. 24, when he gave up seven runs on four hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings. Fondtain was also the Aztecs' opening-night starter at Arizona State on Feb. 17, when he yielded three runs on seven hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings but did not factor into the decision. Last year Fondtain garnered second-team all-Mountain West accolades in his first season as a starting pitcher. The Clovis, California, product ranked among the league leaders in several categories for all games in 2022, including opposing batting average (3rd, .237), fewest hits allowed (5th, 66), earned run average (6th, 4.58), innings pitched (6th, 72.2) and strikeouts (T-9th, 60). In added the SDSU left-hander earned three MW Pitcher of the Week honors, which marked the most by an Aztec hurler in a single season since Addison Reed received a trio of such awards in 2010.
> On Saturday, Chris Canada (0-1, 1.80 ERA) is slated to make his 10th career start and third of the year after a four-inning stint against North Dakota State in the Tony Gwynn Legacy on Feb. 26, when he tied his career high with seven strikeouts. Against the Bison, the Aztec left-hander ceded one unearned run on three hits and four walks but did not factor in the decision after completing four innings of work. Canada also struck out seven hitters in his previous start at Arizona State on Feb. 18, but was saddled with the loss after allowing a solo home run in each of the first two innings, as the Sun Devils held on for a 5-3 triumph. However, the SDSU sophomore grew stronger as the game progressed, retiring 11 straight batters during his six-inning appearance. Entering the weekend, Canada is tied for second in the Mountain West with 14 strikeouts and ranks eighth with a .176 opposing batting average while sharing the eighth spot with a 1.80 ERA. As a true freshman in 2022, Canada logged a 2-0 record and a 5.11 ERA in 15 games, ranking sixth on the squad with 39 strikeouts in 44 innings.
> Jonny Guzman (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who has yet to surrender a run this season, is once again slated to get the call in the series finale. The SDSU right-hander will be making his third straight start and fourth of his career after taking the hill against Hawai'i to close out the Tony Gwynn Legacy. Against the Rainbow Warriors, the Aztec junior pitched five scoreless frames, posting a season-high seven strikeouts to offset four walks and one hit. However, he did not factor in the decision after Hawai'i took a brief 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh on a pair of unearned runs before the Scarlet and Black rallied for a thrilling 3-2 victory. Guzman also fanned five batters against three hits and three walks in another five-inning stint at Arizona State on Feb. 19 but once again fell victim to a lack of run support, as the Sun Devils pushed across a run following his exit and held on for the 1-0 win.
Along with his spotless conference-leading ERA, the Orange, California, native ranks fourth in the Mountain West this week with a .133 opposing batting average and is tied for seventh with 12 strikeouts. Last season, Guzman posted a 1-3 record with a 3.72 ERA and two saves in 23 appearances. He ranked second on the squad with a .195 opponent batting average and was slotted fourth with 49 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Jonny Guzman leads the Mountain West with an unblemished 0.00 ERA, which tied for the top perch in the nation, while Chris Canada is shares the eighth spot in the league with a 1.80 ERA.
> In addition, Canada is tied for the second position with 14 strikeouts, while Guzman finds himself in a four-way logjam for seventh with 12 Ks.
> Not to be outdone, Guzman (.133) and Canada (.176) are slotted among the conference leaders in opposing batting average, ranking fourth and eighth, respectively.
> Elsewhere, Eldridge Armstrong III occupies the second spot in the league with five pitching appearances, while Kelena Sauer also ranks second with four games finished.
> As a staff, San Diego State enters the weekend ranked second in fewest hits allowed (56), third in opposing batting average (.256) and fourth in both ERA (4.33) and strikeouts (67).
> On the base paths, Shaun Montoya leads the MW with five stolen bases and is tied for the fourth position with three doubles, while Cole Carrigg shares the top spot with two sacrifice flies.
> As a team, the Aztecs finds themselves atop the conference leaders with nine stolen bases.
SERIES RECORD VS. UNLV
> Despite dropping five of six games to the Rebels during the 2022 campaign, San Diego State still leads the all-time series 97-73. The two programs first met in 1978.
> The Aztecs are 48-24 against the Rebels in San Diego, 46-43 in Las Vegas and 3-6 at neutral sites.
> During Mark Martinez's nine-year tenure as head coach on The Mesa, SDSU sports a 22-18 record vs. UNLV, including a 12-8 mark at home, a 9-9 ledger on the road and a 1-1 record on neutral fields.
> The Rebels won two of three games during the Aztecs' last trip to Las Vegas in the final series of the 2022 regular season.
> SDSU won game two of that weekend set by a 6-3 count, sandwiched between a 12-5 defeat and 5-1 setback.
> Las Vegas native Irvin Weems batted .692 (9-13) for that series at UNLV, finishing with two homers, four RBIs and five runs scored to go with three stolen bases. In his first return trip as an Aztec back to his hometown, Weems amassed 16 total bases on the weekend, compiling a 1.231 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage.
> In SDSU's game two victory, Weems went 4-for-5 at the plate, launching his second leadoff homer of the 2022 season to go with an RBI single and a pair of stolen bases.
UNLV AT A GLANCE
> The Rebels posted a 36-22 record last season and captured the Mountain West regular-season title with a 21-9 mark in conference play. However, UNLV was eliminated from the MW Championships after falling to Air Force and Nevada in its first two games.
> The Rebels entered the 2023 campaign as preseason MW favorites after receiving 33 points and four first-place votes. Individually, infielders Austin Kryszczuk and Edarian Williams earned a spot on the preseason all-MW team, joining outfielder Rylan Charles.
> Charles and Kryszczuk received first-team all-MW recognition in 2022, while Williams was a second-team pick.
> After a three-game home sweep of Pacific by a combined score of 53-15, the Rebels (4-4) have dropped four of their last five games.
> UNLV is coming off a weekend visit to San Diego, where it posted a 1-3 record playing at three different venues. The Rebels fell to co-host UC San Diego 15-1 before rebounding with a 10-4 decision over UC Irvine at Triton Ballpark. In addition, the Rebels were dealt a 6-5 setback by USD at Fowler Park before suffering another narrow defeat at the hands of Washington State 10-9 at SDSU's Tony Gwynn Stadium.
> Individually, catcher Jacob Sharp leads the Mountain West this week with a .522 batting average, while outfielder Alex Pimentel ranks fourth with a .480 clip. In addition, outfielder Santino Panaro, who shared MW Freshman of the Year honors with the Aztecs' Irvin Weems last season, ranks second in the league with 12 runs scored and shares third spot with 14 hits, while Kryszczuk (13) and Pimentel (11) rank third and fifth in RBIs, respectively.
> Collectively, the Rebels occupy the second position in the MW with a .334 batting average after eight games, while their pitching staff is fifth in ERA (5.71) and sixth in strikeouts (46).
> Although, UNLV's weekend rotation was not revealed at press time, Josh Sharman (2-0, 1.59 ERA, 11.1 IP), Joey Acosta (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 10.0 IP) and Noah Mattera (0-1, 7.71 ERA, 7.0 IP) have made two starts apiece this year, along with Noah Beal (0-1, 12.86 ERA, 7.0 IP).
> Opponents have hit .302 against Rebel pitchers this season, which ranks last in the league.
> UNLV is guided by ninth-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.
STRIKEOUTS GALORE
> San Diego State has recorded double-digit strikeouts in 21 of 56 games last year, including a season-high 21 in a 15-inning home loss to Hawai'i on Feb. 28, 2022.
> Collectively, San Diego State led the Mountain West with 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings during the 2022 campaign, which ranked 85th in the nation.
> In 2023, the Aztecs have posted 10 or more strikeouts in their last four games, including a season-best 14 against Washington State in the Tony Gwynn Legacy on Feb. 24.
> Entering the weekend, SDSU is fourth in the Mountain West with 67 strikeouts; however, its average of 10.0 punchouts per nine innings ranks second in the conference and 88th in the country.
> Individually, Chris Canada is tied for second in the MW with 14 strikeouts, while Jonny Guzman shares the seventh spot with 12 punchouts of his own.
> Dating back to 2019, the Aztecs are 44-30 in their last 74 games when striking out 10 or more batters.
> SDSU completed 27 games with 10 or more strikeouts during the 2019 season, 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.
> In 2021, 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.
GOING, GOING, GONE
> San Diego State has emerged victorious in 50 of its last 79 games dating back to 2019 when launching one out of the park.
> During an admittedly down year in 2022, the Aztecs logged a 7-14 record in games when they hit a home run.
> Previously, the Scarlet and Black homered in 29 of 46 games during the 2021 campaign, posting a 21-8 record in those contests.
> In addition, SDSU went 17-5 during the 2019 season when going yard and 5-2 in 2020.
OTHER TRENDS
> The Aztecs are 138-39 over the last six-plus seasons when scoring five or more runs, including a stellar 38-6 record during the 2017 campaign.
> San Diego State is 73-49 in its last 122 games following a loss, including an 14-23 mark in 2022 and a 1-4 ledger this season.
STREAKING AZTECS
> Shaun Montoya has reached base safely in all seven games and leads the Aztecs with a .318 batting average and a .545 slugging percentage.
> Cole Carrigg had his season-long six-game hitting streak snapped in SDSU's victory over Hawai'i on Feb. 27.
> Carrigg leads the Scarlet and Black with two hits in three games this season: at Arizona State (Feb. 17, Feb. 19) and vs. North Dakota State (Feb. 26).
> Poncho Ruiz owns the team's longest current hitting streak at three games. The Aztec catcher has also posted an RBI in each of his last three starts, including a run-scoring single in SDSU's 3-2 victory over Hawai'i on Feb. 27.
> Five players have started all seven games for the Aztecs this season, including Carrigg in center field and Ruiz, who has made five starts at catcher, one at designated hitter and one a first base. In addition to the double-play combo of Xavier Gonzalez (SS) and Caden Miller (2B), TJ Fondtain has started three games in left field and four as a designated hitter.
CATCHING UP WITH AZTEC NEWCOMERS
> Ten players from San Diego State's 2023 newcomer class have already seen action for the Aztecs this season.
> Junior Xavier Gonzalez has started all seven games at shortstop, hitting .263 (5-19) with one RBI, one walk and a stolen base. The Chula Vista native and Hilltop High alumnus drove in his lone run of the season in a 6-5 season-opening loss at Arizona State before crafting a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a run scored in the Scarlet and Black's 9-2 triumph over North Dakota State.
> Gonzalez joined the Aztecs from Southwestern College, where he received first-team all-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference honors at shortstop in 2022 after hitting .369 with three home runs and 30 RBIs in 36 games, helping the Jaguars to a 24-17 record a berth in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) playoffs. For the season, he collected 45 hits, including 12 doubles and one triple, logging a .557 slugging percentage and a .426 on-base percentage. Additionally, Gonzalez completed 13 multi-hit games and registered two or more RBIs in eight contests.
> True freshman Drew Giannini has played five games for the Aztecs, earning a trio of starts at third base: at Arizona State, vs. CSUN and against Washington State. The Tracy (Calif.) High alumnus is hitting .273 (3-11) with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Giannini knocked in his first run as an Aztec in the season opener at ASU after reaching on a fielding error in the top of ninth, giving the SDSU a 5-4 lead that it could not ultimately protect. He also doubled home Xavier Gonzalez in the Aztecs' home-opening 7-5 defeat to CSUN.
> As a senior at Tracy High, Giannini garnered first-team all-Tri-City Athletic League accolades at third base after hitting .378 (28-74) with four home runs, 21 RBIs and 25 runs scored, according to MaxPreps. He also collected team MVP honors that season after leading the squad in slugging percentage (.716), on-base percentage (.484), homers (4), triples (4), RBIs (21) and runs (25) while ranking second in batting average (.378) and third in hits (28).
> True freshman Cade Martinez has split time with Giannini, notching three starts at third base while seeing some late-inning action at shortstop in three other contests. The St. Augustine High graduate doubled in his first collegiate at-bat in the third inning of the season opener at Arizona State but ultimately was left stranded at third. He also scored his first career run in the Aztecs' 9-2 victory over North Dakota State after reaching on a fielding error during a sacrifice bunt attempt in SDSU's big fourth-inning outburst.
> The son of Aztec head coach Mark Martinez and a prep teammate of fellow SDSU recruit Trevor Fox, Cade Martinez was a four-year letterwinner at St. Augustine High, where he enjoyed his best year statistically as a junior in 2021, according to MaxPreps, posting career highs in hits (25), RBIs (21) and runs scored (27), the latter of which ranked third on the team. That season, he helped the Saints to the championship final of the Division II lower bracket in the 2021 CIF San Diego Section playoffs.
> Meanwhile, Fox has appeared in three contests as a reserve in the final two games of the Arizona State series, as well as SDSU's home clash with Washington State. In his Aztec debut at ASU on Feb. 18, Fox reached on a fielder's choice as a pinch hitter for Gonzalez in the top of the ninth and later scored SDSU's first run of the game on Cole Carrigg's single but the Scarlet and Black fell short by a 5-3 count.
> Fox hit .321 across three prep seasons with 10 homers, 59 RBIs, 39 runs scored and nine stolen bases, according to MaxPreps, while finished his career with a .594 slugging percentage and a .404 on-base percentage. He garnered second-team all-CIF San Diego Section accolades as a junior in 2021 after helping the Saints reach the title game of the Division II lower bracket. Fox also earned underclass all-state honors from Cal-Hi-Sports that season after batting .361 with a team-high seven home runs and 39 RBIs.
> Freshman Maddox Haley cracked the starting lineup in left field in the Aztecs' season opener at Arizona State before receiving another starting nod at first base vs. North Dakota State. Against the Bison, the James Madison High alumnus went 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored, helping the Scarlet and Black to a 9-2 win.
> While at Madison High, Haley received first-team all-CIF San Diego Section and all-Western League recognition as a senior after hitting .409 with two homers, 31 RBIs and 36 runs scored, according to MaxPreps. In addition, he led the team in on-base percentage (.504) while ranking second in batting average (.409), slugging percentage (.766), RBIs (31), runs (36). Haley capped his prep career by competing in the 2022 CIF High School All-Star Game at Petco Park, winning the event's home run derby.
> Freshman outfielder Jaron Nevarez singled in his first collegiate appearance as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning against Washington State.
> A product of San Ramon Valley High, Nevarez recorded a slash line of .345/.467/.521 during his prep career, finishing with 57 hits, 50 runs scored, five homers, 38 RBIs and nine stolen bases, according to MaxPreps. He received first-team all-East Bay Athletic League recognition following his junior and senior campaigns and led his squad with a .366 batting average (26-71) and a .500 on-base percentage in 2022 while sharing the top spot with 19 RBIs.
> Freshman catcher David Whittle made his collegiate debut as a late-inning replacement vs. Washington State in the Tony Gwynn Legacy.
> A graduate of Valley View High in Moreno Valley, California, Whittle hit .427 as a prep senior, smacking a team-high five home runs to go with 15 RBIs, according to MaxPreps. He led the squad in hits (35), runs scored (30), stolen bases (16), doubles (9), triples (2), slugging percentage (.768) and fielding percentage (.988) while ranking second in on-base percentage (.535) and batting average (.427), garnering first-team all-conference accolades. In addition, Whittle received a No. 54 national ranking among catchers from Perfect Game for the class of 2022 and was listed as a top 500 recruit nationally.
> Three San Diego State freshman pitchers have also taken the mound for the Aztecs this spring: Connor Abadie, Issac Araiza and Tyson De Wall.
> Abadie gave up one hit in 2/3 innings in relief of starter Jonny Guzman in the series finale at Arizona State.
> As a senior at Serrano High in Phelan, California, Abadie earned first-team all-CIF Division V accolades and received first-team all-conference recognition as a senior after helping the Diamondbacks capture the Mojave River League championship and advance to the second round of the Southern Section playoffs.
> Araiza has pitched a combined 1 1/3 innings in a pair of relief appearances during the series finale at Arizona State and at home vs. Washington State, while De Wall took the hill for the second inning in SDSU's home opener vs. CSUN.
LOCAL HEROES
> San Diego State boasts 12 players on its current roster who are alumni of San Diego County high schools, including Brian Leonhardt and Ricky Tibbett (Eastlake); Charlie Rhee, Trevor Fox and Cade Martinez (St. Augustine); DJ Cardinal (Del Norte); Xavier Gonzalez (Hilltop); Maddox Haley (Madison); Brady Lavoie (La Costa Canyon); Evan Sipe (San Marcos); Poncho Ruiz (Mater Dei Catholic) and Tyler Glowacki (Santana).
ON DECK
> Following this weekend's series, San Diego State will travel up the freeway for a Tuesday night clash at UC Riverside (March 7), starting at 6 p.m. PT.
Aztecs to Open MW Slate at UNLV This Weekend
