Aztecs Set to Co-Host Tony Gwynn Legacy This Weekend

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State returns to the diamond this weekend when it plays host to four teams in the Tony Gwynn Legacy, Feb. 20-23, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aztecs will raise the curtain on the 10th annual event when they welcome Seattle for their home opener on Thursday, followed by an engagement with former conference rival Utah on Friday. 

The action continues with a clash against No. 22/21 UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, when the first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free SDSU rally wig, before the tournament concludes with a Sunday showdown vs. Pepperdine.

The first three games are slated for a 6 p.m. PT start and will be aired live on the Mountain West Network, while Sunday’s matchup with the Waves is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and will feature live stats only.

Links to live stats and the MW Network may be accessed on GoAztecs.com. In addition, fans can watch the first three contests of the tournament on their TVs or smartphones by downloading the MW app.

The Aztecs are coming off a 10-7 triumph at UC San Diego on Tuesday, scoring all their runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by a six-run outburst in the fourth frame.

Drew Rutter set a career high with three hits and scored two runs, while Nevan Noonan (2 H, 2 R), Daniel Arambula and CJ Moran totaled two RBIs apiece.

In his second relief appearance of the year, Chris Canada (1-0) recorded his first victory since April 29, 2023, while Peyton Rodgers kept the Tritons off the board for the final 2 2/3 innings to secure his second save of the season.

The Aztecs are 16-12 in the Tony Gwynn Legacy, which was launched in 2016. After posting a 1-5 record in the first two years of the event, the Scarlet and Black has compiled a 15-7 ledger in their home tournament, including a 2-1 mark last year.

The Aztecs opened with a big 10-3 triumph over SEC member Missouri, followed by a dramatic 11-7 come-from-behind victory over CSU Bakersfield. However, SDSU was unable to complete the weekend sweep after falling to Utah by an 11-5 count in the finale.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday, Feb. 20, Alito McBean LHP (SDSU, 0-0) vs. Micah Hagler RHP (Seattle, 0-0)

Friday, Feb. 21, Omar Serrano RHP (SDSU, 0-0) vs. Colter McAnelly RHP (Utah, 0-0)

Saturday, Feb. 22, Xavier Cardenas III (SDSU, 0-1) vs. TBA (UCSB)

Sunday, Feb. 23, Marko Sipila (SDSU, 0-1) vs. Dylan Stewart RHP (Pepperdine, 0-1)

A freshman from Hermosa Beach, Alito McBean will be making his first career start against Seattle after a relief appearance in his collegiate debut vs. Nebraska at the MLB Desert Invitational on Feb. 16.

As a senior at Mira Costa High, McBean garnered first-team all-Bay League accolades and was an all-area selection. He was also named his team’s co-MVP in 2024 after posting a 6-3 record and a 2.00 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 52 innings, helping the Mustangs secure a spot in the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Meanwhile, Serrano, Cardenas and Sipila will be making their second consecutive starts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

SDSU VS. SEATTLE
Seattle (0-3) is projected to start right-hander Micah Hagler against the Aztecs on Thursday. The Redhawk sophomore has made two relief appearances this season, allowing one earned run on four hits and no walks with one strikeout for a 5.40 ERA. Last year, Hagler pitched at Bellevue (Wash.)  College.

San Diego State is 4-0 in the all-time series against the Redhawks, including a three-game non-conference sweep in March 2019 at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs opened with a 6-5 decision followed by a 12-8 victory and an 11-5 triumph.

SDSU has already faced one member of the Western Athletic Conference this year in a 6-5 defeat to Grand Canyon at the MLB Desert Invitational on Feb. 15 in Mesa, Arizona. The Aztecs will also battle California Baptist later this season on March 18 (away) and April 8 (home).

The Redhawks suffered a three-game road sweep at Loyola Marymount to open the season, falling by scores of 10-3, 17-11, and 12-6.

Outfielder Jared Stevensen posted a slash line of .500/.643/1.000 last week in Los Angeles, finishing with one homer, one triple, five RBIs and five runs scored, while shortstop Vicente Feliciano hit .308 with one home run, one double and three RBIs.

Through three games, Seattle is batting a collective .241 with two homers, six doubles and 20 runs scored, while Redhawk pitchers own a combined 11.62 ERA, allowing the Lions to hit .390 against them.

Prior to the 2025 campaign, Seattle was picked to finish eighth in the WAC preseason coaches poll. Last year, the Redhawks tied for ninth in the conference with a 10-20 record and a 17-36 mark overall.

SDSU VS. UTAH
The Utes (4-0) are expected to start Colter McAnelly on Friday against the Aztecs after the Utah sophomore limited Pepperdine to one run on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings of the Utes’ season opener. Although he received a no-decision against the Waves, McAnelly still earned Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week honors. As a freshman in 2024, McAnelly finished with a 5-4 record with a 4.76 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 51.0 innings.

Utah ultimately swept Pepperdine in its season-opening series in Malibu, California, escaping with a 3-1 victory in 10 innings on Feb. 14, before closing out the series with more decisive scores of 11-2, 10-4 and 6-1.

As a team, the Utes hit .308 on the weekend with three homers, 11 doubles, three triples and 26 RBIs, while Utah pitchers posted a collective 1.95 ERA and 24 strikeouts while limiting the Waves to a .195 batting average.

Individually, the Utes are led by outfielder/first baseman Cameron Gurney, who is hitting .500 thus far with two doubles, five RBIs and three runs scored. In addition, second baseman Matt Flaharty (.471) and outfielder Santino Panara (.412), a UNLV transfer, are both hitting over .400. Flaharty leads the team with eight hits, while Panaro has seven.

The Utes will be making their second straight appearance at the Tony Gwynn Legacy and fourth in seven years after claiming an 11-5 decision against SDSU last year.

Despite the setback, San Diego State still boasts a commanding 104-36 lead against Utah in a series that began in 1964. The Aztecs are 67-18 vs. the Utes in San Diego, 27-13 in Salt Lake City and 10-5 at neutral sites.

Utah is one of five programs the Aztecs have recorded over 100 victories against. The other four are New Mexico (134), Air Force (122), Fresno State (113) and UNLV (102).

SDSU VS. UCSB
The Gauchos (3-1) opened their season at home, sweeping past Campbell in a three-game series by scores of 6-1, 7-2, and 14-4, before suffering a 5-1 setback to Saint Mary’s on Tuesday.

UCSB enters the weekend with a No. 22 ranking by Baseball America and is listed 21st in the nation by D1Baseball.com.

At press time, the Gauchos’ starting pitcher for Saturday’s clash at SDSU has yet to be determined.

Prior to its showdown with the Aztecs, UCSB will open the tournament at Triton Ballpark with a Friday afternoon matchup with Seattle.

Five Gaucho starting position players are hitting at least .400 after four games, including second baseman Jonathan Mendez (.438), while catcher Nate Vargas, first baseman Jack Holman, third baseman Xavier Esquer and designated hitter Isaac Kim are all batting at a .400 clip. Holman leads the team with three home runs and is tied with Menedez for the top spot with six RBIs.

Collectively, UCSB is hitting .274 for the season with seven home runs, five doubles and 24 RBIs, while the Gaucho pitching staff has combined for a 2.50 team ERA with 52 strikeouts against seven walks, as well as a .200 opposing batting average.

UC Santa Barbara was picked to repeat as Big West champions in the league’s preseason coaches poll, while pitcher Tyler Bremmer earned four preseason All-America honors and was named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List.

Last year, the Gauchos finished with 44-14 overall record and a No. 20 national ranking by Baseball America after falling to Oregon in their own regional final.

The Aztecs swept a three-game series from UCSB at Tony Gwynn Stadium to open the 2018 campaign, the last time the two programs met. With those victories, SDSU improved to 84-29-1 in the all-time series vs. the Gauchos, which dates back to 1936.

SDSU VS. PEPPERDINE
The Waves (0-4) are projected to start right-hander Dylan Stewart when they invade The Mesa on Sunday. The Pepperdine junior was rocked in his previous start against Utah on Feb. 16, yielding seven earned runs on six hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings.

The Waves are seeking their first victory of the season after dropping the aforementioned four-game series to the Utes. En route to the Tony Gwynn Legacy, Pepperdine will make a stop in Riverside to battle California Baptist on Thursday.  The Waves will then face UC San Diego and Long Beach State in La Jolla on consecutive days before tackling the Aztecs.

Four players have started all four games for Pepperdine thus far, including shortstop Justin Rubin (.286), first baseman Max Bernal (.250), third baseman Julian Nunez (.200) and outfielder Joe Cardinale (.200).

Nunez has two solo home runs this season, while infielder Finley Buckner has a three-run blast to his credit.

As a team, the Waves are hitting just .218 for the year, while their pitching staff has combined for a 5.59 team ERA with 37 strikeouts against 15 walks. Utah hit .314 against Pepperdine hurlers last weekend.

Despite the relative proximity to both schools, the Aztecs have not faced the Waves since the 2006 campaign, when the Scarlet and Black won two of the three games at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The SDSU-Pepperdine series was launched in 1946, with the Aztecs maintaining a 52-34-1 record in 87 all-time meetings.

UP NEXT
Following this weekend's action, San Diego State will remain on The Mesa to battle crosstown adversary San Diego on Tuesday, Feb. 25, starting at 6 p.m. PT.