Peyton Rodgers Named MW Freshman of the Week

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State pitcher Peyton Rodgers was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week after a pair of strong relief appearances in a home sweep against Washington State, May 15-17, helping the Aztecs clinch a berth in the MW Championship.

The announcement was made Monday at the league office in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

With his award, Rodgers collected his first career conference weekly award, giving the Aztecs three honorees this season after Daniel Arambula was named MW Freshman of the Week on March 17 and Omar Serrano was tabbed Pitcher of the Week on April 19.

In two games against the Cougars, Rodgers recorded one victory and one save after allowing just two hits and no walks with six strikeouts in a combined five scoreless innings.

A native of nearby Solana Beach, California, Rodgers (2-2) was victorious in SDSU's crucial series-opening win on May 15, when he pitched four scoreless innings with four strikeouts, as the Aztecs broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh to claim a 3-2 decision.

In that contest, the Torrey Pines High alumnus stranded a runner at first base after an eighth-inning single, while another was caught stealing at second following a leadoff single in the ninth.

Then in the series finale on May 17, Rodgers was summoned from the bullpen once again and promptly retired the side in order, preserving a wild 12-10 triumph with his fourth save of the season.

The SDSU right-hander needed just nine pitches to finish the game, striking out the first two batters before inducing a pop-out to end the contest.

For the season, Rodgers has compiled a 2-2 record with a 4.62 ERA and 50 strikeouts in a conference-leading 30 appearances, which his tied for fourth nationally. In addition, he shares the fifth spot in the MW with 24 batters struck out looking and is slotted seventh with his four saves.

Rodgers and the fifth-seeded Aztecs will be open the MW Championship against No. 4 seed UNLV on Wednesday, May 21, at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona.