Will see action primarily as a reliever this season ...Competed for the Bethesda (Md.) Big Train in the Cal Ripken League during summer 2013 ... Made eight appearances (six starts) and compiled a record of 2-2 with a 4.13 earned run average ... Played for the North Fork Ospreys of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League (Long Island, New York) during summer 2012 ... Had a record of 2-4 with a 5.48 earned run average ... Recorded 59 strikeouts over 42.2 innings ... Strikeout total was fourth-highest in the league ... Competed for the Corvallis (Ore.) Knights in the West Coast Collegiate League during the summer of 2011 ... Played summer ball in the Connie Mack League for different teams each of the previous three summers ... Played for the Renegades in 2010, the Liquid Experience in 2009 and the CBA Royals in 2008.
SAN DIEGO STATE 2013
In the opener vs. San Diego (Feb. 15) tossed the final four innings allowing no runs on two hits with season-high five strikeouts as he picked up his lone save of the year ... Also pitched one shutout inning of late relief in the final game vs. USD with one strikeout ... Matched his season-high five-strikeout effort in the game at New Mexico on March 30 ... Picked up his only win of the year with a four-inning relief stint at Fresno State on March 16.
SAN DIEGO STATE 2012
Began the season in the bullpen and served as a late reliever and closer three weeks into the season ... Picked up first career save in the win over San Francisco when he tossed 3.0 innings and allowed no runs on four hits with four strikeouts ... Went on to notch seven saves over the course of the season to tie for the ninth-most ever by an Aztec hurler ... Tied for the overall conference lead in saves ... Made first of his three starts in contest vs. Pacific on Feb. 25, going 5.1 innings ... Struck out a season-high six in that contest while allowing a run on eight hits ... Also had six strikeouts in a 5.1 inning relief stint at Air Force on April 28 and a five-inning start vs. UNLV on May 4 ... Named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week on April 30 ... Picked up first career win at Long Beach State (March 6), tossing the final 1.2 innings allowing no runs on no hits with a pair of strikeouts ... Longest outing came at Texas A&M on May 11 when he went 8.0 innings in a 4-1 loss ... Surrendered one earned run and struck out five against the Aggies ... In Mountain West play compiled a record of 3-0 with four saves and a 2.52 earned run average as opponents hit just .215 against him ... His four saves in conference play led the Mountain West and his ERA and opponent batting average ranked third.
SAN DIEGO STATE 2011
Recorded four relief appearances before a starting assignment against Cal State Northridge on May 10 ... Went only one inning in that contest and was not involved in the decision ... Longest stint was two innings against Oral Roberts on April 3 when he allowed a pair of runs and had a season-high two strikeouts ... In his four relief appearances covering 5.1 innings compiled a 5.03 earned run average.
HIGH SCHOOL
Three-year baseball letterman at Carlsbad High School ... Played there for Head Coach Chris Greene ... Named team[apos]s pitcher of the year both as a junior and senior ...Holds the Carlsbad HS career marks for strikeouts and innings pitched plus the school single-season record for strikeouts ... Compiled a record of 4-5 with one save and a 3.23 earned run average as a senior in 2010 ... Recorded 67 strikeouts in 65 innings ... Batted .214 (9-for-41) at the plate with one double and two triples ... Had a .945 fielding percentage as a catcher over 178 innings of work ... Named second-team all-Palomar League ... As a junior went 2-6 with a 3.88 earned run average, striking out 49 over 52.1 innings.
PERSONAL
Justin Matthew Hepner was born on February 4, 1992 in San Diego, Calif. ... Son of Rick and Lynda Hepner ... Plans to play baseball professionally ... Favorite athlete is New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano ... Hobbies include snowboarding, working out and going to the beach ... Also recruited by New Mexico State ... A social science major at SDSU.