Series Preview
San Diego State at UNLV
May 15-16
Earl E. Wilson Stadium
Las Vegas, Nev.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Saturday, May 15 | 11:05 a.m. PT
SDSU: Troy Melton, RHP (4-4, 5.11 ERA, 61.2 IP)
UNLV: Bradley Spooner, RHP (4-3, 5.23 ERA, 41.1 IP)
Saturday, May 15 | 3:05 p.m. PT
SDSU: TBA
UNLV: TBA
Sunday, May 16 | 11:05 a.m. PT
SDSU: Brian Leonhardt, LHP (1-1, 5.59 ERA, 19.1 IP)
UNLV: Josh Sharman, LHP (0-3, 5.68 ERA, 44.1 IP)
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR AZTEC BASEBALL
> San Diego State begins a season-long road swing this weekend when it travels to Sin City for a three-game series at UNLV, May 15-16, at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
> The Aztecs and Rebels will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 11:05 a.m. PT, before locking horns in a single contest on Sunday with another 11:05 a.m. starting time.
> In addition to live stats, all three games of this weekend's series will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network, with links to both platforms available on GoAztecs.com.
> San Diego State will play its final nine games of the regular season away from the friendly confines of Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs' home series vs. Air Force was originally slated to contested in San Diego, May 22-23. However, inclement weather that was forecast for the weekend of March 20-21 in Colorado Springs prompted the swap of venues. As a result, SDSU will travel to the Academy next weekend before wrapping up its regular-slate at New Mexico, May 28-29.
QUICK HITS
> San Diego State (25-12, 17-10 MW) reclaimed sole possession of first place in the Mountain West with a three-game sweep of San José State last weekend to close out its 2021 home schedule.
> The Aztecs opened their home series against the Spartans with a big 17-3 run-rule victory in seven innings in game one of a twin bill, followed by a 10-6 triumph in the nightcap. The Scarlet and Black wrapped up the series the next day with an 8-3 win, scoring all of its runs in the sixth and seventh innings to complete the sweep.
> With the results, San Diego State captured its 12th straight series victory vs. SJSU and finds itself atop conference standings by percentage points over Nevada heading into this weekend (.630 to .625).
> The Aztecs have scored 10 or more runs in 15 of 37 games this season, posting a 14-1 mark in those contests. By contrast, SDSU surpassed the double-digit plateau in runs 12 times in 57 games during its last full schedule in 2019.
> For the season, San Diego State ranks third in the nation with a .326 team batting average and third with a scoring average of 8.9 runs per game. In addition, the Aztecs occupy the 13th spot with a .408 on-base percentage and ranks 37th with 398 hits, which is tops in the country for schools that have played 35 games or less.
> Individually, Jaden Fein is second in the nation with an average of 1.78 hits per game and ranks third with a .437 batting average while tying for 15th with 66 hits overall, which is tops in the country for individuals with less than 43 games played. In addition, the Aztec right fielder occupies the 16th position in RBIs per game (1.30) and is tied for 18th in doubles per contest (0.41) while sharing the 29th spot with 48 RBIs overall. Meanwhile, Matt Rudick is the toughest player to strike out in the country, fanning just four times in 144 at-bats and ranks second in the nation with an average of 1.49 runs per game. The SDSU center fielder also ranks fourth in hits per game (1.71) and is tied for sixth in batting average (.417).
AZTEC WEEKEND ROTATION
> At press time, San Diego State was projected to start Troy Melton in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, while the opening hurler for the nightcap was undetermined. Rounding out the weekend, Brian Leonhardt was scheduled to get the call for Sunday's finale.
> Melton (4-4, 5.11 ERA) collected his first win in seven starts last weekend against San José State when he yielded three runs on five hits and three walks in five innings to go with eight strikeouts, as the Aztecs rolled to a big 17-3 run-rule victory in seven innings. In a recent start against Dixie State on April 24, the SDSU right-hander matched his career high with nine strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings but did not earn a decision after allowing four solo home runs, as SDSU rallied for an 8-7 triumph in the bottom of the ninth of game one. Entering the weekend vs. UNLV, Melton leads the Mountain West with 61.2 innings pitched and occupies the second spot with 70 strikeouts while ranking sixth in opposing batting average (.252) and ninth in ERA (5.11). Earlier this season, the Aztec redshirt sophomore earned MW Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time in his career on the strength of his complete-game shutout vs. Fresno State at home on Feb. 26. In that contest, Melton equaled his collegiate best with nine strikeouts against four hits and one walk in SDSU's big 17-0 victory. Prior to the 2021 campaign, Melton landed a spot on the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List.
> Meanwhile, Leonhardt (1-1, 5.59 ERA) will be making his fifth start of the year after pitching the first 3 1/3 innings in the series finale last weekend vs. San José State, when he allowed two unearned runs on one hit and two walks against two strikeouts. For the season, Leonhardt has struck out 18 batters against 10 walks in 19.1 innings, posting a 1-1 record with a 5.59 ERA in 12 appearances. He earned his lone victory of the year in the second game of a twin bill at UC San Diego on Feb. 28, despite giving up three runs on two hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings of relief, finishing with a season-high four strikeouts.
SERIES RECORD VS. UNLV
> San Diego State holds a sizable 96-65 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to 1978.
> The Aztecs are 48-21 against the Rebels in San Diego, 45-38 in Las Vegas and 3-6 at neutral sites.
> During Mark Martinez's seven-year tenure as head coach on The Mesa, SDSU sports a 21-10 record vs. UNLV, including a 12-5 mark at home, an 8-4 ledger on the road and a 1-1 record on neutral fields.
> The Aztecs recorded their fourth straight series victory to open the 2021 campaign after taking two of three games against the Rebels at Tony Gwynn Stadium earlier this season.
> On March 13, SDSU split a doubleheader vs. UNLV, posting a 3-1 triumph in the opener before dropping a 5-1 decision in the nightcap.
> The following day, the Scarlet and Black closed out the series with an 8-6 victory in the finale, notching six runs in the bottom of the seventh to overcome a 5-2 deficit. SDSU sent 10 batters to the plate in that pivotal inning scoring five of its six markers with two outs, capped by Jacob Cruce's clutch two-run single to left.
> For the series, Jaden Fein (.364) and Matt Rudick (.333) led the Aztecs with four hits apiece, while Mike Jarvis scored three runs.
> In addition, SDSU pitchers posted a collective 3.00 ERA that weekend, with Michael Paredes (game one) and Nate Hansen (game three) picking up wins, while Tre Bown saved both victories.
> In 2019, the Aztecs dropped two of three games the last time the two teams met in Las Vegas.
> SDSU captured the series opener against the Rebels that year, winning by an 11-4 count before suffering a narrow 5-4 defeat in game two, followed by a 5-1 setback in the finale.
> In that 11-4 triumph, Mike Jarvis hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the sixth that gave the Scarlet and Black an 8-1 advantage, while former Aztec All-American Casey Schmitt went 5-for-5 with a pair of homers, including a two-run shot in the eighth.
> In addition, Jaden Fein contributed an RBI single, while Matt Rudick and Brian Leonhardt singled and scored as well.
> Starter Michael Paredes gave up one run in five innings to earn the victory in that contest, while Jacob Flores pitched the final four frames to collect the save.
AZTECS AMONG NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
> After the first 12 weeks of the 2021 campaign, the Aztecs find themselves among the NCAA statistical leaders in several categories. San Diego State ranks third in the nation with a .326 team batting average and fifth with a scoring average of 8.9 runs per game. In addition, the Scarlet and Black occupies the 13th spot with a .408 on-base percentage and is tied for 47th with 429 hits, which is tops in the country for schools that have played 40 games or less.
> Individually, Jaden Fein is second in the nation with an average of 1.78 hits per game and ranks third with a .437 batting average while tying for 15th with 66 hits overall, which is tops in the country for individuals with less than 43 games played. In addition, the Aztec right fielder occupies the 16th position in RBIs per game (1.30) and is tied for 18th in doubles per contest (0.41) while sharing the 29th spot with 48 RBIs overall. Meanwhile, Matt Rudick is the toughest player to strike out in the country, fanning just four times in 144 at-bats and ranks second in the nation with an average of 1.49 runs per game. The SDSU center fielder also ranks fourth in hits per game (1.71) and is tied for sixth in batting average (.417). Elsewhere, Brian Leonhardt leads the country with nine sacrifice flies, while Mike Jarvis is tied for fifth with 1.30 runs per game..
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Jaden Fein still leads the Mountain West with a lofty .437 batting average, 66 hits and 48 RBIs.
> Fein also sits near the top of the conference perch in on-base percentage (2nd - .497), doubles (T-2nd - 16), runs scored (5th - 36), stolen bases (5th - 8) and slugging percentage (10th - .596).
> In addition, Matt Rudick leads the MW with 52 runs scored and is tied for the top spot with 12 stolen bases while sharing the second position with three triples. The Aztec center fielder also occupies the third spot in both batting average (.417) and hits (60) while tying for fourth in RBIs (37). Rudick also landed in the fourth spot in on-base percentage (.482) and is tied for ninth in walks (17).
> Meanwhile, Wyatt Hendrie is second in the league this week with 46 RBI and is tied for the No. 2 spot with nine home runs while ranking third with 43 runs scored and ninth with a .611 slugging percentage. The SDSU catcher also shares the third position with four sacrifice flies and is tied for fifth with 19 walks.
> Not to be outdone, shortstop Mike Jarvis is tied with Rudick for the top spot in stolen bases (12) and finds himself among the league leaders in hits (2nd - 62), runs scored (2nd - 48), triples (T-2nd - 3) and doubles (T-4th - 14).
> Elsewhere, second baseman Caden Miller occupies the fourth position in both walks (22) and runs scored (39) while ranking in fourth on-base percentage (.480) and sixth in stolen bases (7). In addition, the Aztec second baseman is tied for second with three triples of his own.
> In all, SDSU boasts five of the league's top 10 RBI producers, with Brian Leonhardt (3rd - 40) and Jacob Cruce (8th - 30) joining Fein, Hendrie and Rudick.
> Similarly, the Aztecs feature five players among the MW leaders in runs scored: Rudick, Jarvis, Hendrie, Miller and Fein.
> On the mound, reliever Tre Brown shares the conference lead with six wins and is tied for third with four saves, while Michael Paredes, Troy Melton, Ricky Tibbett and Aaron Eden are among a logjam of 11 pitchers tied for eighth with three victories apiece.
> In addition, Melton leads the league with 61.2 innings pitched and occupies the second spot with 70 strikeouts while ranking sixth in opposing batting average (.252) and ninth in ERA (5.11).
> Despite no appearances last weekend vs. SJSU, Paredes still finds himself in the second position in the conference with 60.2 innings pitched while ranking fourth in strikeouts (50), eighth in opposing batting average (.268) with a .268 opposing batting average. Additionally, he shares the fourth spot with fewest walks allowed (10).
> Not to be outdone, Tibbett is second in the MW this week with fewest walks allowed (9) and ranks sixth with 45 strikeouts.
> With huge production throughout the lineup, unsurprisingly San Diego State leads the MW in numerous offensive categories as a team this week, including batting average (.326), hits (429), runs (331), RBIs (297), total bases (613), stolen bases (49) and on-base percentage (.408). The Aztecs also occupy the second spot in the league with fewest strikeouts (196) and rank third in slugging percentage (.467).
> On the hill, SDSU pitchers lead the league with 332 strikeouts and a .269 opponent batting average and rank second with a 5.47 team ERA.
UNLV AT A GLANCE
> The Rebels (16-11, 11-10 MW) are coming off a three-game sweep at Nevada last weekend, dropping both ends of a doubleheader by narrow margins, 6-5 and 10-8, before falling in the series finale, 8-3.
> With the results, UNLV has lost four straight and finds itself third in the Mountain West race entering the week behind SDSU (17-10 MW) and Nevada (15-9 MW).
> The Rebels are 14-3 this season at home but are just 2-8 on the road.
> Prior to its trip to Reno last weekend, UNLV had its seven previously scheduled games canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the program, including a home game vs. Arizona State (April 13) and road series at San José State (April 17-18) and New Mexico (April 24-25). All seven contests will not be rescheduled.
> Despite missing eight games, shortstop Brendan Brooks leads the conference this week with a .545 on-base percentage while ranking second in batting average (.435) and slugging percentage (.754).
> In addition, first baseman Jack-Thomas Wold finds himself among the league leaders in several categories, including slugging percentage (4th - .708), batting average (5th - .407), home runs (T-5th - 8) and on-base percentage (7th - .469).
> Wold is one of two players to start all 27 games for the Rebels this season, joining third baseman Diego Alarcon (.322), while outfielder Austin Kryszczuk (.376) and catcher Eric Bigani (.320) have missed just one start apiece.
> Kryszczuk ranks sixth in the MW this week with a .473 on-base percentage and is eighth in batting average. Meanwhile, Bigani was named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Watch List on May 7. He was also selected as MW Player of the Week on April 5 and was a 2020 all-conference honoree.
> On the mound, Bradley Spooner (4-3, 5.23 ERA) is tied for fourth in the league with four victories while ranking fifth in strikeouts (47) and 10th in earned run average. He also a compiled the second-most innings pitched on the team (41.1), trailing only Josh Sharman (0-3, 5.68 ERA, 44.1 IP), who has picked off a MW-leading six runners.
> Spooner is scheduled to start game one of Saturday's doubleheader, while Sharman is slated to get the call in Sunday's series finale. The starter for Saturday's nightcap has not been announced at press time.
> Elsewhere, Troy Balko (1-0, 3.38 ERA, 21.1 IP) has made 11 relief appearances, posting three saves, which is tied for fifth in the conference.
> Collectively, the Rebels rank second behind the Aztecs in the Mountain West this week with a .323 batting average and a .401 on-base percentage while sharing the No. 2 spot with 39 home runs, with SJSU striking out 167 times in just 20 games. By contrast, San Diego State hitters have fanned 180 times in 34 outings.
> As a staff, UNLV pitchers lead the league with a team ERA of 5.29, while their .296 opposing batting average ranks second of seven teams.
> The Rebels are guided by seventh-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.
NOTING THE SAN JOSÉ STATE SERIES
> San Diego State got back on the winning track last weekend with a three-game sweep of San José State, May 8-9, at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs took both ends of a doubleheader to open the series, roaring to a huge 17-3 run-rule victory in game one before notching a 10-6 triumph in the nightcap. SDSU followed with an 8-3 win in the finale to claim its third series sweep of the season and maintain its lead by percentage points over Nevada (.630 to .625) in the Mountain West standings.
> With the results, the Aztecs have scored 10 or more runs in 15 games this season, posting a 14-1 record in such contests.
> SDSU pitchers posted double-digit strikeouts in all three games, fanning 33 Spartan batters overall. With the performance, the Aztecs have recorded double-digit strikeouts in 17 games, logging a 14-3 mark in those outings.
> SDSU improves to 32-7 against San José State since the Spartans joined the Mountain West during the 2013-14 academic year and have captured all 12 regular-season series played between the two schools during that span.
> Individually, Wyatt Hendrie was a driving force in the Aztecs' doubleheader sweep last Saturday, batting a combined .571 (4-7) with two homers, two doubles, nine RBIs and six runs scored. In addition to his RBI total, the redshirt sophomore led SDSU with 11 total bases and a whopping 1.714 slugging percentage for the weekend.
> In game one, Hendrie went 2-for-3 with a homer, double, five RBIs and three runs scored , as the Aztecs roared to a 17-3 triumph for their fourth run-rule victory of the year. The SDSU catcher set the tone with a two-run homer in the first, as the Scarlet and Black jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back. He also put a cherry on top of the victory by throwing out a would-be base stealer on the game's final play.
> In the nightcap, Hendrie finished with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with four more RBIs and two runs scored, propelling the Aztecs to a 10-6 triumph. He ripped a two-run double as part of five-run outburst in the third that put the host school in front for good, 5-2. Hendrie later belted his team-leading ninth homer of the year in the fifth, a two-run shot that gave SDSU a 7-2 advantage it would not relinquish.
> Making his first career start in game two vs. SJSU, Tre Brown (6-1) earned his team-leading sixth win of year, which is tied for the conference lead heading into this weekend. In a four-inning opener role, Brown positioned the Aztecs for victory, allowing two unearned runs on one hit and four walks while posting five strikeouts, which marked his second-highest total of the season. The SDSU senior held the Spartans to a .077 (1-13) batting average during his stint, including an 0-4 clip with a runner on base.
> In addition to Troy Melton (game one), Aaron Eden (3-0) was the Aztecs' other winning pitcher in the series, collecting his third victory of the year in the finale after tossing three scoreless innings in relief of Brian Leonhardt, yielding just one hit and one walk to go with a pair of strikeouts. Leonhardt pitched 3 1/3 innings to open the game, giving up two unearned runs on one hit and two walks against two strikeouts.
> Prior to Sunday's contest, SDSU recognized the accomplishments of its 12-man senior class, including student manager Matt Jaffe, along with Avery Jones, Jacob Flores, Daniel Ritcheson, Casey O'Sullivan, Christian Winston, Matt Rudick, Seth Urbon, Jacob Cruce, Mike Jarvis, Tre Brown and Ryan Orr.
STRIKEOUTS GALORE
> San Diego State recorded 27 games with 10 or more strikeouts during the 2019 campaign, marking the most double-digit strikeout performances for the Aztecs 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, 2009.
> This season, the Scarlet and Black has registered 10 or more strikeouts in 17 games already, notching a 14-3 record in those contests.
> The Aztecs have posted double-digit strikeouts in each of their last six home games, including a combined 33 Ks in their three-game sweep over San José State, May 8-9.
> In San Diego State's sweep of Dixie State, April 24-25, 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.
> After posting single digits in strikeouts during the opening series vs. USD, the Aztecs surpassed the double-digit plateau in that category in all four games against UC San Diego, including a season-high 13 in the first game of the doubleheader on Feb. 28.
> SDSU also fanned 12 batters in the first game of a twin-bill vs. Fresno State on March 6, before recording 11 strikeouts in both games of a doubleheader vs. Air Force on March 20.
> Additionally, the Aztecs whiffed 10 Spartan batters in the series finale on the road at San José State on March 28, before logging 11 strikeouts in each of the final two games at home vs. Nevada, April 10-11.
> Not to be outdone, San Diego big 21-14 victory at Fresno State when it fanned 11 Bulldog batters.
> During the shortened 2020 season, the SDSU pitching staff completed seven games with 10 strikeouts: vs. Virginia Tech, Cal State Fullerton, Iowa, Nebraska, at UC Irvine and twice against Oregon State. Not surprisingly, the Scarlet and Black went 6-1 in those contests.
> Dating back to 2019, the Aztecs are 36-15 in their last 51 games when striking out 10 or more batters.
GOING, GOING, GONE
> San Diego State has homered in 24 of 37 games this season, posting a 17-7 record in those contests.
> The Aztecs have emerged victorious in 39 of their last 54 games dating back to 2019 when launching one out of the park.
> SDSU went 17-5 during the 2019 campaign when going yard and 5-2 in 2020.
STREAKING AZTECS
> Matt Rudick has reached base in all 34 games he has made a plate appearance this season, but had his season-long 14-game hitting streak snapped in the series finale vs. San José State on May 9.
> Mike Jarvis owns the team's longest current hitting streak of seven games, with multiple hits in the last six, followed by Jacob Cruce (4) and Wyatt Hendrie (3).
> Jarvis leads the Aztecs with multiple hits in 22 games this season, while Rudick and Fein have recorded two or more hits in 19 outings, followed by Caden Miller (17), Cruce (13), Hendrie (13) and Brian Leonhardt (11).
> In addition, Fein tops the squad with two or more RBIs in 14 starts, while Leonhardt (11), Hendrie (11), Rudick (10) and Cruce (10) have compiled multiple RBIs in at least 10 games this year.
> Fein had a season-long 12-game hitting streak broken in the nightcap of a doubleheader vs. Dixie State on April 24. Earlier, Fein crafted an 11-game hitting streak to open the season; Rudick had a 10-game string halted in the home series vs. Air Force, while Jarvis had a 10-game streak of his own snapped in the series finale against Nevada on April 11.
DELIVERING IN CRUNCH TIME
> The Aztecs are batting .336 with two outs this season (145-439), 10 percentage points higher than their team average of .326 for the year.
> In addition, SDSU has compiled 42 percent of its RBI total (125/297) with two outs.
> The Aztecs are 5-0 in walk-off games this season and 4-0 in extra-inning contests.
OTHER TRENDS
> The Aztecs are 90-16 in their last 106 games when scoring five or more runs, including a 24-4 record already in 2021 after posting a 6-2 mark last year.
> San Diego State is 56-22 in its last 78 games following a loss, including a 9-3 mark this year.
> The Aztecs had their 29-game winning streak snapped when leading after six innings in the series finale against USD on Feb. 21.
> Conversely, SDSU put the brakes a 41-game losing streak when trailing after seven innings the previous day vs. the Toreros on Feb. 20.
> After scoring six runs in the bottom of the ninth in their dramatic 10-9 victory over New Mexico on April 2, the Aztecs snapped a 46-game losing streak when trailing after eight innings dating back to March 20, 2018 as SDSU rallied to beat CSU Bakersfield at home, 5-4.
> The Aztecs have won 45 straight games, including 14 this season, when leading after eight innings. SDSU's last loss when leading after the eighth occurred on March 10, 2019 in a 6-5 loss to Nevada at home in 10 innings.
STABILITY IN THE LINEUP
> Three players have started all 37 games for the Aztecs this season, including Jaden Fein (RF), Mike Jarvis (SS) and Jacob Cruce (1B), while Caden Miller (36 - 2B) has missed just one start.
> In addition, Brian Leonhardt has made 34 starts at designated hitter and one in left field, while Matt Rudick has recorded 34 starts in center field.
> Wyatt Hendrie (C - 32; LF - 2 ) and Ryan Orr (28 - LF) are the only other SDSU players have also logged more than 25 starts.
> Jarvis, Rudick and Hendrie have comprised the top three hitters in the Aztecs' batting order in 33 of 37 games this year.
HEAD COACH MARK MARTINEZ
> Mark Martinez is in his seventh season as head coach of the Aztecs and 16th 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 210-146 record (.590), highlighted by three Mountain West tournament championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. He has also posted a 106-76 ledger (.582) in conference regular-season games.
> 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.
> On April 2, 2021, Martinez earned his 200th career coaching victory after the Aztecs defeated New Mexico, 5-4, in 10 innings in the second game of a doubleheader.
> 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 league's tournament 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 44 SDSU players get drafted into the professional ranks, with 10 of those selections reaching 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 with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1984 and completed his master's in sports administration at New Mexico in 1990.
Aztecs Open Road Swing With Weekend Series at UNLV
