Aztecs Set for Key MW Series vs. Fresno State This Weekend

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State continues its homestand this weekend when it welcomes Fresno State for a key three-game Mountain West series, April 11-13, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Friday’s opener is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. PT, while Saturday’s showdown is slated for a 4 p.m. start, followed by Sunday’s finale at noon.

Live stats will be available for all three games, while Saturday’s contest will air live on the Mountain West Network. Links to both platforms can be found on GoAztecs.com. Fans can also catch Saturday’s action on their TVs or smartphones by downloading the MW app.

Plenty of promotions are on tap for the upcoming weekend, including Friday night when free Aztec drawstring bags will be presented to the first 250 fans in attendance. Additionally, the first 100 patrons will receive the second set of SDSU baseball trading cards on Saturday, while free eye black will be given away to the first 250 spectators for Sunday's matchup to help celebrate Kids Club Day at the ballpark.

Fresno State is one of four Mountain West teams San Diego State will face just once during the regular season along with Air Force (road), New Mexico (home) and Nevada (road).

The Aztecs are coming off a 10-4 setback to California Baptist at home in a non-conference game Tuesday, while the Bulldogs suffered an 8-4 loss to Saint Mary’s in Fresno that same evening.

Fresno State (15-17, 8-4 MW) enters the series alone in first place in the conference standings after sweeping New Mexico at home last weekend, while SDSU (10-22, 6-6 MW) finds itself in a four-way tie for third after dropping two of three games at Air Force.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, April 11, SDSU: Marko Sipila, RHP (3-2) vs. FS: Jack Anker, RHP (4-3)

Saturday, April 12, SDSU: Omar Serrano, RHP (2-4) vs. FS: Aidan Cremarosa, RHP (3-4)

Sunday, April 13, SDSU: Garvey Rumary, LHP (1-3) vs. FS: Kaleb Hay, RHP (1-1)

Marko Sipila and Omar Serrano are projected to make their ninth consecutive starts, while Garvey Rumary is pegged for his sixth straight start in a series finale and eighth of the year. All three hurlers were victorious in the Aztecs’ home sweep of UNLV, March 28-30.

In addition, Sipila was triumphant in his last outing at Air Force on April 6, when he gave up three runs on eight hits, offsetting three walks with six strikeouts in five innings.

Against UNLV, Serrano (7.0 IP) posted a career-high 10 strikeouts on March 29, which came on the heels of Sipila’s effort (8.0 IP) the previous night when he tied his collegiate best with nine punchouts, while Rumary (5.2 IP) completed the series with his first win of the year after yielding one run on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts.

In three career starts vs. Fresno State, Serrano is 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA with 22 strikeouts against only four walks in 21 1/3 innings. Both victories against the Bulldogs were recorded last year.

Meanwhile, Rumary made three relief appearances against Fresno State in 2024, pitching a combined two scoreless innings with three strikeouts against one hit and zero walks.

On the flip side, Anker was victorious in his lone start against the Aztecs in the second game of a doubleheader in Fresno on March 3, 2024, when yielded one run on four hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in seven innings.

SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
As of April 10, Aztec pitchers lead the Mountain West innings pitched (286.0) while ranking second in strikeouts (278) and sixth in both opposing batting average (.301) and ERA (7.24).

Offensively, SDSU tops the conference with 15 triples and is tied for third with 65 doubles. In addition, the Scarlet and Black occupies the fourth position in hits (313) while sharing the fifth spot in RBIs (175). The Aztecs also rank third in walks (137) and sixth in both on-base percentage (.370) and sixth in batting average (.280) while tying for sixth in runs scored (189).

Nevan Noonan is tied for second in the MW with 13 doubles and is slotted sixth with 44 hits, while Evan Sipe (8) and Drew Rutter (6) own the top two places in sacrifice hits. Rutter also shares the second spot with four triples, along with Jake Jackson.

Jackson and Jonathan Smith have already tied the program record with two triples in a game this year. Jackson accomplished the feat in the season opener vs. Seton Hall on Feb. 14, followed by Smith’s performance at Air Force on April 7.

On the mound, Evan Miranda and Peyton Rodgers share the Mountain West lead with 16 games pitched, followed by Chris Canavan, who is slotted fourth with 15 appearances, while Xavier Cardenas III is tied for third with four saves. Additionally, Rodgers shares the sixth spot with three saves of his own.

Elsewhere, Marko Sipila leads the league in innings pitched (46.2) while ranking fifth in strikeouts (45) and ninth in ERA (4.82).

Garvey Rumary also finds himself among the MW leaders, tying for sixth in fewest hits allowed (37), while Omar Serrano shares the seventh position in strikeouts (42).

AZTEC NOTEBOOK
Over the past 10 games, Jake Jackson (.467) and Nevan Noonan (.463) have posted batting averages well over .400, with Finley Bates (.382) and Daniel Arambula (.375) not far behind.

Noonan leads the Aztecs with 19 hits and 11 RBIs in that span, raising his season batting average from .284 to .341, while Jackson has five doubles and one triple to his credit.

In a doubleheader at Air Force on April 6, Jackson recorded eight consecutive hits across two contests and tied a single-game school record with four doubles in the opener, helping the Scarlet and Black to a big 15-4 victory.

For the season, Noonan leads the Aztecs with multiple hits in 13 games, followed by Daniel Arambula with 10. Noonan and Arambula are the only two players to start all 32 games for the Scarlet and Black this season.

In addition, Arambula is lone Aztec to start every contest at one position (third base), while Bates (leadoff) leads the team with 31 games played in the same spot in the batting order.

Last month, Arambula garnered Mountain West Freshman of the Week accolades after leading the Scarlet and Black to a doubleheader sweep of SJSU on March 15, when he batted a combined .571 (4-for-7) with two homers, eight RBIs and four runs scored.

All 17 of San Diego State’s freshmen have seen action this season, including pitcher Aaron Kniffin, who returned from an injury to make his collegiate debut against California Baptist on Tuesday. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native allowed one unearned run on one walk in 1 2/3 innings.

Against Nebraska on Feb. 16, the Aztecs employed 21 players on the night, including five true freshmen who were making their first career appearances (Evan Escobar, Cody Liscio, Dillon Marrisett, Alito McBean, Hank Tripaldi). Tripaldi singled in his first collegiate at-bat with a grounder through the right side in the eighth.

Escobar has started 12 of 18 games at shortstop, notching his first two collegiate RBIs on March 25 against UC Riverside, while Tripaldi made his first career start at Washington State on March 22.  Previously, McBean earned his initial career start on the mound in the Aztecs’ home opener against Seattle on Feb. 20.

In addition, catcher Xavier Farnum made his first collegiate start at USC on April 1, finishing with one hit, one walk and a run scored, while Keynen Gomez earned his first career start at second base vs. California Baptist.

SDSU has been without the services of another freshman CJ Moran, who has been sidelined the past 12 games with an injury.

Despite the setback, Moran still holds the team’s longest current hitting streak at nine games and is tied for third on the squad with multiple RBIs on five occasions alongside Bates.

For the season, Moran has posted a .365 batting average with a .456 on-base percentage. During his nine-game hitting streak from March 4-18, the Murrieta, California, native was hitting .500 (16-for-32) with three doubles, seven RBIs and nine runs scored, raising his season average from .262 to .365.

The Aztecs are 9-0 this season when leading after seven innings and 9-2 when outhitting the opposition. SDSU is also 8-1 this year when limiting opponents to five runs or fewer.

San Diego State has emerged victorious in 82 of its last 128 games dating back to 2019 when hitting a home run, including a 4-2 mark this year, a 14-13 ledger during the 2024 campaign and a 14-12 record in 2023.

Since 2019, the Aztecs are 77-62 in their last 139 games when striking out 10 or more batters. SDSU pitchers fanned 17 hitters in its season opener against Seton Hall at the MLB Desert Invitational.

The Aztecs are 175-68 over the last seven-plus seasons when scoring five or more runs, including a stellar 38-6 record during the 2017 campaign.

SERIES RECORD VS. FRESNO STATE
The Aztecs have faced the Bulldogs more than any other team in program history, posting an all-time record of 113-114 in a series dating back to 1939.

San Diego State captured four of six meetings against Fresno State last season, including a three-game sweep at Tony Gwynn Stadium in early May. The Aztecs opened with a thrilling 9-8 victory before winning by scores of 3-1 and 5-2 in the final two matchups.

With the results, SDSU completed its first-ever sweep of Fresno State and members of the Mountain West and first since 1968.

Following that series, the Aztecs earned two conference weekly honors, as Omar Serrano was named Mountain West Pitcher of the Week, while Zane Kelly was tabbed the league's Freshman of the Week.

Serrano was the winning pitcher in SDSU’s 3-1 victory in game two, allowing just one run on four hits and three walks in seven-plus innings. During his stint, the Aztec right-hander limited the Bulldogs to a .160 batting average (4-25) after they entered the series with a .294 clip, which ranked third in the MW at the time.

Meanwhile, Kelly was the hero of the 9-8 nail-biter after roping a pinch-hit three-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning, which ultimately provided the winning margin.

Among Aztec returners, Evan Sipe started four of five games against Fresno State in 2024, batting .375 (6-16) with three doubles four RBIs and two runs scored.

In addition, Finley Bates started all six games vs. the Bulldogs last season, hitting .292 (7-24) with one double, one RBI and three runs scored.

BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE
After sweeping New Mexico at home last weekend, Fresno State (15-17, 8-4 MW) took over sole possession of first place in the Mountain West, one game ahead of Nevada (7-5 MW) and two games ahead of the Aztecs, New Mexico, San José State and Washington State, all of whom are tied for third in the conference standings at 6-6.

However, the Bulldogs dropped an 8-4 decision to Saint Mary’s in a non-conference game at home on Tuesday night, with the Gaels scoring the final eight runs of the contest.

With the loss, Fresno State slipped to 10-7 at home this season while maintaining a 5-10 record on the road.  

After winning the MW tournament championship last season, the Bulldogs were picked to finish first in the league’s preseason coaches poll.

Fresno State sports four players with batting averages over .300, including Justin Stransky (.336), Lee Treviño (.333), Cam Schneider (.316) and Murf Gray (.315).

Stransky is tied for seventh in the Mountain West with six home runs and 27 RBIs and ranks ninth with a .444 on-base percentage, while Gray shares the fourth spot with 11 doubles.  In addition, Eddie Saldivar (.274) is slotted seventh with 29 runs scored.

On the mound, Friday’s projected starter Jack Anker tops the conference with 52 strikeouts, one ahead of Saturday’s scheduled starter Aidan Cremarosa (51), who is also slotted seventh in ERA (4.53) and opponent batting average (.269).

Anker and reliever Drew Townson are tied for second in the league with four victories apiece, while JT Guerrero shares the third spot with four saves.

Collectively, Bulldog pitchers are slotted second in the MW in fewest walks allowed (115) and occupy the third position in strikeouts (272) while ranking fourth in both ERA (5.69) and opposing batting average (.291).

At the plate, Fresno State batters occupy the second spot in the conference in hits (321) while ranking third in batting average (.290) and on-base percentage (.379) and fourth in slugging percentage (.424), RBIs (182) and runs scored (204).

Bulldog pitcher Victor Arreola was a prep teammate of Aztec outfielder Jake Jackson at Madison High School in San Diego. Arreola was a senior on the Warhawks squad in 2021, while Jackson was a sophomore.

In addition, Fresno State’s Cam Schneider (2023) and SDSU’s Keynen Gomez (2024) are both graduates of Bullard High School in Fresno.

Elsewhere, Bulldog pitchers Wyatt Thornbury (Carlsbad) and Ismael Castanon (Bonita Vista) both prepped at San Diego County high schools.

AZTECS IN MLB DRAFT
Since 1965, San Diego State has had 227 student-athletes chosen in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, including 31 selections since 2015.

Former Aztec center fielder Cole Carrigg was taken by the Colorado Rockies as a catcher in the Competitive Balance "B" Round with the 65th overall pick of the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft; pitcher TJ Fondtain was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 14th round (423rd overall), while fellow hurler Kelena Sauer went to the Toronto Blue Jays shortly thereafter in the 15th round (454th overall).

With its selections, SDSU has had multiple players picked in six of the last eight years and nine of the last 12.

In 2022, former Aztec right-hander Troy Melton was chosen by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round with the 117th selection overall.

The previous year, in 2021, SDSU had five individuals drafted by MLB organizations: Mike Jarvis and Wyatt Hendrie (Pirates), Matt Rudick (Mets), Jaden Fein (Nationals) and Michael Paredes (Twins).

LOCAL HEROES
San Diego State sports eight players on its current roster who are alumni of San Diego County high schools, including Xavier Farnum (Christian), Trevor Fox (St. Augustine); Jake Jackson (Madison); Nevan Noonan (Francis Parker); Peyton Rodgers (Torrey Pines); Eli Selga (Cathedral Catholic); Connor Shaw (Westview); and Evan Sipe (San Marcos).

MW TO HOST 2025 BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN MESA, ARIZONA
The Mountain West, in partnership with the Arizona Sport and Entertainment Commission, will host the Credit 1 Baseball Championship, May 21-24 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. The agreement marks the first time the MW baseball tournament will be held on a neutral field and in the state of Arizona.

“Hosting the baseball championship in a first-class venue like Sloan Park is a tremendous opportunity for the Mountain West, our baseball student-athletes and our fan base,” said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez.

The six-team double elimination format begins on Wednesday, May 21, with the No. 3 seed facing the No. 6 seed. The second game will feature the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds.

On Thursday, May 22, the top two seeded teams square off with the winners from Wednesday. The winners of Thursday’s first two contests advance to Friday, while the losing teams battle in elimination games. The MW champion will be crowned on Saturday, May 24, earning the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Ticket information for the 2025 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Baseball Championship will be available later this month.

UP NEXT
Following the weekend’s action, San Diego State will wrap up its homestand on Tuesday, April 15, when it plays host to UC San Diego in a crosstown battle at 6 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Tritons clash will air live on the Mountain West Network.