April 22, 2003

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THIS WEEK
San Diego State begins the week with a contest against cross-town rival University of San Diego on Tuesday, April 22, at 3:00 p.m. at USD's Cunningham Stadium.

The Aztecs will then travel to Colorado Springs for a Mountain West Conference series against Air Force. SDSU will face the Falcons in the first game of the three-game set on Friday (April 25) at 2:00 p.m. (MDT), then continue with contests on Saturday (April 26) and Sunday (April 25) at Falcon Field at 1:00 p.m. (MDT) each day.

This weekend's series was originally scheduled to be played in San Diego, but was changed when weather conditions forced the Falcons to play at Tony Gwynn Stadium during the weekend of March 21-23.

This will be the third of three consecutive conference road series for the Aztecs, who played at New Mexico and Utah the past two weekends.

THROUGH THE YEARS
This year marks the 65th season of Aztec baseball since the sport was elevated to major status in 1936. The school did not field varsity teams from 1943 to 1945.

SDSU's all-time record entering the week (since 1936) stands at 1985-1196-37 (.623).

Since 1936, the program has had only four head coaches: Charlie Smith (1936-64), Lyle Olson (1965-71), Jim Dietz (1972-2002) and Tony Gwynn (present).

SERIES RECORDS
San Diego State leads the series with University of San Diego 53-36-2 after the Toreros defeated SDSU, 8-4, last week at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The teams first faced each other during the 1962 campaign.

Last season, the teams spilt their season series, with each winning on the opponents' home field. Prior to last Tuesday's meeting, the Aztecs and Toreros had split their last six meetings with two of the last four encounters going extra innings.

San Diego State holds a 46-14 advantage in its series against Air Force that began during the 1961 season. That record includes three wins by SDSU when the teams met in San Diego in mid-March.

Last season, the Aztecs won two of three from the Falcons in San Diego, then dropped all three games of the series in Colorado Springs. SDSU then defeated Air Force in the second round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Provo, Utah.

San Diego State is 16-7 against Air Force since both teams joined the Mountain West Conference for the 2000 season. Both schools were also members of the Western Athletic Conference from 1980 to 1999. The Aztecs have an all-time record of 16-7 vs. the Falcons in games played in Colorado Springs.

SCOUTING THE TOREROS
University of San Diego enters the week with an overall record of 22-24 (11-10 West Coast Conference) after winning two of three at Saint Mary's last weekend. The Toreros have won three of their last four, and have wins over USC, Washington and Oregon State this season.

USD is led offensively by right fielder Joey Prast (.380, 21 2B, 10 HR, 49 RBI), center fielder Tony Perez (.358, 52 runs, 4 HR, 21 RBI) and first baseman Lucas Wennersten (.333, 13 2B, 35 RBI). USD's team batting average stands at .292. Prast was named the MVP at the Clash of the Conferences tournament earlier this season, an event in which SDSU also participated.

The Toreros' starting pitcher for Tuesday's contest will be a game-time decision as they used 11 different hurlers last weekend. Tony Perez, who also starts in center field, is USD's top relief pitcher with eight saves and a 5.62 earned run average. The team ERA is 5.43.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Air Force will play a home game vs. Metro State on Tuesday (April 22) prior to facing San Diego State this weekend. The Falcons are 11-26 overall and 0-17 in Mountain West Conference play.

AF is led by left fielder Josh Phifer (.453, 18 2B, 10 HR, 47 RBI), center fielder Mike Rose (.375, 4 HR, 32 RBI) and designated hitter Derck Kasel (.366, 13 2B, 24 RBI. Kasel was the MWC Player of the Week last week after going 10-for-13 against league-leading UNLV in three games. As a team, Air Force is batting .338 overall and .288 in league games.

The Falcons' pitching rotation for the weekend is expected to be:

Fri: Paul Vignola (RHP, 5-4, 8.33)
Sat: Josh Zumbrun (RHP, 1-1, 5.67)
Sun: Clayton Couch (RHP, 0-2, 9.78)

Both of the team's saves this season have been recorded by Jason Pruitt (0-3, 10.66). The team earned run average is 8.13.

MOST RECENTLY
San Diego State won two of three games at Utah last weekend to remain in second place in the MWC standings, tied with Brigham Young at 11-7.

On Thursday, Utah's Clay Westmoreland scattered nine hits in a complete-game effort as the Utes defeated SDSU, 7-2. Aztec starter Mike Moat also tossed a complete game, but suffered the loss to fall to 3-4. Three of the seven runs he allowed on the day were unearned. Kyle Floquet led the Aztec offense with three hits while Anthony Gwynn and Chad Corona had two hits apiece.

After Friday's action was washed out by rain, the teams played a doubleheader on Saturday. In the first game, Landon Burt had a pair of hits and two runs batted in while Josh Allen and Kyle Floquet each had two hits as the Aztecs won by the score of 5-3. Senior Joe Carque went 6.2 innings to record his fourth win of the year with lefty drew Jenson finishing the contest to pick up his second save.

In game two of the twin bill, Chad Corona capped a five-run ninth-inning rally with a three-run homer as SDSU came back to defeat the Utes, 10-9. Josh Allen continued his hot hitting with a single, triple and home run while Anthony Gwynn also collected three hits. Will Miller picked up his first win of the year in relief while Drew Jenson got his third save of the season and second of the day by tossing the final inning.

HEAD COACH TONY GWYNN
Tony Gwynn was hired as San Diego State's head baseball coach on September 20, 2001. Last year he served as a volunteer coach for the Aztecs under Jim Dietz, who retired at the end of the 2002 season.

A former Aztec who played baseball at San Diego State from 1979 to 1981, Gwynn was a two-time all-American outfielder who finished his SDSU career with a .398 batting average. He also played basketball for four years at San Diego State, and still holds the school's single-game, season and career assist records.

Gwynn concluded a 20-year major league career with the San Diego Padres in 2001. With a career batting average of .338, he won eight National League batting titles, five Gold Gloves, and made 15 appearances in the annual All-Star Game.

AZTEC PITCHING ROTATION
SDSU's pitching rotation for this week is expected to be as follows:

Tues. - Ben Coon (LHP, 3-3, 5.60)
Fri. - Mike Moat (RHP, 3-4, 3.58)
Sat. - Joe Carque (LHP, 4-2, 4.40)
Sun. - Ronnie Lindsey (RHP, 2-3, 3.28)

WORKING OVERTIME
Four of San Diego State's last 11 contests have gone to extra innings with the Aztecs winning two of those four games.

On the year, SDSU has played six extra-inning affairs and is 2-4 in those contests.

Three of the team's seven conference losses have come in extra-inning games.

The six extra-inning games this season is the most for an Aztec squad since the 1996 campaign when it had nine.

JENSON PITCHING TOUGH
Junior lefty Drew Jenson, who has made nine relief appearances this season, leads the SDSU pitching staff in wins with five.

He notched his first career save as an Aztec in the team's 2-1 win over Brigham Young on April 3, throwing the final 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. He picked up saves number two and three last Saturday in the doubleheader sweep at Utah.

In his last five relief appearances, he has allowed four earned runs and struck out 13 while walking four over 15.1 innings while walking four.

His earned run average now stands at 2.39 this season.

WILSON STEPS UP
Since stepping in as the starting second baseman seven games ago, junior Ryan Wilson has gone 8-for-24 (.333) with six runs scored, two doubles, four walks and four RBI.

In those seven contests, he is fielding .975 with one error in 40 chances.

Wilson has a six-game hitting streak ended last Tuesday vs. University of San Diego during which he hit .409 (9-for-22).

CARQUE IN CONTROL
Senior right-hander Joe Carque has had three of his best outings of the season in his last three starts, and was finally rewarded for his efforts with a win over Utah last Saturday.

In those three contests (vs. BYU, at New Mexico, at Utah), he has gone a total of 22 innings, allowing seven earned runs with three walks and 14 strikeouts. His ERA in those three games is 2.86.

In his last six appearances, he has walked six and struck out 19.

LINDSEY PROVIDES RELIEF
After eight consecutive relief appearances, freshman Ronnie Lindsey made his first start since Feb. 22 at Miami last Saturday in the second game of the doubleheader at Utah.

In that contest, he went five innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five. He left the contest with a 5-1 lead, but was not involved in the decision.

Lindsey had been superb out of the bullpen over the past six weeks as one of SDSU's most effective relievers. In those last eight relief appearances covering 21.1 innings, he allowed five earned runs and while striking out 29.

His nine strikeouts in 6.2 against UNLV on March 30 was a career high for the first-year Aztec from Point Loma HS.

BURT CONTINUES SOLID PLAY
Junior outfielder Landon Burt has hit safely in five of his last seven games including going 4-for-9 with a pair of doubles, four runs scored and three RBIs in Saturday's games at Utah.

He is among the team leaders in hitting with a .369 average overall as well as in league play where he is batting .433.

He has 20 walks and 13 strikeouts, and is the only Aztec to have walked more times than struck out this season. His on-base percentage is a team-leading .496 in all games and .545 in league contests.

FLOQUET FILLS IN NICELY
Kyle Floquet was pressed into the starting role at shortstop last weekend due to an injury to James Guerrero.

He proceeded to go 5-for-13 in the series at Utah with two runs scored, a triple and two runs batted in. He was also flawless in the field.

In the 15 games in which he has played, Floquet is hitting .394 (13-for-33) with two doubles, a triple and five RBI.

COOK DOUBLES UP
Senior infielder Garrett Cook appears to have a knack for hitting doubles. Of his 19 hits this season, 11 have been two-baggers.

His 11 doubles is second on the team even though he has appeared in only 29 games (20 starts) this season.

Cook has also been solid defensively while playing both first and third base. He has committed just two errors this season (while at third) and is fielding .983 on the year.

ALLEN ON A TEAR
Catcher Josh Allen had an excellent day at the plate in last Saturday's doubleheader at Utah. Over the two games, he went 5-for-7, and also reached base on a walk and hit by pitch.

He hit for the cycle on the day with a single and double in game one followed by a single, triple and home run in the second game.

Allen, who has appeared in 23 games (21 starts) this season, leads the team with 12 doubles.

He currently has an 11-game hitting streak (longest in the club this season) during which he is batting .439 (18-for-41) with 12 runs scored, nine RBI, seven doubles, a triple and home run. He has scored at least one run in each of SDSU's last five contests.

GUERRERO AMONG OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Freshman shortstop James Guerrero has missed the last four games after injuring his shoulder diving for a pop fly at New Mexico on April 12.

He has been one of the team's offensive leaders in 2003. He has reached base safely (either via a hit or base on balls) in 35 of the 36 games in which he has played with the exception of the March 28 contest at UNLV.

His 29 walks leads the team and is 11 more than the next highest individual total. His season on-base percentage stands at .434.

Guerrero is also proving himself as a hitter in his first year at SDSU, batting .311 with eight doubles, three triples, two homers and a team-leading 30 runs batted in. In addition, he is tied for first on the squad with 31 runs scored.

He is batting .404 (19-for-47) with runners in scoring position and has recorded 12 two-out RBIs this season.

GWYNN GETS OFFENSIVE
Junior Anthony Gwynn has a 10-game hitting streak in progress, the second longest for an Aztec this season. During that streak he has gone 16-for-44 (.364) with six runs scored, five RBI, four doubles and a triple.

He has also been a defensive standout in center this season for the Aztecs. He has made four full-out diving catches of balls in the gap that have saved several runs in close games.

He leads the team in steals with 21 and in runs scored with 32. He has started all 41 games and has grounded into only one double play.

TEAM LEAGUE LEADERS
San Diego State leads the conference in earned run average for all games at 4.97. However, they are sixth in team batting average at .285.

Overall, the Aztecs are second in walks with 170 and second in triples with 20.

In MWC games only, SDSU ranks first in team ERA (4.84) and third in batting average (.322).

San Diego State tops the conference (MWC contests only) walks with 79. It is second in doubles (45) and triples (10) and on-base percentage (.407).

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS
Several Aztecs appear among the individual conference leaders in various categories.

Mike Moat (3.58) ranks first in overall earned run average while Joe Carque (4.40) is fifth. James Guerrero is second in walks (29) while Anthony Gwynn holds the lead in steals (21). Landon Burt's .369 overall batting average is among the league's top 10 (ninth).

In MWC games only, Burt's .433 average is second best in the league. Drew Jenson's 2.70 earned run in league contests is tops among conference pitchers with Ronnie Lindsey's 2.75 a close second. Other MWC-game leaders include Guerrero in walks (14) and sacrifice flies (3), and Gwynn in steals (7). Burt's .545 on-base percentage ranks second as well.

TONY GWYNN STADIUM
The Aztecs' home facility has been ranked 17th in the nation in a poll of collegiate coaches conducted by Baseball America.

It ranks as the fourth-best in the western U.S. behind stadiums at Stanford, Arizona State and Hawaii.

Tony Gwynn Stadium was ranked 15th in a poll of college baseball Sports Information Directors. Again, the park was fourth in the west, this time behind Hawaii, Stanford and Fresno State.

Since the facility opened for the 1997 season, San Diego State's record there stands at 122-72 (.629).

AZTEC NOTES
Chad Corona is on a five-game hitting streak during which he is hitting .368 (7-for-19).

Jake McLintock leads the Aztecs with 15 multiple-hit games as well as in multiple-RBI contests with seven.

The Aztecs have had four-hit games by three players this season: Jordan Swaydan, Landon Burt and Josh Allen.

Mike Moat has walked only three batters while striking out 19 in his last 32.2 innings.

Anthony Gwynn is the only Aztec to have started all 41 games this season.

After hitting just two homers in his first two seasons as an Aztec, Rielly Embrey has assumed the team home run lead with five this season.

Aztec pinch hitters are 6-for-24 (.250) this season. Landon Burt is 2-for-3 in a pinch-hitting role while Rielly Embrey, James Guerrero, Garrett Cook and Josh Allen have all recorded hits as pinch-hitters.

The Aztecs have been successful on 16-of-20 stolen base attempts in conference play. Opponents have stolen only 14-of-29.

SDSU has recorded 20 triples this season compared to just six by opponents. In nine league games, the Aztecs have 10 three-baggers to three by foes.

The Aztecs have executed only 12 sac bunts this season, with six coming the last eight contests. The record for fewest in a season (since SDSU joined Division I in 1969) is 26 (1980, 1981, 1989).

GAMES ADDED
Due to rainouts earlier in the season, San Diego State has added a pair of games with UC Riverside

SDSU will visit UCR on Tuesday, April 29, with the Highlanders coming to Tony Gwynn Stadium on Tuesday (May 6). Start time for both contests is 6:00 p.m.

In addition, the contest vs. New Mexico scheduled for Saturday, May 17, will now be played as part of a doubleheader on Friday, May 18, beginning at 1:00 p.m. SDSU graduation ceremonies slated for Tony Gwynn Stadium on the 19th preclude the teams from playing that day.

ON DECK
Following the away contest at UC Riverside on Tuesday (April 29 at 6:00 p.m.), San Diego State returns home for a three-game conference series against league-leading UNLV.

Game one of the series will be played on Friday (May 2) at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium with single games on Saturday (May3) and Sunday (May 4) scheduled for 1:00 p.m. starts.