After coming from behind to beat in-state rival Texas Tech Wednesday night, the Horned Frogs baseball team now turns attention to conference rival, the San Diego State Aztecs.The 8-6 victory for the No. 27 Horned Frogs (31-10, 12-2) over the Texas Tech Red Raiders (25-18, 7-10) marked the first time they have come back from a four-run deficit to win a game since March 22, when they beat the BYU Cougars 6-5.
“Obviously, you grow stronger in those situations,” said Schlossnagle on Thursday about Wednesday night’s game. “I thought last night was a reflection or an experienced team and a team that has a lot of character.”
Now the Horned Frogs will face the San Diego State Aztecs (27-18, 11-4), who are currently in second place in the Mountain West Conference.
“They certainly pitch very well, and they have as much or more pitching depth than we do,” Schlossnagle said. “All bets are off when you have two teams that can really pitch.”
Junior reliever Sam Demel said the Aztecs are extremely confident, and the Frogs will need to play solid to beat them.
“They are coming in, and they think they are going to take the series from us,” Demel said. “Last year, they were extremely talented. They are playing well, and we have to play like we have been against BYU and (Texas Tech).”
Last year, the Aztecs took three of the four games against TCU, including one in the conference preseason tournament. All of those games were played in San Diego.
“We didn’t hit their pitching very well at all last year,” Schlossnagle said. “They have as good of pitching or better this year. On paper it looks like they were a better offensive team last year.”
The Aztecs are coached by soon-to-be inducted Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Tony Gwynn. Gwynn played for the San Diego Padres for 20 seasons and for the Aztecs for three seasons during his college years.
“Luckily he won’t be out there playing so that will be good for us,” junior outfielder Clint Arnold said.
As a team, the Aztecs have an earned run average of 3.94 and have 338 strikeouts compared to 161 walks.
“I know they have a lot of talent and I think they are a good team,” Arnold said. “This is going to be a battle this weekend. It is going to be a lot of fun.”
The three-game series will begin Friday night at 6:30 in Lupton Stadium.
