Titans Play Fresno State for NCAA Berth

Despite struggling to its worst overall record in 12 years (36-30-1), Cal State Fullerton’s hopes for a 10th straight NCAA playoff appearance are still alive. The Titans, however, will have to get past two of college baseball’s best pitchers this weekend to keep the streak going.

Fullerton, winner of the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. South Division with a 21-9 mark, faces North champion Fresno State (39-20 overall and 23-7 in conference) in a best-of-three playoff series this weekend for the league’s NCAA berth.

Fresno State, ranked 15th in the nation, will have more going for it than the home field advantage at Beiden Field tonight and Saturday night (7 o’clock) in the first two games of the series. (Game 3, if necessary will be Sunday at 1 p.m.). The Bulldogs’ first two starting pitchers have combined for more than 300 strikeouts and a won-loss mark of 25-6. PCAA Player of the Year Mark Gardner, who leads the country in strikeouts with 163 and is 14-4 with a 2.95 earned- run average, will pitch in Game 1 and Ken Crew (11-2, 2.51 ERA and 145 strikeouts) will pitch Game 2.

The Titans, who dropped two of three games here during the regular season, will probably counter with left-handers Dion Beck (9-7, 4.27 ERA) and Mark Belanger (8-5, 4.40 ERA), but--as is always the case in a series like this--the whole staff is liable to see action in a variety of starting and relief roles. Right-hander Mike Schooler (8-0, 4.15 ERA) could be the starter in Game 3 for the Titans.

“We all feel good,” shortstop Shane Turner said in reference to Fullerton’s disappointing season. “We struggled, but all of our goals are still out in front of us.”

Turner, who led the PCAA with a .462 average in conference action, is one of four veterans who will have to have a big series if the Titans are to continue on to the regional playoffs. Second baseman Jose Mota (.319) and outfielder John Fishel (.324) were first-team all-conference selections. Third baseman Blaine Larker (.357 in PCAA play) has also played a part in the Titan attack.

Fresno State’s offense is paced by second-team all-conference picks Robert Bafia (.380, 10 homer runs) and Cal Cain (.366).

Titan Notes

Titan Coach Augie Garrido, in his 13th season at Fullerton, is a Fresno State graduate. Rumors have him heading for Arizona State or USC (a job he has long coveted) after this season, and, for the first time, he is admiting that he will listen to other offers. . . . The Titans, who have never played a post-season game at home, won the NCAA West Regional in 1979 and again last year in Fresno. . . . Titan outfielder John Fishel established NCAA records for career games (293) and career at bats (1,107). . . . Bulldog Coach Bob Bennett, the PCAA Coach of the Year, is in his 17th season at the helm of the Fresno State program.