College Baseball World Series : Stanford Tags CS Fullerton With Its First Loss

Cal State Fullerton’s baseball team had two chances to earn a spot in the national championship game.

Now, it has one.

The Titans dropped their first opportunity Thursday in a 4-1 loss to defending champion Stanford. They must beat the Cardinal today to avoid elimination.

The winner will go on to the College World Series championship game Saturday, when it will play the winner of today’s game between top-seeded Arizona State and Wichita State.

“We’re a good ballclub. Losing one game isn’t going to destroy our confidence,” Titan Coach Larry Cochell said.

Before Thursday, Fullerton (43-17) had a fairly easy time, winning all six of its postseason games and twice pulling out dramatic rallies.

But there was nothing doing this time.

Stanford scored three runs in the second inning on just one hit, capitalizing on an error, two walks and Fullerton’s bungled defense of the Cardinal’s attempted double steal.

And Cardinal starter Lee Plemel held Fullerton to one run for the first time since January. Plemel (12-8) scattered seven hits in earning his second complete-game victory of the Series and his third of the postseason.

Fullerton’s Longo Garcia (10-6) pitched a four-hitter, not allowing a hit after the fourth, but he walked eight and took the loss.

“Longo pitched well enough to win,” Cochell said.

Fullerton’s best scoring chance came in the eighth, when the Titans loaded the bases with one out.

Mark Razook started the rally with a one-out double to right field, Fullerton’s only extra-base hit of the game. Then Bobby Jones singled, sending Razook to third, and Greg Mannion drove him in with a single.

A single by Shane Flores loaded the bases, bringing up Brent Mayne, who leads the Titans with a .395 batting average.

But Mayne grounded to first baseman Ron Witmeyer, who fielded it and threw to shortstop Lee Paulsen covering second. Plemel got over to first in time to finish the double play, and Stanford was out of the inning.

“That’s a tough play, with the runner right in line for the throw to second,” Stanford Coach Mark Marquess said. “He could have been safe and gone for one at first base, but he went for the gusto. I’m glad he did.”

Mayne had a tough time behind the plate as well, his misplay allowing the Cardinal’s third run to score in the second inning.

Stanford’s Paul Carey opened the inning, reaching first base on an error by first baseman Keith Kaub, who let a grounder get away.

With one out, Witmeyer lined a single up the middle, and Garcia walked Brian Johnson, loading the bases.

Garcia also walked Tim Griffin, forcing in the first run, and Eric DeGraw hit into a fielder’s choice to score Witmeyer.

With Johnson at third and DeGraw at first, Stanford started a double steal.

But with Johnson well down the third-base line, Mayne failed to feint him back before throwing to second. Johnson scored easily, and the Titans couldn’t even nail DeGraw, who got safely back to first.

Witmeyer’s solo home run in the fourth scored Stanford’s other run.

College Baseball Notes

Cal State Fullerton Coach Larry Cochell was named national coach of the year by Collegiate Baseball magazine. Cochell became only the third coach to take two different schools into the Series, joining Ron Polk (Georgia Southern and Mississippi State) and Ron Petroff (Northern Colorado and Rider). Cochell coached Oral Roberts to the Series in 1978.