Cochell: Fullerton Must Be Selective in Series Opener : Titans: Coach is concerned that his batters will overswing at junk pitches delivered by Oklahoma State’s Burbank.

Cal State Fullerton Coach Larry Cochell is concerned that the Titans will try too hard to beat Oklahoma State pitcher Dennis Burbank in tonight’s College World Series game.

Cochell isn’t necessarily worried about his players’ emotions running too high because they’re going against a familiar face--several Titans played against Burbank when he was at Valencia High School and Cypress College, and Fullerton designated hitter/backup catcher Frank Charles caught Burbank at Pepperdine.

Cochell is worried that his hitters will swing at bad pitches.

Burbank, who is 9-1 with a 3.18 earned-run average, is a finesse pitcher. The junior right-hander has a decent fastball, but he relies mostly on a slow, overhand curve, a slider and a changeup.

The Titans, like most good college teams, hit fastballs extremely well. But they have had a tendency to overswing against junk-ball pitchers.

“You can’t overswing against Burbank because the ball is not going to be there,” Cochell said. “We’ve done well against some of the best fastball pitchers in the nation, but you have to adjust against a guy like Burbank.

“You have to think up the middle and take the ball the opposite way. He’ll try to keep the ball away from you.”

Oklahoma State (53-16) might run into similar problems against Fullerton pitchers James Popoff (12-4, 3.33 ERA) and Sam Colarusso (7-3, 3.24 ERA). Popoff, who experienced some arm stiffness this week, is expected to start today’s 5:10 p.m. PDT game, which will be televised live by ESPN.

But if Popoff doesn’t feel strong, Cochell said Colarusso will pitch.

Either way, the Cowboys, who also have had success against fastball pitchers, will have to adjust. Popoff and Colarusso are finesse pitchers, Popoff relies on a slow curve, changeup and knuckleball, and Colarusso on a slow curve and slider.

“They’re a lot like us,” Cochell said of the Cowboys. “They’re a good offensive club and very sound defensively. They went to a tough regional, like us, and beat the home team in a place that’s difficult to win at. They’re on a high, just as we are, and they have a feeling they can beat anyone.”

Fullerton (36-21) traveled to Austin, Tex., for the Central Regional and beat host Texas twice, 5-2 and 3-0, to gain its sixth College World Series berth. The Titans made just one error in four regional games.

Oklahoma State went to Tempe, Ariz., and beat host Arizona State twice, 17-9 and 10-5, to earn its eighth trip to Omaha in the past 10 years. The Cowboys also made one error in four regional games.

The third-seeded Cowboys, who have 10 players hitting better than .300, are led offensively by Michael Daniel, who is batting .360 with 20 home runs and 82 runs batted in, Bobby Carlsen (.355, six home runs, 58 RBIs) and Mitch Simons (.350, 11 home runs, 55 RBIs).

The sixth-seeded Titans are led by second baseman Mate Borgogno (.376, 16 doubles, 54 RBIs), third baseman Phil Nevin (.361, 14 home runs, 51 RBIs) and left fielder Rich Gonzales (.383, five home runs, 42 RBIs).

If Fullerton wins tonight, it will play Monday at 5:10 p.m. against the winner of today’s Louisiana State-The Citadel game. If the Titans lose, they’ll play the LSU-Citadel loser Monday at 1:10. ESPN will carry both Monday games live.