Titans Slam Dance With Anteaters, 8-2 : Baseball: Kevin Costner, a 1978 Fullerton graduate, throws out inaugural first pitch.

Cal State Fullerton built it, Kevin Costner came, and the Titan baseball team followed through with a script that must have earned rave reviews from the movie star and Fullerton graduate.

Phil Nevin put the Titans ahead with a two-run home run in the fifth inning, and Dante Powell put the game out of reach with a three-run homer in the sixth as Fullerton defeated UC Irvine, 8-2, Monday night in front of 2,054 fans and various paparazzi in the Titan Sports Complex.

Senior right-hander Dan Naulty shook off early control problems to pitch a five-hitter and help seventh-ranked Fullerton (35-14, 15-6) move into second place in the Big West Conference, a game behind Fresno State (16-5) and a half-game ahead of Cal State Long Beach (14-6).

The evening was filled with hoopla, from Costner’s appearance to a pregame introduction of Titan seniors playing their last home game, to a song performed by about 60 Sigma Kappa sorority members for Costner and his wife, Cindy.

And, much to Fullerton Coach Augie Garrido’s pleasure and somewhat to his surprise, it all went off without a hitch.

“Everyone pulled together on this one,” Garrido said. “I don’t know if that’s the first time that’s happened, but it is for baseball. What happened reflects the entire university’s efforts, and hopefully this will be a springboard for all athletics here.”

The Titans, to their credit, didn’t get caught up in the distractions. They played an errorless game and came through with several clutch hits. Chris Powell, Craig Fairbrother and Jim Betzsold each had two hits for Fullerton, and Betzsold had two runs batted in.

Jon Damush hit a bases-empty homer in the third inning, and Dave Dieter had an RBI triple in the fourth for Irvine (21-25, 9-11). David Bladow took the loss.

Some 30 newspaper and magazine photographers and a few television cameramen were on hand to capture the pregame ceremony, in which Costner received a distinguished alumni award and a Titan jersey with the No. 1 and his name on the back.

Costner, a 1978 Fullerton graduate who has starred in such box-office hits as “Bull Durham,” “Dances With Wolves” and “JFK,” received a standing ovation as he entered the stadium wearing a Titan letterman’s jacket, blue jeans and cowboy boots.

He high-fived several Fullerton players and mingled with them in the dugout as Titan Athletic Director Bill Shumard introduced dignitaries in attendance.

“He’s a good guy, a Titan,” Nevin said. “It was like we all were good friends.”

With the theme from “Field of Dreams,” another of his films, serving as background music, Costner then made a brief speech tinged with emotion and some levity before throwing out the first pitch.

“I’m more proud of belonging to this university today than when I was attending it,” Costner said as fans--at least the Fullerton students in attendance--began to chuckle. “All right. Don’t kill the moment. The music is just getting good.

“If I could wish one thing for you in life, it’s to have the feeling Cindy and I have today being part of this. Usually these things are for when people retire. I’m not retiring, and I’m not sick.”

Costner then showed why he didn’t need any stunt doubles in his baseball movies, firing a hard curveball to Fullerton catcher Jason Moler to officially inaugurate the new stadium.

Titan Notes

Fullerton third baseman Phil Nevin and catcher Jason Moler learned Monday that they are among the 40 candidates that remain in contention for spots on the 1992 U.S. Olympic baseball team. . . . Huntington High School pitcher Jon Ward, who has an 8-0 record, 1.43 earned-run average and 101 strikeouts, delivered a signed a letter of intent to the Titans on Monday.