COLLEGE BASEBALL : Titan Freshman Steps In to Stop Stanford

Three games into the season, it’s obvious the Cal State Fullerton baseball program has lots of work planned for freshman pitcher Ted Silva.

Silva was shaky in the season opener Friday but appeared as seasoned as a senior Sunday, retiring all 10 batters he faced, as the Titans rallied for a 7-5 victory over Stanford in a nonconference baseball game at Fullerton.

Silva, a right-hander, entered in the sixth inning with runners on first and third, two outs, and Fullerton already trailing, 5-3. He struck out Brian Dallimore swinging to end the threat.

Silva, from Redondo Beach High, was perfect over the final three innings, finishing with four strikeouts. In his collegiate debut Friday, Silva walked both batters he faced before being removed.

“I wanted to get him right back in there in a tight game,” said George Horton, associate head coach. “It was a perfect situation for him. . . . We think a lot of him.”

Said Silva: “I just felt a lot more comfortable today. Once I got that first out, I felt focused and all right.”

Fullerton (2-1) got even in the bottom of the sixth when Tony Banks walked with one out and scored on Jim Betzsold’s two-run home run to left. It was Betzsold’s first home run this season.

The Titans took the lead with two runs in the eighth.

Banks started the rally with a double off the right-field wall. Betzsold then received an intentional walk, and Stanford pitcher Greg Mix was replaced by Dan Reed.

Fullerton’s Nate Rodriquez was in an obvious bunting situation, but Reed walked him on five pitches. With the bases loaded, Jeff Ferguson, the ninth-place hitter, singled to left on the first pitch to drive in two runs for a 7-5 lead.

Fullerton started the scoring in the first inning, when sophomore center fielder Dante Powell hit his second home run of the season over the left-field fence.

Stanford (3-2) got even in the third when Brodie VanWagenen scored on wild pitch.

The Titans came right back in the third for two more runs. Adam Millan walked and Bret Hemphill singled with two outs. D.C. Olsen then drove in both with a double to the fence in left center.

Olsen’s two-run home run in the 10th inning Saturday gave Fullerton a 6-4 victory over Stanford, and the Cardinal won the series opener, 4-3, Friday.

Stanford’s Jed Hansen had an RBI single Sunday to cut Fullerton’s lead to 3-2 in the fourth. Hansen tied it, 3-3, in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.

Stanford took the lead in the same inning when Todd LaRocca lined a two-run home run down the left-field line off Titan starter Derek Fahs.

“The thing I felt best about this weekend was the team’s attitude and leadership that was demonstrated,” Titan Coach Augie Garrido said. “That’s what’s most important and most difficult to get into place this early.”