Fullerton Earns Trip to Omaha

Mike Lamb drove Cal State Fullerton past Rice and into the College World Series with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly that scored the winning run in the Titans’ 8-7 victory in the NCAA South Regional on Sunday.

“I was a little nervous up there, but it’s a situation I’ve been waiting for for a long time,” said Lamb, a freshman who lost his starting spot and struggled to find a position this season.

The victory--Fullerton’s second against Rice after beating the Owls, 17-7, on Saturday--gave Fullerton (53-9) a perfect record in the regional.

“I’m kind of emotional about this game,” Fullerton Coach Augie Garrido said. “I thought the team really put together two courageous games in a row.”

Fullerton, ranked No. 1 nationally, will be making its ninth appearance in the College World Series at Omaha.

It was the first regional for Rice.

Fullerton was leading, 7-6, in the bottom of the eighth when Rice’s David Brooks homer tied it for the second time in the game and set the stage for Lamb’s heroics.

Lamb, who had not played in the regional, was put in at third base in the eighth. Garrido decided not to substitute for Lamb, who was batting .200 and had only 13 hits and nine strikeouts on the season, because he wanted him in defensively.

“I don’t remember the last time I drove in the winning run,” Lamb said. “Probably sometime in high school, but I don’t remember. I’ll remember this one though.”

Rice (43-19), which struggled with wild pitching throughout the tournament, came from behind to win three games in the regional.

The Owls got a good effort from Mike Wilson, who went six innings to match his longest outing ever. Wilson gave up five hits and four runs while walking five and striking out three.

Rice jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Fullerton threatened in the second--scoring one run and putting two on with no one out--before Wilson struck out Joe Frazier, got Jack Jones to pop up, and Tony Martinez to ground out.

The Owls added two in the second on Jose Cruz Jr.’s double.

Rice scored three more in the fifth, including two on walks with the bases loaded.

With the bases loaded in the eighth, Matt Anderson walked Robert Matos to cut Rice’s lead to 6-5. A passed ball by catcher Patrick Hallmark allowed another run to tie the score, then Mark Kotsay’s sacrifice fly drove in the go-ahead run to give Fullerton its first lead of the game.

Mark Chavez (4-2) got the victory. Kotsay, who played center field the rest of the game, pitched the final inning and got the save.

Anderson (11-2) took the loss.