COLLEGE BASEBALL : Fullerton Reaches World Series

Cal State Fullerton is back in the College World Series for the seventh time under Coach Augie Garrido, but this time Garrido says it’s particularly special.

That’s because Garrido likes the chemistry and courage displayed by this year’s Titans, which showed up again Sunday when they came back from a four-run deficit to defeat Rice, 8-7, and win the NCAA South Regional in Alex Box Stadium.

Fullerton, the nation’s top-ranked team with a 53-9 record, will be making its second consecutive World Series appearance, ninth as a school and its third trip to Omaha in the last four years. Play begins Friday, but pairings won’t be announced until Tuesday.

“Our team put together two courageous games in a row, and that’s the kind of team this is,” Garrido said. The Titans also fell behind, 5-0, in the top of the first inning against Rice a day earlier, but recovered to win, 17-7.

Fullerton won despite getting only eight hits, only the 15th time this season the Titans have not had 10 or more. The 11 walks Rice pitchers allowed were a big factor.

Rice scored three runs in the fifth to build a four-run lead before Fullerton struggled back and scored the winning run with only one hit in the ninth.

D.C. Olsen’s second hit of the game started the inning, and Joe Fraser reached base when the Rice pitcher, Matt Anderson, missed getting Olsen at second on Fraser’s bunt. Another bunt, this one by tournament most valuable player Jack Jones, advanced both runners, and reserve Mike Lamb’s sacrifice fly brought in the winning run.

Lamb had entered the game on defense at third base after C.J. Ankrum had unsuccessfully pinch hit for Tony Martinez in the eighth.

Mark Kotsay was again the Titans’ clutch relief pitcher. The star center fielder came on in the ninth and held the Owls to only one walk. Three other batters grounded out, and when Kotsay got Lance Berkman to bounce out to Fraser at second, the celebration began.

“There was a lot of tension and pressure in this game and both teams played like it,” Garrido said. “I think we felt the pressure to win. And that’s the only time this team seems to have problems. I think it was a matter of wanting to win too much.”

Rice Coach Wayne Graham was impressed.

“They’ve got one of the soundest teams you’d ever want to see,” he said. “I don’t think even in pro ball you see that many teams that are as sound fundamentally as what they are.”