Titans Stay Hot Despite the Cold : College World Series: Fullerton routs Tennessee, 11-0, to reach title game against tonight’s USC-Miami winner.

Tennessee shortstop Matt Whitley was hopeful that temperatures in the low 50s and stiff winds that made it even colder at Rosenblatt Stadium might slow down red-hot Cal State Fullerton on Thursday in the College World Series.

“We thought they would have a tougher time, being from Southern California,” Whitley said. “But they didn’t seem to have any problems.”

Fullerton continued to look every bit the No. 1 team in the nation by blowing out the Volunteers, 11-0, before 14,242.

Catcher Brian Loyd hit a grand slam and third baseman Tony Martinez hit a three-run homer during a seven-run first inning that started the Titans on their way to their 17th consecutive victory.

Left-hander Tim Dixon pitched eight innings in his best performance of the season and Martinez made several spectacular plays.

The victory moved Fullerton (56-9) into Saturday’s championship game against the winner of tonight’s game between sixth-seeded USC and third-seeded Miami.

“We just happened to run into the No. 1 team in the country,” said Tennessee Coach Rod Delmonico, whose team had lost to the Titans, 11-1, on Monday and finished 54-16. “I have to admit, it looked like David vs. Goliath out there.”

Fullerton, winner of national championships in 1979 and 1984, will be making its fourth appearance in the title game, its second in four years. The Titans, who lost to Pepperdine, 3-2, in the 1992 final, are trying to become the first top-seeded team to win the tournament under the format that was adopted in 1988.

“Just like USC, we have some momentum right now,” said Loyd, who also had two singles. “We thought we were playing good ball a few weeks ago when we won the Big West tournament, but we’ve taken things to another level.”

Fullerton had 15 hits and knocked out starter Scott Schroeffel (7-3) in the first inning. Loyd hit a curveball against the wind into the left-field bleachers for his 10th homer. Martinez then did the same for his sixth homer two batters after second baseman Ed Lewis dropped a pop fly that would have ended the inning.

Dixon (13-0), who attended Long Beach State, San Jose City College and Arkansas Little Rock before transferring for this season, gave up five hits. Mark Chavez pitched the ninth to preserve the Titans’ third shutout of the season.

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World Series Notes

Sophomore left-hander Randy Flores (12-3) is expected to start today for USC against Miami. Flores pitched a complete game in the Trojans’ 9-4 victory over Oklahoma on Sunday. Left-hander J.D. Arteaga (11-2) will start for Miami. Arteaga pitched a complete game in the Hurricanes’ 4-2 victory over Florida State on Sunday.