Pitcher Makes a Wise Investment on His Future

It seems a little strange to be talking with Cal State Fullerton pitcher Matt Wise about what a good season he’s having, when his won-loss record is 2-6.

But that’s definitely the case.

Based on performance, Wise has been one of the best pitchers in the Big West this season. He has given up only 66 hits in 76 2/3 innings, and his 3.52 earned-run average is fifth-best in the conference, and third among starters.

His luck just hasn’t been good.

In five of the six games Wise has lost, Fullerton’s offense has been nearly nonexistent. The Titans were shut out twice, held to one run two other times and managed to score only twice in another game.

Four runs in five games should be classified as cruel and unusual punishment for any pitcher. But Wise says it’s not himself he’s concerned about.

“I’m more worried about the team’s record,” Wise said. “We need to get the whole picture turned around. If we had won those six games I’ve lost, it would make a big difference in our season.”

The Titans are 22-18-1, and if even three had been victories, they would would be 10 games above .500. And there wouldn’t be nearly as much anxiety these days about their NCAA tournament chances.

As the regular starter in the opening game of each weekend series, Wise is usually matched against the opponents’ top starting pitcher, and the Titans haven’t fared well against them in the last several weeks.

Long Beach has won two series-opening 2-1 games from the Titans, though Wise pitched well in both.

Wise gave up four hits with two walks in 8 1/3 innings in the first game against the 49ers in March, then gave up four hits with no walks on Friday. Wise had a perfect game for 6 2/3 innings, but lost his sixth game in his last seven decisions when he gave up a game-winning home run to Izzy Gonzalez in the ninth.

“It wasn’t a matter of me getting tired late in the game,” Wise said. “I felt good going into the ninth. But Gonzalez is a scrappy hitter, and he got into a fastball.”

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The Titans made several good plays on defense, including two good catches in right field by Aaron Rowand, but didn’t give Wise the runs he needed.

Wise had two strong performances early in the season against Stanford and Florida State, when he didn’t get credit for victories, though Fullerton won both games.

Wise pitched particularly well at Florida State, giving up only five hits, no walks and one run through 7 2/3 innings before going out with the score tied. He had seven strikeouts, including three against highly touted J.D. Drew. The Titans won, 2-1, but lost the next two games to the Seminoles.

Wise is pleased with the way he’s pitched this season. He has been much improved since last year. He was 3-0 with a 5.61 ERA in his first season at Fullerton after transferring from Pepperdine.

Wise was drafted in the late rounds last year by the New York Yankees, but decided to return to Fullerton for his senior season.

“I think a lot of people expected me to pitch the way I have this season last year, but it just didn’t happen,” Wise said. “Last year, I was too timid and would try to guide my pitches. I could throw hard, but I wasn’t aggressive.”

Wise says that changed in the Alaskan summer league this year. “I was a closer there, and I just went out there and threw the ball as hard as I could,” he said. “I think that helped me.”

Wise’s fastball has been in the 90-mph range this season, and his curve has become more of a slider.

“The coaches have shown a lot of faith in me this season in letting me throw the way I want to,” Wise said. “They’ve shown the confidence in me I needed to get better.”

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Wise is happy he passed up the opportunity to sign after his junior year.

“For some people, it’s a pride thing,” Wise said. “They feel like they have to sign then. But I was drafted late, and the Yankees probably wouldn’t have had much incentive to keep me around. I wanted to be able to use this season as a steppingstone to prove to the pro scouts what I can do. They didn’t show a lot of interest in me last year, but this season they have.”

Titan pitching coach Dave Serrano says there’s no doubt Wise has improved his draft position. “He really wasn’t ready to come out a year ago,” Serrano said. “But he’s made a lot of improvement this season and he’s shown he’s one of the best pitchers in our conference, and in the West.”

Wise hopes he and the other Titan pitchers can have a strong finish.

“I think we’ve really come around this season as a staff,” Wise said. “Everyone said coming into the season that pitching would be the big question mark. We’ve worked as hard as any pitching staff I’ve ever been around. I’ve enjoyed it. I’m having fun.”

Titan Notes

First baseman C.J. Ankrum has a 19-game hitting streak entering today’s game at Pepperdine. Ankrum has 33 hits in his last 73 at-bats (.452). He’s batted in 18 runs during the streak. The school record for the longest hitting streak is 38 games by Brent Mayne in 1988. . . . Titan catcher Mike Lamb had a 15-game streak broken in Saturday’s game against Long Beach State, then came back with three hits and four RBIs the next day. . . . Former Titan Mark Kotsay is batting .359 and has four home runs in his first 39 at-bats this season for the Florida Marlins’ double-A team in Portland, Maine. . . . The softball team won five of six games last week, splitting a doubleheader with Sacramento State and winning doubleheaders against Utah State and Pacific. Outfielder Rachel Olvera continues as the team’s top hitter with a .385 average. . . . Former Titan assistant football coach Larry Welsh is the new head coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

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Coming Attractions

Here’s a look at key games this week for Cal State Fullerton:

* Baseball against New Mexico State 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday at Titan Field.

* Softball against Loyola Marymount 5 p.m. today at the Titan Softball Complex.

* Women’s tennis at UC Irvine 1:30 p.m. Thursday.