Fullerton Routs Ohio State to Advance

Goodbye Columbus, hello Omaha.

Cal State Fullerton, a three-time national champion, is back in the College World Series after a three-year absence.

The Titans, playing without two suspended starting pitchers, used four home runs, including a grand slam by light-hitting catcher Craig Patterson, to stun Ohio State, 13-2, Sunday in the deciding game of the best-of-three super-regional series.

Sophomore left-hander George Carralejo, who pitched no more than three innings in a game all season, also played a key role. Carralejo held the Buckeyes to two hits and one run through five innings in his first start since Feb. 10.

The Titans (49-12), seeded No. 3 nationally, earned their 10th trip to Omaha and fifth in the ‘90s. Fullerton will play Stanford, which won its super-regional with two consecutive victories over USC, in its first College World Series game. The playoff schedule will be announced today.

The status of the four suspended Titan players--starting pitchers Adam Johnson and Marco Hanlon, regular second baseman David Bacani and utility infielder Chad Olszanski-- remained uncertain.

Coach George Horton, who suspended the players indefinitely, said he plans to make a decision today on their status after further discussions with school officials. The players were arrested after a rock-throwing incident a week ago in South Bend, Ind. The NCAA Division I baseball committee also might want to review the case since it occurred during the playoffs, an NCAA spokesman said Sunday.

“Winning this playoff without them shows how much heart this team has,” said shortstop Ryan Owens, who drove in 13 runs in the three-game series, including two on Sunday. “I think we played two of the best games we’ve played this season here.”

Carralejo’s effort was a surprise to some, but he was ready for it.

“They told me last night that I was going to be starting, and I didn’t get much sleep, but I was confident going in,” Carralejo said. “I never doubted myself this season, even though I haven’t pitched that much.”

Carralejo had given up 20 earned runs in 15 innings coming into the game, but the Buckeyes didn’t get a run off him until Tom Durant doubled leading off the fourth and scored on the second of two infield outs. Carralejo hit the first batter he faced in the sixth, and pitching coach Dave Serrano replaced him with Jordan DeJong.

“I’m glad we started him,” Serrano said. “He pitched great. I had a gut feeling about him. I told him last Wednesday that he was going to play a major role in us getting out of this regional.”

DeJong pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and a run, and closer Kirk Saarloos held the Buckeyes (50-14) scoreless on one hit in the final 2 1/3 innings.

The pitchers got a big lift from the four Titan home runs, one each by Patterson, Shawn Norris, Reed Johnson and Aaron Rifkin.

In other deciding games Sunday, Jeff Nichols pitched six strong innings as Rice earned a berth in the College World Series with an 8-3 win over Southwestern Louisiana at Houston. . . . Oklahoma State scored six times in the last two innings for a 6-2 win over Baylor at Waco, Texas. . . . Texas A&M;’s Steve Scarborough and Steven Truitt hit ninth-inning homers to power the Aggies to a 5-4 win over Clemson at College Station, Texas.

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College World Series

Teams advancing to the double-elimination tournament Friday through June 19 at Omaha:

Team, ConferenceRecord

Alabama, SEC 51-14

Cal State Fullerton, Big West 49-12

Florida State, ACC 53-12

Miami, Independent 46-13

Oklahoma State, Big 12 46-19

Rice, WAC 58-13

Stanford, Pac-10 48-13

Texas A&M;, Big 12 52-16