Patterson Stays With Plan, Gets Slam

Cal State Fullerton catcher Craig Patterson had struck out five times in seven at-bats in the first two games against Ohio State in the NCAA super-regional series.

“I was really struggling,” Patterson said, “so I had a meeting with Coach before the game and we talked about it. He just told me to stay with my hitting plan, and to be consistent.”

When Patterson went to the plate Sunday for his first at-bat after his meeting with Coach George Horton, the bases were loaded. Buckeye starter Andy Lee had walked Aaron Rifkin, given up a single to Shawn Norris and Sean Bischofberger had beaten out a bunt.

Patterson took two pitches, then blasted a grand slam over the fence in the power alley in left-center to give Fullerton a 4-0 lead. It turned out to be all the runs the Titans needed, and seemed to take the enthusiasm away from the Ohio State crowd quickly.

The Titans scored nine more runs in a 13-2 victory, but Patterson’s homer got Fullerton going in the right direction.

“Craig had just been out of character in the first two games, and I told him to stay more under control,” Horton said.

Fullerton got a boost from the bottom of the bottom half of the batting order Sunday. Patterson and Norris each had two hits, and Norris hit a two-run homer in the fifth.

Patterson’s batting average is only .286, but he earns his spot in the lineup because of his defensive skills and his handling of pitchers.

“He’s like having a pitching coach on the field,” Horton said. “Championships are won with defense, and you can’t win without a solid catcher. Craig still helps us when he’s not hitting well.”

Patterson played an important role Sunday in handling sophomore pitcher George Carralejo, who gave up two hits and two walks in five strong innings in only his second start of the season.

“I just told him to stay calm, and do what he does best, and that’s throwing strikes,” Patterson said. “He was getting ahead with his fastball on the first pitch, and we’d use the curve ball on the outside going for some corners. He was consistent.”

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The Titan coaches were as pleased with the defense on Sunday as they were with the offense.

“I thought the defense was outstanding,” pitching coach Dave Serrano said. Freshman Sean Bischofberger was in the lineup at third base in the series because regular second baseman David Bacani was suspended along with three other players. Bischofberger made three good plays Sunday. Ryan Owens, who moved from third to shortstop, made a skidding stop of a ground ball into the hole, then made a one-hop throw to Chris Beck at first in the eighth.

Center fielder Reed Johnson caught Jason Trott’s deep fly ball in the seventh while banging into the wall in left-center.

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The Titans’ top relief pitcher, Kirk Saarloos, was pleased he was able to close Sunday’s game even though it was one-sided. He pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, giving up only one hit and walking one.

Saarloos had given up a grand slam to Chad Ehrnsberger Friday night that gave Ohio State a 10-7 victory in the series opener.

“I wasn’t thinking about that, “ Saarloos said. “My arm was a little tender, but I wanted to pitch today. Getting to Omaha is what you dream about, and I wanted to be around when that happened.”