Rain Has No Effect on Titan Pitching

Florida State Coach Mike Martin says he has no doubt about Cal State Fullerton’s potential in the College World Series.

“They can win the national championship,” Martin said. “They’re that good.”

That’s why Martin thinks the decision on his starting pitcher for today’s elimination game (4:30 p.m., PDT, ESPN2) against the Titans is so important.

The game was supposed to played Tuesday but rained forced it and the game between Rice and Alabama to be rescheduled to today.

The extra day allowed Martin to consider bringing back No. 1 starter Nick Stocks (12-2, 3.21), but he will most likely go with Chris Chavez (7-5, 2.20) instead.

Stocks and Chavez, both right-handers, pitched in the Seminoles’ 7-3 first-round victory over Texas A&M; Saturday. Stocks gave up three runs on seven hits in four innings, but Chavez held the Aggies to one hit and no runs over the final five innings.

“Stocks could probably go now, but we haven’t used him before on three days’ rest,” said Martin.

Fullerton Coach George Horton said the one-day delay had no effect on his pitching choice. Sophomore left-hander Jon Smith (7-0, 2.71) is rested and is scheduled to start.

Smith, troubled by arm and shoulder soreness earlier, returned to form with a solid effort against Ohio State in the super-regional. Smith gave up six hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings, earning a victory Fullerton needed to survive after losing the series opener.

Smith said he had no arm or shoulder pain in his most recent pitching workout last Thursday.

“I feel good, and I’m eager to pitch,” Smith said. “There’s a little extra adrenaline going because it’s the World Series, but I’m not scared at all.”

Closer Kirk Saarloos pitched in the ninth inning Monday night against Texas A&M;, retiring two batters with runners on second and third to preserve the victory for starter Matt Sorensen.

“The rain will give Kirk an extra day, but I’m not sure how important that is since he faced only the two batters,” Horton said.

Horton said the day off would help first baseman Chris Beck and center fielder Reed Johnson get closer to full strength from earlier injuries. Johnson has a bruised chest because of a collision with Robert Guzman on a fly ball Saturday, and Beck has been bothered by back spasms.

The winner of the Fullerton-Florida State game faces Stanford Thursday, and would have to beat the Cardinal twice over two days to reach Saturday’s championship game.

Florida State (54-13) has two players batting above .400. John-Ford Griffin, who platoons in left field, is hitting .426 and second baseman Marshall McDougall is at .420. McDougall set NCAA records with six home runs and 16 RBIs in a game against Maryland this season. McDougall leads the Seminoles in homers with 25 and Matt Diaz has 20.

The Titans (50-13) have only 15 hits in 67 at-bats (.224) in their two games in Omaha. That’s more than 100 points below their season average (.340).

“We need to get the middle of order going again,” Horton said. Beck and Ryan Owens each have one hit in seven at-bats in Omaha. Spencer Oborn is 2 for 9 and Aaron Rifkin 0 for 4.