Rested Fullerton Pitching Staff Has Plenty in Reserve

Cal State Fullerton is exactly where it wanted to be after two games in the NCAA regional baseball tournament at Notre Dame: unbeaten and with two fresh starters and a rested bullpen for today’s championship round.

“That’s why winning the second game in this four-team format is so important,” Titan Coach George Horton said.

Senior right-hander Marco Hanlon (5-1) and sophomore left-hander Jon Smith (6-0) are available to start today against Michigan, but pitching coach Dave Serrano said Hanlon will start.

Smith, troubled by recurring soreness in his arm and shoulder, has pitched in only four innings in three games since April 10.

“I think Jon is ready, but we think we know more about what we’ll get from Hanlon,” Serrano said. “The good thing is that we’ve got four guys in the bullpen we haven’t had to use yet.”

The Titans used closer Kirk Saarloos for 2 2/3 innings Friday in their 6-5 victory over the Wolverines, but didn’t need him Saturday in the 6-3 victory over Notre Dame.

“Not having to use Saarloos helps us too,” Serrano said.

If Michigan beats Fullerton in the first game today, the two teams would play again later in the day for the title.

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The Titans played the percentages against Notre Dame by starting right-handed hitters Sean Bischofberger and Chris Stringfellow in place of left-handers Aaron Rifkin and Robert Guzman against Irish left-handed starting pitcher Tim Kalita.

Bischofberger was the designated hitter and Stringfellow started in right field.

“We’ve been platooning those spots quite a bit lately, so we stayed with it even though Aaron had three hits on Friday,” Horton said. “Bischofberger had the game-winning hit Friday, and we wanted to reward him for that too.”

Stringfellow was 1 for 3 and Bischofberger was 0 for 3.

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Notre Dame’s Brant Ust and Fullerton’s Ryan Owens were friendly rivals last summer when they shared playing time at third base for Team USA.

“I think we both handled the competition well,” Ust said. “I think it got down to us alternating quite a bit of the time. We were able to compete and still be really good friends.”

Ust and Owens have both had good seasons for their respective teams, and their numbers are similar. Owens is hitting .362 with a team-leading 19 home runs, Ust .363 with 17 homers.

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Notre Dame used its No. 1 pitcher, Aaron Heilman, in its opening-game victory against Creighton Friday night. He gave up only five hits and struck out seven.

Heilman threw 153 pitches in getting the complete game. “He’s the guttiest player I’ve ever coached,” Coach Paul Mainieri said. “He got stronger as the game went on.”

Mainieri said he decided against trying to save Heilman to pitch against Fullerton.

“Our philosophy was to play one game at a time, to do whatever it takes to win the first game,” Mainieri said. “Aaron gave us the best chance to win.”