Fullerton Pounds Way to College World Series

There was a time this year when a trip to the postseason looked uncertain for Cal State Fullerton, much less a return trip to the College World Series.

The Titans are now looking like the national title contenders they imagined they were all along.

Getting production from throughout the lineup for the fourth consecutive postseason game, Fullerton defeated Tulane, 10-7, Sunday night in front of 2,720 at Goodwin Field to sweep the best-of-three baseball super regional and advance to Omaha for the 13th time.

Fullerton (42-21) heads into the College World Series with 27 victories in its last 32 games after having a 15-16 record on April 4. The Titans open against South Carolina on Saturday.

“Obviously, we’re elated,” Coach George Horton said. “Ten or 12 weeks ago, nobody gave us much of a chance to make this next step.”

Since losing to Pepperdine in the second game of a regional, the Titans have outscored opponents, 55-11. In the last four victories, they have 50 runs and 77 hits.

After a 9-0 victory in Game 1, Fullerton didn’t put away the Green Wave (41-21) on Sunday until the ninth inning when it scored four times to break open a one-run game. Felipe Garcia hit three doubles and drove in two runs, and Kurt Suzuki tripled and hit his team-leading 16th home run.

Five Titans had multiple hits and each starter had at least one hit.

“It’s pretty fun to watch right now,” senior P.J. Pilittere said. “No one is trying to have that one heroic at-bat to turn the game around. We’re just focused on getting the next Titan to the dish.”

Sophomore left-hander Ricky Romero (12-4) gave up two home runs but battled his way through 8 2/3 innings before Tulane scored twice to knock him out. Vinnie Pestano struck out Matt Barket to get his first save and set off the Titan celebration.

“I know it was tough to hand [pitching coach Dave Serrano] the ball,” Horton said of Romero, who struck out seven and walked three. “He just kept pounding and gave us a chance to win.”

The Titans had several close calls go their way to aid their effort. With runners on second and third in the fourth inning, Tulane designated hitter Scott Madden hit a single to center field. Brian Bogusevic scored easily and Greg Dini followed him home but the Titans’ Clark Hardman got the ball to Pilittere, who was catching, on the fly.

Television replays appeared to show Dini getting his left hand on the plate before Pilittere’s tag but plate umpire Al Clark called the Tulane catcher out and Fullerton kept a 4-3 lead.

Frustration with the umpires mounted for the Green Wave. After Madden homered in the seventh to cut the Titan lead to 6-5, Tulane’s Tommy Manzella was called out on a close play at first base. Matthew Boggs, the Green Wave’s first base coach, argued loudly and was ejected by first base umpire Tony Maners.

“We just had one of those nights where it just looked like we weren’t going to get a break,” Coach Rick Jones said. “Does it change the outcome of the game? I don’t know.”

The calls ultimately didn’t matter. Garcia doubled in Suzuki and Sergio Pedroza added a two-run single in the ninth for a Titan team that wants to make amends for last year’s third-place finish at the World Series.

“We’re going there expecting to win,” Pilittere said. “We’re not just happy to be there.”