Horton Would Consider Big 12 Coaching Offers

George Horton said his decision to remain as Cal State Fullerton’s highly successful baseball coach or leave his alma mater could depend on any offers Texas A&M; or Oklahoma might make in the next few days.

Horton said Tuesday that he would listen to overtures from either Big 12 Conference school, both of which received permission to speak to the coach who led the Titans to the 2004 national title.

Horton, 51, said he had not been contacted by either school and that he and Athletic Director Brian Quinn have discussed upgrading his contract that runs through 2007. Quinn said Monday that the coach “absolutely” wants to stay at Fullerton, but Horton said he has yet to make a decision.

“A very large part of me doesn’t want to leave this place,” said Horton, 402-172-1 in nine seasons at the school. “It isn’t just about money. It’s about the quality of life on a daily basis.”

Texas A&M; reportedly is willing to offer its next coach a financial package worth up to $500,000 annually, although it has been rebuffed by a number of prominent college coaches.

Horton acknowledged that he is intrigued by the thought of coaching at a school with greater resources and said his biggest concern at Fullerton is increasing the baseball staff. He said Quinn had agreed to alleviate some of those concerns.

“The money is one thing,” said Horton, who made roughly $120,000 this season. “I believe in the past, Cal State Fullerton has made the best effort they could to compensate me and my staff. Brian offered an extension that was very generous, and I signed it [in December].”

Texas A&M; fired Mark Johnson last month, and Oklahoma is searching to replace Larry Cochell, who resigned in May after using racially insensitive remarks in an ESPN interview.

Eric Stephens

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Arizona State 8, Nebraska 7 -- Jeff Larish matched a College World Series record with three home runs, and J.J. Sferra drove in the game-winning run with a bloop single in the 11th inning to cap the Sun Devils’ rally at Omaha.

The Sun Devils (41-24) need to beat Florida (47-20) twice, starting today, to reach the championship round.

Larish’s two-out, ninth-inning drive over the center-field wall against Brett Jensen (3-5) tied the score and made him the third player in CWS history to hit three homers, matching Florida State’s J.D. Drew in 1995 and Stanford’s Edmund Muth in 2000.

The homer negated Andy Gerch’s three-run ninth-inning homer that put the Cornhuskers (57-15) ahead, 7-5.

Baylor 8, Tulane 7 -- The Bears trailed, 7-0, after six innings but rallied for three runs in the ninth, scoring the winning run on a throwing error by second baseman Joe Holland.

One out after reliever Brandon Gomes issued an intentional walk to load the bases, Paul Witt hit a hopper to Holland near the bag at second.

Holland touched the base for the second out of the inning. But his relay throw went past first baseman Micah Owings.

The tying run scored, and so did Zach Dillon with the winning run.

Baylor (46-23) earned another meeting with Texas and must beat the Longhorns twice, beginning today, to go to the championship series.

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Homestretch

Tuesday’s results and today’s games at the College World Series (all times PDT):

TUESDAY

* Arizona State 8, Nebraska 7 (11 inn.)

* Baylor 8, Tulane 7

TODAY

* Florida vs. Arizona State, 11 a.m., ESPN

* Texas vs. Baylor, 4 p.m., ESPN2