CATCH ALL THE ACTION
Television: All games of the Fullerton Super Regional will be televised on ESPN2. Friday night's game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start, while Saturday's game will be played at 7 p.m. If necessary, Sunday's Super Regional finale will also start at 7 p.m.
Streaming Video: WatchESPN
Audio Webcast: www.FullertonTitans.com for all of Cal State Fullerton's games during the Super Regional.
Live Stats: Links for live in-game stats will be available on GameTracker.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow @BaseballTitans for daily updates during the 2013 season.
LEADING OFF
Cal State Fullerton's Super Regional best -of-three match-up with UCLA will begin Friday at Goodwin Field as first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PT). Friday's game will be televised on ESPN2, while start times for Saturday and Sunday (if necessary) are set for 7 p.m. (PT). All three games are scheduled to be televised on ESPN2.
HOW THE TITANS GOT HERE
Cal State Fullerton (51-8), the No. 5 national seed in the 67th annual NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, advanced to its 11th Super Regional by defeating 24th-ranked Arizona State in the Fullerton Regional championship game on Sunday night. The Titans finished the Regional 3-0, and will take a 10-game win streak (fourth of 2013) into Friday's Super Regional opener against UCLA.
The Titans advanced to the super regional after defeating Columbia and Arizona State (twice) at Goodwin Field while the Bruins knocked off San Diego State, Cal Poly and San Diego at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
REMATCH IN FULLERTON
The 2013 Super Regional will be a rematch of 2010, when the Bruins defeated Cal State Fullerton 2-1 in the Los Angeles Super Regional to advance to the College World Series. In the 2010 Super Regional current Titan head coach Rick Vanderhook was an assistant coach on the UCLA staff.
The two teams met twice for midweek contests during the 2013 regular season with the Titans clinching both victories by scores of 9-6 and 5-2.
POSTSEASON & SUPER REGIONAL HISTORY
The Titans all-time postseason record is 144-74 and 16-8 in Super Regional play…Cal State Fullerton has advanced to its 11th Super Regional in 15 tries dating back to 1999 when Super Regional play began…dating back to 1999, Fullerton finished a regional 3-0 for the sixth time last weekend....the Titans have also advanced to their ninth super regional after winning the regional at Goodwin Field…Fullerton is making its first Super Regional appearance since 2010, and the Titans will once again be playing UCLA, but the series will held at Goodwin Field – in 2010 the three-game set was held at Jackie Robinson Stadium…Cal State Fullerton and UCLA will meet for the third time in Super Regional play, and the Titans will play an opponent from the Pac-12 in Super Regional play for the sixth time…the Titans hold a 7-4 edge over UCLA in the postseason, and a 3-2 record in Super Regional play…CSF won two games in 2007, while UCLA won 2-of-3 in 2010…the Titans are now 9-1 against the Pac-12 Conference in 2013…Fullerton has won six of eight best of-three Super Regional series played at Goodwin Field.
NATIONAL SEED HISTORY
The Titans' No. 5 national seed is the club's eighth seed since the Super Regional Era began in 1999. Fullerton received a national seed for the first time since 2009, when the Titans were placed at No. 2 in the bracket and advanced to the College World Series.
The Titans previously received national seeds in 1999 (3), 2001 (1), 2003 (7), 2005 (6), 2006 (5), 2008 (5) and 2009 (2). When receiving a national seed, Fullerton has advanced to the College World Series on five of those seven occasions.
PLAYOFFS AT GOODWIN
Goodwin Field previously hosted in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. When playing at Goodwin, the Titans have won the Regional and moved on to Super Regional competition on nine occasions. In addition, when the Titans have hosted a regional, they have advanced to the College World Series on five occasions (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009).
The Titans also boast a record of 34-9 during Regional play at Goodwin Field.
Fullerton boasts a Super Regional record of 13-5 at Goodwin Field, and when hosting a Super Regional in Fullerton, the Titans have advanced to the College World Series on six of eight possible occasions.
A BIT ABOUT UCLA
• Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
• Coach: John Savage, Ninth Season (317-224)
• Tournament Berth: UCLA is making its 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. UCLA head coach John Savage has led the Bruins to the postseason in seven of his nine seasons at the helm.
• Series History: Overall Record, Fullerton leads 63-28-2 (dating back to 1975); Postseason: Fullerton leads 7-4; NCAA Super Regionals: Fullerton leads 3-2; Record at Goodwin Field: Fullerton leads 34-12-1
• Sophomore reliever David Berg continued to pick up more accolades in his terrific sophomore season, as he was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year. He has posted a record of 6-0 with 20 saves while leading the nation in ERA with a 0.81 mark. Berg's 20 saves are also a new UCLA single-season record and rank third in all of Division I baseball, three shy of tying the single-season NCAA Division I record. Berg is also a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award along with Fullerton's Michael Lorenzen.
• Head coach John Savage has posted a 25-14 overall record for the Bruins in seven trips to the postseason. The Bruins' ninth-year head coach has gone 17-6 at NCAA Regionals, including perfect 3-0 records at the 2007 Long Beach Regional and at the 2010 and 2012 Los Angeles Regionals. His ballclubs have gone 4-3 in three trips to NCAA Super Regionals. The Bruins posted a 3-3 record at the 2010 College World Series, advancing to the championship series for the first time in school history.
TITAN-BRUIN CONNECTIONS
In his second season as the head coach at Cal State Fullerton, Rick Vanderhook spent three seasons (2009-11) as an assistant coach to John Savage at UCLA, where he helped lead the Bruins to a Pac-10 conference title, a pair of postseason appearances and a runner-up finish at the 2010 College World Series. Current UCLA assistant coach Rex Peters graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 1989 with his bachelor's degree in physical education. He was an honorable mention All-America selection for the Titans, helping lead them to a third-place finish at the 1988 College World Series. Current UCLA assistant coach Jake Silverman was an undergraduate assistant coach at Cal State Fullerton for two years. Silverman helped the Titans advance to the College World Series in 2009 and to the NCAA Super Regional at UCLA in 2010. Silverman spent the 2008 season as a catcher at Cal State Fullerton and saw action in one game. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton in 2010.
BIG WEST RECAP
Overall, Cal State Fullerton has posted a dominant 695-239-1 conference record over 39 seasons. Rick Vanderhook, the school's fifth Div. I head coach, won his second Big West crown this season, following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Augie Garrido (14 conference championships), Larry Cochell (1), George Horton (7) and Dave Serrano (3).
A further breakdown has the Titans winning three PCAA conference championships (1975-76, 1987), eight straight SCBA titles (1977-84) and 16 while playing under the Big West name (1990-91, 94-95, 1997, 1999-2001, 2004-06, 2008, 2010-13). The Big West absorbed the PCAA records in 1990 upon its formation, giving the Titans 19 total Big West championships and a 519-193 (.729; 31 years) PCAA/Big West Conference record.
AGAINST THE FIELD: Including last week's 3-0 finish at the Fullerton Regional, the Titans hold a record of 11-4 against teams that reached the 2013 NCAA Baseball Division I Championships: Oregon (2-1), Columbia (1-0), Arizona State (2-0), UCLA (2-0), San Diego (0-1), Cal Poly (2-1) and UC Santa Barbara (2-1). UCLA is the only program of the 16 remaining that the Titans have played this season, winning two Tuesday contests.
SCOUTING THE FIELD: Cal State Fullerton is the only program remaining in the 2013 NCAA Division I Baseball Championships without a football program.
NOTES FROM 2013: Fullerton's 23 Big West wins were the most for a Big West team since Cal State Fullerton finished Big West play 25-5 in 1999…the Titans' .851 Big West winning percentage is the best for a Big West team since UC Irvine (22-2, .917) in 2009…the .851 league winning percentage is also the best for Fullerton since 2010 (21-3, .875)…Fullerton's 51-8 record is the best for the program after 59 games in Division I history which dates back to 1975…the Titans finished the regular season (48-8) with single-digit losses for the second time since 1975, after the 1995 squad ended the regular season with a mark of 46-9…Fullerton swept eight weekend series in 2013, the most three-game series sweeps since the Titans swept nine series in 2006… Cal State Fullerton won 14 three-game weekend series in 2013, the 2013 Titan squad is the first since 1995 to win each of its three-game weekend series during a season.
OFF TO A HOT START: Currently with a record of 51-8, Fullerton's mark is the best for any Titan team after 59 games dating back to the start of Division I play in 1975. The NCAA RPI currently rates Fullerton at No. 6 in the country as the Titans boast an 11-2 record against top-25 teams and a 14-4 mark against teams that entered the week ranked in the NCAA RPI top 50. The closest Big West program to Fullerton's RPI ranking is Cal Poly at No. 24.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Cal State Fullerton finished the regular season leading the country with 26 wins on the road.
STARTING STAFF: Cal State Fullerton's 2.47 ERA tops the Big West Conference and ranks third in the nation. The weekend trio of Thomas Eshelman (Friday), Justin Garza (Saturday) and Grahamm Wiest (Sunday), have combined for 47 starts, 320 and 1/3 innings pitched, 243 strikeouts while managing a 2.25 ERA.
ESHELMAN: During his rookie season, Thomas Eshelman has been named a Golden Spikes Semifinalist (one of two freshmen on the list), Collegiate Baseball's Freshman Pitcher of the Year, a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American and the 2013 Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year.
• In his first season for Cal State Fullerton, Eshelman, the Titans' Friday-night starter, posts a record of 12-2 in 15 starts (16 appearances) and his miniscule 1.59 ERA leads the Big West, while ranking 14th in the country. Among, rookie weekend starters, Eshelman's ERA ranks second in the nation.
• Eshelman's 12 wins also tie teammate Justin Garza for the Fullerton freshman record.
• Eshelman leads the nation in walks allowed per nine innings (0.17), strikeout-to-walk-ratio (39.0) and WHIP (0.76). Eshelman has also totaled 12 quality starts in 2013.
• In 107 and 2/3 innings, Eshelman has struck out 78 and walked just two.
• In his first 63 and 1/3 innings as a collegiate pitcher, Eshelman did not issue a walk, a streak that fell just two innings short of Wes Roemer's program record of 65 and 1/3 innings in 2006. The main difference between the two streaks was that Eshelman plunked only two batters, while Roemer drilled 12.
• On Feb. 15, 2013, Eshelman became the first freshman to start a season opener for the Titans since Feb. 5, 1987 when Mark Beck took the mound vs. Saint Mary's. Eshelman didn't disappoint the sellout crowd of 3,508 as CSF edged USC, 3-2.
GARZA: Justin Garza, was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America on Wednesday, after being named one of 10 semifinalists for the College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year Award on Monday.
• The native of Ontario, Calif., was named the 2013 Big West Pitcher of the Year last week, as well as a Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American.
• He owns a 12-0 record as the Titans are a perfect 16-0 when he starts on the mound.
• Garza and Eshelman's 12 wins also tie for sixth in the country and also mark the Fullerton freshman record.
• In 108 innings pitched, Garza has tallied a 1.92 ERA while striking out a team-leading 89 batters.
• Garza earned Big West Pitcher of the Week honors on March 11 following an impressive outing versus Texas A&M.
WIEST: Sophomore Grahamm Wiest (9-3, 3.27, 76 K's) solidifies the rotation. Wiest's 1.12 walks allowed per nine innings rank 14th in the country and his 5.85 strikeout-to-walk ratio rates 22nd.
• Tossed his first complete game of 2013 (fourth career), limiting Columbia's offense to three hits and one run while retiring the final nine batters he faced in Fullerton's 4-1 victory over Columbia on Friday night.
THE STREAKS ARE OVER: Thomas Eshelman issued his first walk of the season to Brandon Trinkwon in the top of the sixth vs. UC Santa Barbara on April 12. The walk ended Eshelman's streak at 63 and 1/3 innings without issuing a base on balls. The streak was just shy of the all-time record held by Wes Roemer at 65 and 1/3 innings to start the 2006 season.
Michael Lorenzen was denied a save after surrendering two runs to UC Santa Barbara in the top of the ninth on April 12. The blown save ended his streak of 16 straight that dated back to May 1, 2012.
AT THE PLATE: Entering the 2013 season, Cal State Fullerton had 15 position players from a year ago returning to the roster, including six starters. That wealth of experience has helped the Titans to its No. 3 ranking and 51-8 record. Fullerton's offense currently leads the Big West or is tied for the lead in the following offensive categories: batting average (.285), slugging percentage (.406), on-base percentage (.386), runs scored (367), hits (564), RBIs (336), triples (24), home runs (35) and walks (258).
EARLY AND OFTEN: A key ingredient to Fullerton's success has been the club's ability to score early and often. Cal State Fullerton has outscored opponents in 65-15 in the first inning in 2013, and Fullerton has outscored opponents 145-45 in the first three innings of games this year. Fullerton is 36-3 in 2013 when scoring first, and 15-5 when the opponent scores first.
OVER THE FENCES: In 2012, the Titans totaled just 10 home runs. After 16 weeks in 2013, Fullerton has more than tripled that total, hitting 35 round trippers. Michael Lorenzen leads the Titans with seven home runs. The Titans have also hit four grand slams in 2013.
GOOD FOR EXTRAS: Michael Lorenzen was named one of five finalists for the ninth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, it was announced on Wednesday.
• Lorenzen was recently named a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist and a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American last week. In addition, he was announced as one of 12 players named to the latest John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award watch list and for the second consecutive year was named to the Big West All-Conference First Team.
• Lorenzen was also named as a semifinalist for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's 2013 Dick Howser Trophy. Lorenzen is 19-for-22 in save attempts this season, but in three blown save attempts, kept the Titans within reach to record the win.
• In two years on the mound, Lorenzen has totaled 35 saves, breaking the all-time Fullerton record in last weekend's 1-0 shutout win over Arizona State in game two of the Fullerton Regional.
• In 22 appearances this season, Lorenzen has tossed 22 and 2/3 innings, striking out 20 and managing a 1.99 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .205 clip. At the plate, Lorenzen is batting .335 with a team-leading 53 RBIs while managing a .523 slugging percentage, with 40 runs scored, 73 hits, 12 doubles, four triples and a team-leading seven home runs.
Vanderhook Signs Five-Year Contract Extension: Second-year Cal State Fullerton head baseball coach Rick Vanderhook signed a five-year contract extension through the 2018 season, it was announced by Athletic Director Jim Donovan on April 15.
"I am privileged and grateful to continue as the head coach at Cal State Fullerton," Vanderhook said. "The coaching staff and our student-athletes work each and every day to continue the tradition of hard-nosed Titan baseball. We believe that this effort will result in the prolonged success of our program that our students, campus, community and fans deserve and have come to expect."
In two years, Vanderhook has made two NCAA Tournament appearances, won two Big West Conference championships, been voted the Big West Coach of the Year twice while totaling an 87-29 record.
VOTE4CARLOS: Cal State Fullerton senior first baseman Carlos Lopez was selected as one of 10 NCAA baseball student-athletes who excel both on and off the field for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award, it was announced on April 24.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 30 candidates announced in February. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2013 NCAA College World Series® in Omaha June 15-26.
NICK HURTADO: The Cal State Fullerton baseball program is mourning the loss of teammate Nick Hurtado, who passed away at the age of 21 after a battle with cancer on March 1.
Hurtado, a 2010 graduate of Corona Santiago High School in Corona, Calif., committed the Titans as a senior in the fall of 2009, before his battle with bone cancer began.
Hurtado was a four-year letterwinner for head coach Ty DeTrinidad and the Sharks. Before his senior season began, Hurtado was diagnosed with cancer after being hit by a ball in the knee during the preseason. On March 5, 2010, he made his only appearance of his senior season at Corona Santiago, tossing one pitch (a strike) in the opening game of the 2010 season just days before his treatment was to begin.
The pitcher was finally able to join the Titans for the 2012 season, but sat out the year as his treatment and recovery continued. Due to his illness, he was unable to join the roster in 2013, but made the effort to connect with his teammates at Goodwin Field as often as possible.
Statement from the 2013 Titans
"The world lost and amazing person last night. We will forever remember his genuine love for the people around him, and for life itself. He was the ultimate friend, and we hope we can grow, and be half the person he was. He touched the lives of so many people with his compassion and unyielding positive attitude. He will be in our hearts every single day."
LORENZEN PRESEASON HONORS: Michael Lorenzen returned to the diamond after an All-American season in 2012. Lorenzen received four preseason All-American selections entering 2013. He was projected as the National Player of The Year by Collegiate Baseball, and was named to the 13th annual NCBWA Preseason All-America second team as well as the Perfect Game Preseason College All-American second team. He was also selected to the 2013 Baseball America Preseason All-America second team.
HOME GROWN: Thirty-four men on the Titans' 35-man roster list their hometown within the great State of California. The lone Titan not from the Golden State comes from, where else? Nebraska. Sophomore southpaw Tyler Peitzmeier is from Yutan, Neb., a city about 25 miles east of the Mecca of college baseball, Omaha.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: In 2013, the Titans played seven opponents that advanced to the 2012 Division I Baseball tournament (Oral Roberts, Pepperdine, Texas A&M, San Diego) three opponents that advanced to the super regionals (Oregon, TCU) and one opponent that advanced to the College World Series (UCLA)…CSF played four opponents that finished 2012 ranked in Baseball America's Top-25 (No. 5 UCLA, No. 11 Oregon, No. 16 TCU, No. 19 Texas A&M)…six of Fullerton's opponents were ranked in the top-50 of the NCAA's final top-50 2012 RPI ratings (No. 1 UCLA, No. 6 Oregon, No. 16 Texas A&M, No. 29 Pepperdine, No. 31 TCU, No. 36 San Diego )...four of CSF's opponents were also conference champions in 2012: Pepperdine (West Coast), TCU (co-Mountain West), Oral Roberts (Summit), UCLA (Pac-12).
CONTINUED EXCELLENCE: The Titans have won 30-plus games in each of its 39 seasons at the Div. I level and are tied for third in the nation when it comes to most consecutive 30-win campaigns. The only Titan team to win as few as 30 games was the 1989 squad skippered by Larry Cochell. The Titans have never had a losing season at the Div. I level. Fullerton comes in tied for third with Clemson and behind Arizona State and Miami. Pepperdine, which was ranked No. 5, saw its 32-year streak ended in 2010.
Consecutive 30+ win seasons (active)
1. Arizona State 51 (includes 2013)
2. Miami, Fla. 43 (includes 2013)
3. Cal State Fullerton 39 (includes 2013)
Clemson 39 (includes 2013)
THE ROOKIES: Cal State Fullerton's 2012 class was ranked the No. 23 recruiting class in the nation, according to Baseball America's annual evaluation.
Under second-year head coach Rick Vanderhook and recruiting coordinator Mike Kirby, the Titans have welcomed 13 freshmen to Goodwin Field.
DRAFT DODGERS: Nine Titans on the current roster have been selected previously in the MLB First-Year Players draft. Carlos Lopez is the only Titan that has been drafted while at Fullerton. He was selected as a redshirt his sophomore year (based on his age), but declined the offer made by the Detroit Tigers in 2010.
TITANS IN THE DRAFT (by round):
J.D. Davis 2011 5th round Tampa Bay Rays
Michael Lorenzen 2010 7th round Tampa Bay Rays
Austin Diemer 2011 26th round Cleveland Indians
Justin Garza 2012 26th round Cleveland Indians
Jake Jefferies 2012 34th round Washington Nationals
Carlos Lopez 2010 37th round Detroit Tigers
Anthony Hutting 2009 38th round Texas Rangers
David Olmedo-Barrera 2012 40th round Oakland Athletics
Chad Wallach 2010 43rd round Los Angeles Dodgers
TOP 50 FRESHMAN: Ontario, Calif., native Justin Garza was ranked ninth by Baseball America in the publication's evaluation of the top 50 freshmen in college baseball released in early February.
TOP 50 SOPHOMORES: Matt Chapman, 2012 Big West Freshman of the Year, was ranked 18th by Baseball America in the publication's evaluation of the top 50 sophomores in college baseball released in early February. Chapman was also rated by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in the Big West Conference for the 2014 MLB Draft. J.D. Davis was considered the fifth-best prospect in the Big West for the 2014 draft.
TOP 50 JUNIORS: All-American Michael Lorenzen was ranked 19th by Baseball America in the publication's evaluation of the top 50 juniors in college baseball released in early February. Lorenzen was also rated by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in the Big West Conference for the 2013 draft.
TOP 50 SENIORS: Senior shortstop Richy Pedroza was ranked 45th by Baseball America in the publication's evaluation of the top 50 seniors in college baseball released in early February. Pedroza led the Titans batting .324 in 2012.
FAMILY AFFAIR: The Titans have six players on the 2013 roster that have had family members play for Fullerton in the past:
• The fathers of Joe Navilhon (Larry Navilhon), Austin Kingsolver (Kurt Kingsolver) and Chad Wallach (Tim Wallach) each played on the 1979 national championship team from Cal State Fullerton.
• Outfielder Anthony Hutting is the cousin of former Titan star and major league outfielder Aaron Rowand (.345, 23 HR, 121 RBI from 1996-98).
• Infielder Richy Pedroza's older brother, Sergio, was a national champion outfielder for the Titans (.328, 27 HR, 121 RBI from 2003-05).
• Outfielder Austin Kingsolver's father, Kurt, was a national champion catcher in 1979 (.291, 5 HR, 30 RBI in 1979) and was a teammate of College Baseball Hall of Famer Tim Wallach.
• Catcher Chad Wallach's father, Tim Wallach (.392, 39 HR, 182 RBI), was a national champion, a Golden Spikes Award winner, and a first-round draft pick in 1979. Chad's older brother, and Tim's eldest son, Matt, was also a Titan in 2005 (.255, 5 HR, 28 RBI in 2007) and played first base like his father. Tim is currently entering his third year as the third base coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Pitcher Dave Birosak's brother, Dustin (0-0, 2.89 ERA), was a relief pitcher for the 2007 Titans.
• And to top it all off… Head Coach Rick Vanderhook has had two nephews, Russ (.500, 0 HR, 0 RBI in 1999) and Cory (.304, 1 HR, 17 RBI in 2006) play in a Titan uniform. Coach Vanderhook, himself, was a player in 1983 and 1984. Cory is currently serving as an administrative assistant.
• Freshman right-hander Joe Navilhon's father (Larry) played at Cal State Fullerton from 1979-1980.
• First baseman Carlos Lopez and right-handed pitcher Michael Lopez are of no relation.
TITANS IN THE BIG LEAGUES: The Titans have had 53 former players make their major leagues debuts since their first products, Dan Whitmer and Tim Wallach, got there in 1980. Most recently, Khris Davis made his debut for Milwaukee on April 1. Erik Komatsu got the call in 2012, taking last year's totals to nine: David Cooper (Toronto), Reed Johnson (Chicago Cubs/Atlanta), Erik Komatsu (St. Louis/Minnesota), Mark Kotsay (San Diego), Brett Pill (San Francisco), Kurt Suzuki (Oakland/Washington), Justin Turner (New York Mets), Vinnie Pestano (Cleveland) and Ricky Romero (Toronto).
