FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton added a few more preseason accolades to its mantle as three Titans were selected to the 2014 Baseball America All-America team, it was announced by the publication on Monday.
Juniors Matt Chapman and J.D. Davis were each selected to the All-America second team and sophomore pitcher Justin Garza earned a spot on the third team.
Chapman, who played with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team over the summer, was selected to the second team as an infielder. Chapman started 53 games at third base for the Titans as a sophomore in 2013. He was selected to the Big West Conference's Second Team after hitting .285 during the season with 53 hits, 11 doubles, and three triples. He was tied for second on the team with five home runs and excelled in the clutch for the Titans, leading the squad with 18 two-out RBIs and also drove in five game-winning runs.
In the postseason, Chapman hit .294 and had three RBIs, including a solo home run in a 4-1 victory over Columbia in the first game of the Fullerton Regional, earning a selection to the All-Regional Team.
Davis earned a pair of spots on the second team as a utility player for both his bat and his arm. In 2013, Davis earned a Big West Conference First Team selection along with a spot on the Fullerton All-Regional Team. He was third on the team with a .318 batting average and 67 hits. He tallied 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 50 RBIs.
On the mound, Davis had 16 appearances with three starts for the Titans. In 23 innings pitched, Davis allowed opposing batters to hit .229, allowing 19 hits. He struck out 17 batters and compiled a 2.74 ERA with four saves.
Garza is coming off a stellar freshman season which earned him seven All-American nods in 2013 to go along with the Big West Pitcher of the Year award. He went 12-0 in 17 appearances, striking out a team-high 95 hitters in 115 innings pitched. He allowed opposing hitters a meek .205 batting average and finished the year with a miniscule 2.03 ERA.
Garza's 12 wins and 1.000 winning percentage set a new Fullerton freshman record. He also became just the fourth pitcher in Titans history to record at least 12 victories without a loss and first since Matt Sorenson went 12-0 in 1999.
The Titans will open the season on Feb. 14 when they host Washington State for a three-game series at Goodwin Field.
Season ticket packages and single-game tickets are currently on sale for the 2014 season.