FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton hosts its first weekend series of the 2015 campaign as a familiar rival Stanford comes to Goodwin Field for a three-game set. The Titans will then host NC Dinos of the Korean Professional Baseball League for an exhibition game on Monday.
CATCH ALL THE ACTION: Fans can follow the action for all of Cal State Fullerton's baseball games this week via live stats, audio and video feed. Links can be found at FullertonTitans.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow @BaseballTitans on Twitter for daily updates during the 2015 season. Fullerton baseball is also now on Instagram, so make sure to follow the 2015 team all season @CSF_TitansBaseball.
RALLY BUFF GIVEAWAY THIS WEEKEND: Fans attending any game of this weekend's three-game set against Stanford at Goodwin Field will receive a free Rally Buff while supplies last. Make sure you make your way out to the ballpark this weekend!
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY
CSF - RHP, Thomas Eshelman (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. STAN - RHP, Cal Quantrill (0-0, 1.59 ERA)
SATURDAY
CSF - RHP, Justin Garza (2014: 5-4, 3.22 ERA) vs. STAN - RHP, Marcus Brakeman (0-0, 1.50 ERA)
SUNDAY
CSF - LHP, John Gavin (1-0, 6.35 ERA) vs. STAN - LHP, John Hochstatter (1-0, 3.86 ERA)
MONDAY
CSF - TBA vs. NCD - TBA
POLL POSITION: This week, the Titans dropped out of the Baseball America top-25 rankings after entering the season in the No. 23 spot. However, they remained in the top-25 in the Collegiate Baseball (No. 25), National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (No. 24) and D1Baseball.com (No. 25) rankings. As for the Cardinal they are currently ranked No. 23 by Collegiate Baseball and are receiving votes from the NCBWA poll. The USA Today Coaches' Poll was not updated this week so both teams remain ranked in that publication with the Titans at No. 19 and Stanford ranked No. 22.
CSF vs. STANFORD • ALL-TIME SERIES
First Year Played/Last Year Played 1979/2011
Overall Record 42-54
Current Streak Lost 1
NCAA Regional Record 1-2
NCAA Super Regional Record 0-2
NCAA College World Series Record 3-7
Overall NCAA Postseason Record 4-11
Home Record 28-20
Road Record 11-27
Neutral Record 3-7
Longest Winning Streak 4 games, 2 times (last from 2/27/09 to 6/5/10)
Longest Losing Streak 8 games (2/12/89 to 2/8/92)
Extra Innings 2-5
Most Runs Scored in a Game 13 runs (1/31/85)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent 17 runs (2/2/02)
Largest Margin of Victory 10 runs (1/28/94)
Largest Margin of Defeat 16 runs (2/2/02)
STANFORD NOTES: Stanford opened the 2015 season by dropping its first two games versus Indiana before a 4-3 win Sunday. They dropped an 11-1 decision Monday against Cal and are now 1-3 heading into this weekend's series at Fullerton.
• The Cardinal and Hoosiers have played six times in the last two years with each team owning a 3-3 record and scoring 26 runs.
• Winning runs were scored in the 5th, 9th, 9th, 7th, 10th and 7th innings of Indiana vs. Stanford games.
• Stanford out hit Indiana in the Saturday and Sunday games of the series.
• Matt Winaker enters the weekend on a four-game hitting streak.
• Drew Jackson has reached in all four games this season.
• Tommy Edman had multiple hits Saturday and Sunday after an 0-for-4 outing on Friday.
• Only one of seven (14.8%) inherited runners scored against Stanford relievers during the Indiana series.
• All three inherited runners scored in Monday's game vs. Cal.
• Stanford's flyout-to-groundout ratio stands at 0.7 (33-45), while opponents are nearly exactly 1.0 (37-38).
• Opponents are hitting .143 (6-42) against the Cardinal with two outs.
• Stanford returned 100 percent of its starting pitching from 2014.
• The Cardinal was picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 by the conference's coaches. Stanford received one first-place vote. UCLA (six first-place votes), Oregon (two) and Arizona State (two) were selected in the top three spots.
• Stanford and Arizona State are the only two Pac-12 teams to win at least 14 conference games every year since 2010.
• Stanford is one of five teams (Virginia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Florida State) to play in three NCAA Super Regionals in the past four years.
• The Cardinal is the only Pac-12 team to appear in three of the past four NCAA Super Regionals.
• Stanford is tied for fourth with 10 Super Regional appearances since the format began in 1999 along with LSU, Miami (Fla.), Rice and Clemson. Only Florida State (13), Cal State Fullerton (11) and South Carolina (11) have more.
• The Cardinal's 36 home runs led the Pac-12 in 2014.
• Stanford's 10 home runs were the most during the 2014 NCAA tournament.
• The Cardinal led the Pac-12 with a .984 fielding percentage in conference games in 2014.
• Freshman pitchers started 45 of 61 games (73.8%) for the Cardinal in 2014.
• Nearly half of the schedule (26/56, 46.4%) against 2014 tournament teams including Indiana (3), Cal St. Fullerton (3), Rice (4), Texas (4), Arizona State (3), Washington (3), Oregon (3), Oregon State (3).
VERSUS THE PAC-12: The Titans currently hold a 284-208-3 mark against teams from the Pacific-12 conference, with their most victories (65) coming against UCLA in 97 games. The Titans have also played Arizona 97 times, holding a 63-34 record. Fullerton has played Stanford on 96 (42-54) occasions and is one of just three teams in the conference to hold a winning record over the Titans all-time along with Arizona State (26-30) and Washington State (5-7). Following this weekend's series, the Titans will have played Stanford more than any other PAC-12 team in the program's history.
NC DINOS EXHIBITION: Following the Stanford series, the Titans will host a rare game on Monday at Goodwin Field when the welcomed Korean Professional Baseball team NC Dinos to Goodwin Field for an exhibition game. It will be part of the Dinos current collegiate tour that includes the Titans, UC Irvine, Long Beach State, UCLA and Cal State Los Angeles. The Dinos began the tour with a 4-2 victory over UC Irvine on Feb. 17 at Cicerone Field but were then blanked 3-0 by Long Beach State at Blair Field on Feb. 18.
NC Dinos were founded in 2011 and played their first season in the Korean Baseball Organization in 2013. NC Dinos play their home games at Masan Baseball Stadium in the city of Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do,South Korea.
ESHELMAN VS. QUANTRILL TALE OF THE TAPE: Friday night's pitching matchup promises to be a great one as Thomas Eshelman takes the hill for Fullerton while Cal Quantrill will be on the bump for the Cardinal. Eshelman and Quantrill both have many accolades on their resume including a number of preseason acknowledgements going into the 2015 campaign. Both players were named to the Golden Spikes Award 50-man preseason Watch List by USA Baseball and each has garnered multiple preseason All-American designations from various publications. Here is a list of their accolades so far in their careers:
• Eshelman: (2014) Baseball America Second Team All-American, NCBWA Third Team All-American, Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week, NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week; (2013) Collegiate Baseball, Big West and NCBWA Freshman Pitcher of the Year, Louisville Slugger and Baseball America First Team All-American; Baseball America, Louisville Slugger and NCBWA Freshman All-American, Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist, ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-American and West Region First Team.
• Quantrill: 2014 PAC-12 Freshman of the Year, All-PAC 12, Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, played for Team Canada U18 for three years and his father, Paul, played 13 years in MLB.
DUST-IN THE WIND: Junior Dustin Vaught has been on a tear at the plate for the Titans to start the season. The Fair Oaks, Calif. native and Sierra College transfer has played in all four games for Fullerton to begin the season and made two starts. He has gone 5-for-8 with three runs scored and one RBI. His .625 batting average and .700 on-base percentage are the best on the team so far. In Tuesday's game against USC, Vaught went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and reached base in four of his five plate appearances as he was also hit by a pitch. He has also been all over the field, making his first career start in left field in the Titans' 8-6 win over then-No. 12 Louisville on Sunday and then starting at the hot corner at third base in Tuesday's home opener against USC.
THE LEFT-HANDED HAMMER OF RELIEF: Senior Tyler Peitzmeier has been spectacular so far in 2015 out of the bullpen for the Titans. The Yutan, Neb. native has made two appearances in relief for Fullerton and has been nearly unhittable. He struck out all six batters he faced in his first appearance of the season against South Florida on opening night and then followed that up by picking up his first save of the season and second of his career by shutting down No. 12 Louisville in one and 1/3 innings of work, adding two more strikeouts. So far this season, Peitzmeier has faced 10 batters and allowed one hit while striking out eight. The other out he recorded came by way of a groundout to short.
GARZA TO MAKE HIS 2015 DEBUT: After not making the trip to the Opening Weekend Challenge in Clearwater, Fla., junior right-hander Justin Garza is set to make his 2015 debut this weekend in game two of the series against Stanford. Garza battled nagging shoulder discomfort in 2014 and went 5-4 last season after posting a perfect 12-0 record as a freshman in 2013. He is 17-4 in his two-year career at Cal State Fullerton and he has lost just once when the Titans score in his starts as three of his losses have come by way of shutout. He became the fourth Cal State Fullerton pitcher to toss a no-hitter on May 23 as he held Cal State Northridge without a base hit. Garza was the first Titans pitcher to accomplish the feat since 2001 when Kirk Saarloos no-hit Pacific in a 28-0 victory. Garza walked three and struck out 12, matching his career high. He also tossed his first career complete game in the process.
CLIMBING OUT OF AN EARLY HOLE: Both the Titans and Cardinal come into the weekend in a bit of a funk, having dropped three of their first four games to start the season. In the last 10 seasons, the Titans have dropped three of their first four games three times (2006, 2010, 2012) including an 0-3 start in 2006 when they were swept by Stanford to open the year. Each year, the Titans went on to win the Big West Conference title and advanced to Super Regionals in 2006 and 2010 to go along with a Regional appearance at Oregon in 2012.
As for the Cardinal, they are off to their worst start since 2009 when they began the season 2-7 after splitting the first four games of that season and following it up with a five-game losing streak. Prior to that, the Cardinal went 0-3 to start the 2007 campaign. Stanford would go 30-25 in 2009 and 28-28 in 2007.
BRING 'EM IN: The Titans are currently hitting .303 (10-for-33) with runners in scoring position, led by Josh Estill (2-for-4) and Dustin Vaught (2-for-2).
PICKING UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: Free passes have not been an option when facing Cal State Fullerton pitching this season and so far 2015 has been no exception. After leading the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio and walks allowed per nine innings in 2014, the Titans pitching staff is at it again in the early going. They currently rank eighth in the country in walks allowed per nine innings (1.54) and fourth in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.50). Titans pitchers have tallied 45 strikeouts compared to just six walks in 35 innings pitched this year.
CLOSE EDGE: The Titans are currently 0-2 in one-run games this season after dropping their first two games in that fashion. In 2014, Fullerton led the nation, playing in 26 one-run games. They went 13-13 in those contests.
Recycled Notes
REMEMBERING THE TITANS: Junior Justin Garza pitched five scoreless frames and Cal State Fullerton had consecutive big innings to defeat the Alumni 10-0 on Jan. 24 at Goodwin Field.
The Titans scored their sixth consecutive win over the Alumni since 2007. The game was cancelled due to inclement weather in 2008 and 2009. Garza went five innings and allowed two hits. He struck out four, including three straight at one point. Freshman John Gavin was equally brilliant as the first-year player out of St. Francis High School handled the workload for the Alumni squad. Gavin went five scoreless frames and struck out six of his fellow Titans. He recorded multiple strikeouts in two innings and did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, a leadoff single to A.J. Kennedy.
The Titans got on the board in a big way in the sixth inning, plating four runs. Freshman Scott Hurst led off with a double that was aided by the fierce winds that plagued the outfielders all day at Goodwin Field. Tyler Stieb followed with a bunt single and then, with one out, freshman Chris Hudgins belted a double to plate Hurst with the first run of the game. David Olmedo-Barrera followed with a two-run double in his only at-bat of the game to give the Titans a 3-0 edge and Josh Vargas capped off the scoring with an RBI single to right to bring in Olmedo-Barrera. The Titans added a six-spot in the seventh to put the game away, getting RBI hits from Niko Pacheco, Turner Buis and Timmy Richards in the frame. Chad Hockin, Kyle Murray, Maxwell Gibbs and Shane Stillwagon all pitched one inning of scoreless relief for the Titans to shut the door on the Alumni.
The game featured many great Titans from the past including Justin Turner (2003-06), who served as the team's manager. Other former Titans that played in the game included Carlos Lopez (2010-13), Matt Chapman (2012-14), Greg Jacobs (1998), Richy Pedroza (2010-13), Corey Jones (2007-08, 10), Dustin Garneau (2006-09), Nick Ramirez (2009-11), Josh Fellhauer (2007-09), Erik Komatsu (2008), Chad Wallach (2011-13), Jared Deacon (2011-14), Austin Diemer (2012-14), Clay Williamson (2012-14), Joe Scott (2006-09), Anthony Hutting (2010-13), Keegan Dale (2011-14), Matt Orloff (2010-13), Longo Garcia (1987-88) and Wes Roemer (2005-07). Current undergraduate assistant Sergio Pedroza (2003-05) and volunteer assistant coach Ronnie Prettyman (2003-05) along with former undergraduate assistant Cory Vanderhook (2006) also made appearances as pinch-hitters during the game. Other alumni that were in attendance included Christian Colon (2008-10), Ryan Jara (1995), Robert Matos (1994-95), Tony Miranda (1994-95), Blake Davis (2004-06), Jeff Nichols (1975-78), Mike Rouse (2001), Dave Birosak (2012-13), Reed Johnson (1997-99), James Betzsold (1991-94), Ryan Owens (1997-99), Chris Robinson (1988-91), Rod Klopfer (1989), Shane Costa (2001-03), Kevin Rath (2008-10), Paul Canedo (2007), Jason Corapci (2000-03), Dave Chavez (1975), Koby Gauna (2012-14), Tyler Pill (2009-11), Chad Rolish (1993-94), Michael Lopez (2012-13), Noe Ramirez (2009-11), Frank Vilorio (1977-78), Adam Millan (1993-94), Vinnie Pestano (2004-06), Billy Marcoe (2007-10), Billy Pinkerton (2007), Dustin Birosak (2007), Grahamm Wiest (2012-14), Michael Lorenzen (2011-13) and Christian Coronado (2011-12, 14).
PICKED TO WIN IT: Cal State Fullerton was picked as the favorite to win the 2015 Big West title as selected by the nine conference head coaches that voted in the Big West Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll. The Titans received five of the nine first-place votes and 74 points overall, edging 2014 Big West Conference champions Cal Poly, which received three first-place votes and 73 points overall. UC Santa Barbara claimed the third spot, receiving the final first-place vote and 62 points overall while UC Irvine (56 points) and Long Beach State (48 points) rounded out the top five spots.
TITANS AND THE BIG WEST: Overall, Cal State Fullerton has posted a dominant 709-249-1 (.739) conference record over 40 seasons. Rick Vanderhook, the school's fifth Div. I head coach, has compiled a 54-21 Big West Conference record in his three seasons at the helm and won consecutive conference titles in 2012 and 2013, following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Augie Garrido (14). Larry Cochell (1), George Horton (7) and Dave Serrano (3). Overall, the Titans have won 27 conference titles.
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 533-203 (.724; 32 years) PCAA/Big West Conference record.
GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH LIST: Thomas Eshelman and Justin Garza were each named to the 50-man preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List this week, marking the second straight season the two pitchers were named to the initial list. In 2014, Garza only made the initial list but Eshelman made it all the way to the 30-man list one year after being named a semifinalist for the prestigious award as a freshman. Three players have won the Golden Spikes Award in Fullerton's history: Tim Wallach (1979), Phil Nevin (1992) and Mark Kotsay (1995).
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: During the 2015 season, the Titans will take on 11 teams that finished 2014 with a top-50 RPI. Fullerton will face three teams that made it to the 2014 College World Series (Louisville, UC Irvine, Texas Tech) along with three other teams that advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals (Stanford, Maryland, Pepperdine) last season. Overall, the Titans will face 10 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2014; a list that also includes Cal Poly, Indiana, Nebraska and Long Beach State.
Furthermore, the Titans will take on four teams ranked in Baseball America's 2015 Preseason Top-25 rankings including No. 5 Texas Tech, No. 11 UCLA, No. 12 Louisville and No. 16 Maryland.
According to BoydsWorld.com, the Titans have the third toughest overall schedule in the nation, ranked only behind 2015 opponents Baylor and Stanford. Fullerton's non-conference schedule ranks as the second toughest behind only Stanford.
CONTINUED EXCELLENCE: The Titans have won 30-plus games in each of its 40 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 52
2. Miami, Fla. 44
3. Cal State Fullerton 40
Clemson 40
THE ROOKIES: Cal State Fullerton's 2014 class was ranked the No. 10 recruiting class in the nation, according to Collegiate Baseball newspaper's annual evaluation.
Fullerton's class ranks first among Big West Conference opponents, ahead of No. 18 Long Beach State. The Titans class also ranks third among Division I programs in the state of California behind No. 4 San Diego and No. 8 Stanford.
DRAFT DODGERS: Nine Titans on the current roster have been selected previously in the MLB First-Year Players draft. In 2014, newcomers Tristan Hildebrandt, John Gavin, Jordan Hand, Connor Seabold and Chris Hudgins were each selected in the MLB Draft but elected to attend Cal State Fullerton.
TITANS IN THE DRAFT (by round):
Tristan Hildebrandt 2014 16th round St. Louis Cardinals
Connor Seabold 2014 19th round Baltimore Orioles
Justin Garza 2012 26th round Cleveland Indians
Jordan Hand 2014 34th round New York Mets
Jake Jefferies 2012 34th round Washington Nationals
Chris Hudgins 2014 35th round New York Yankees
John Gavin 2014 39th round Milwaukee Brewers
Timmy Richards 2013 40th round Miami Marlins
David Olmedo-Barrera 2012 40th round Oakland Athletics
HIT THIS, I DARE YA: The Titans pitching staff was spectacular in 2014 and the unquestioned strength of the team. Fullerton accumulated a 2.24 team ERA, setting a new Cal State Fullerton single-season record, shattering the previous mark of 2.47 set in 2013. They also ranked second on the all-time list in fewest walks allowed per nine innings (1.52), shutouts (9), fewest walks (92) and fewest home runs allowed (12). The Titans led the nation in walks allowed per nine innings (1.52) in 2014 as well as strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.04). They were third in the country with a 1.03 WHIP and third in the nation with a 2.24 ERA. Overall, the weekend rotation of Thomas Eshelman (1.89), Justin Garza (3.22), and Grahamm Wiest (1.68) finished the season with a collective 2.13 ERA, allowing 73 earned runs in 309 innings pitched.
WORKING OVERTIME: In 2014, the Titans played 11 extra inning games, the most played by a Titans squad in recorded history and the most since the 2004 National Championship team played seven. They finished the year 5-6 in extra-inning games. In addition, the Titans played the longest game in the program's recorded history (19 innings on Feb. 21 vs. San Francisco). The Titans played 36 extra frames in 2014, the equivalent of four full games.
DINNER IS SERVED: The ninth annual Dinner With the Titans set new attendance and fundraising records for the baseball program as more than 500 guests gathered on Jan. 10 at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim, Calif. to support the Cal State Fullerton baseball program.
The event raised more than $75,000 for the nationally renowned Titans baseball program thanks to donations, raffle drawings and proceeds from the silent auction. The night set a new record, eclipsing the previous mark of $46,700 raised in 2013.
College baseball and Titans legendary coach Augie Garrido headlined the event, serving as the keynote speaker.
Along with the many fans of the Titans, more than 85 former players and alumni came out for the event including Tim Wallach, Mark Kotsay, Phil Nevin, Justin Turner, Kurt Suzuki, Christian Colon, Matt Chapman, J.D. Davis and Jim Irvine, a member of the first NCAA Division I Titans squad in 1975.
SUMMER IN KOREA: The four-time national champion Cal State Fullerton baseball program has been selected to represent the United States at the 2015 World University games from July 3-14 in Gwangju City, South Korea.
The World University Games is the American term for "Universiade," an international multi-sport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The Universiade, which began in 1959, is an international sporting and cultural festival, staged every two years in a different city around the world, representing both winter and summer competitions.
The 2015 Summer Games in Gwangju City, South Korea will have U.S. representation in up to 21 sports by 550 people which will be, by far, the largest American team in the history of U.S. participation in the Games. By contrast, the 2013 American team had 400 athletes and staff in Kazan, Russia.
The U.S.A. won a total of 40 medals at the 2013 Kazan Summer Games, finishing sixth in the world. Many now-famous athletes have represented the U.S.A. in previous WUG competitions prior to gaining stardom in the Olympics and professional sports. These include such elite athletes as Michael Johnson (Track), Charles Barkley and Larry Bird (Men's Basketball), Matt Biondi and Michael Phelps (Swimming), and Lisa Leslie (Women's Basketball).
In addition, Cal State Fullerton will play an exhibition game against Korean team NC Dinos on Feb. 23 at Goodwin Field.
TITANS IN THE BIG LEAGUES: The Titans have had 55 former players ascend to the major leagues since their first products, Dan Whitmer and Tim Wallach, got there in 1980. Christian Colon and Gary Brown became the 54th and 55th former Titans to break into the Majors after making their debuts in 2014. Colon appeared in his first game with the Kansas City Royals on July 1 while Brown made his Giants debut on Sept. 3 in Colorado. Both players would go on to be picked up for each team's postseason roster and Colon propelled the Royals past the Oakland Athletics with an RBI single in the American League Wild Card Playoff game. Brown would have his lone postseason at-bat in the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals. Colon finished the regular season with a .333 batting average, playing in 21 games. He had five doubles, one triple and six RBI. Brown played in seven games and went 3-for-7 with a run scored and one RBI. Colon and Brown were two of seven former Titans that played in MLB during the 2014 season, joining Khris Davis (Milwaukee Brewers), Reed Johnson (Miami Marlins), Vinnie Pestano (Cleveland Indians/L.A. Angels), Kurt Suzuki (Minnesota Twins) and Justin Turner (L.A. Dodgers).
