FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton welcomes Baylor for a weekend series at Goodwin Field followed by a midweek contest Tuesday against Pepperdine.
SCHEDULE CHANGES TO THIS WEEKEND'S SERIES: Due to expected rain showers on Saturday and Sunday according to AccuWeather.com, the Cal State Fullerton baseball team will play a pair of games against visiting Baylor on Friday while Saturday's game time has been pushed up to a 1 p.m. Fans with tickets for Sunday's originally scheduled game will be honored for entry to the 3 p.m. game on Friday. Fans with single-game tickets to Saturday's originally scheduled 6pm game and Sunday's 12pm game who are unable to make the schedule game changes will receive an exchange for a future Titans Baseball game at equal or lesser value or a refund. Please contact the Athletics Ticket Office by phone at 657-278-2783 or email athletictixs@fullerton.edu for exchange and refund information. After the first game on Friday, ushers will go through the stadium to collect tickets for the second game. If you do not have a ticket, you will be required to go to the stadium box office to purchase one.
CATCH ALL THE ACTION: Fans can follow the action for all of Cal State Fullerton's baseball games this week via live stats, and audio. Due to the schedule change, Saturday's game will not have a live video stream but fans can still catch both of Friday's games and Tuesday's game against Pepperdine on a live 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.
CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?: The Titans first autograph session of the season is scheduled for Saturday following the 1 p.m. game against Baylor, weather permitting. The session was originally scheduled to follow the Sunday game, but was moved following the schedule changes.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS:
FRIDAY
G1: CSF - RHP, RHP, Thomas Eshelman (0-2, 2.03 ERA) vs. BAY - RHP, Drew Tolson (0-0, 2.53 ERA)
G2: CSF - TBA vs. BAY - LHP, Daniel Castano (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
SATURDAY
CSF - RHP, Justin Garza (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. STAN - RHP, Ryan Smith (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
TUESDAY
CSF - TBA vs. PEPP - TBA
POLL POSITION: This week, the Titans are receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Poll.
CSF vs. BAYLOR • ALL-TIME SERIES
First Year Played/Last Year Played 2000/2014
Overall Record 5-4
Current Streak Lost 2
Home Record 2-1
Road Record 3-3
Neutral Record 0-0
Longest Winning Streak 2 games, 2 times (last from 2/11/01 to 3/7/14)
Longest Losing Streak 2 games (3/8/14 to present)
Extra Innings 0-0
Most Runs Scored in a Game 16 runs (2/12/00)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent 9 runs (2/13/00)
Largest Margin of Victory 12 runs (2/12/00)
Largest Margin of Defeat 8 runs (2/13/09)
BAYLOR NOTES: Baylor comes into the weekend ranked No. 25 and No. 28 in the Collegiate Baseball and NCBWA polls this week respectively. They are coming off an 8-4 victory over Northwestern State on Wednesday night at Baylor Ballpark, where they are now 372-156 all-time at home.
• Baylor has had at least five wins in its first seven games for two straight seasons and for the third time in four seasons.
• Under head coach Steve Smith, Baylor is currently 143-72 in games played in February and is 6-2 this year.
• Baylor's doubleheader sweep over Kent State on Saturday marked the first time the Bears swept a doubleheader since March 11, 2012 against Memphis.
• This will be the Bears second series against a Big West Conference opponent in 2015. They swept defending BWC champions Cal Poly in the first series of the season, outscoring the Mustangs 22-12 including a 6-0 shutout win in the finale.
• The Bears head to Fullerton this weekend for the first of 11 road games in their next 12 games. They opened the season with an eight-game home stand, where they finished 6-2 with one game cancelled due to weather.
• Overall, Baylor faces a challenging 52-game schedule in 2015 that features 13 teams that made it to the 2014 NCAA Tournament. In addition, only three of the team's opponents this year finished 2014 with a record under .500.
VERSUS THE BIG-12: The Titans currently hold a 45-39 all-time record against teams currently in the Big-12 Conference. They hold a 5-4 record against the Bears, one of two teams in the Big-12 that the Titans hold a winning record against. Fullerton's most success has come against Texas Christian, whom the Titans have a 15-7 record against. The Titans have a .500 record against Texas Tech, Texas, and Oklahoma while they hold a losing record (3-6) against Oklahoma State, a team that eliminated the Titans from the postseason in 2014.
CSF vs. PEPPERDINE • ALL-TIME SERIES
First Year Played/Last Year Played 1975/2013
Overall Record 57-41
Current Streak Won 3
Overall Conference (SCBA) Record 19-13
NCAA Regional Record 5-2
NCAA College World Series Record 1-1
Overall NCAA Postseason Record 6-3
Home Record 32-17
Road Record 20-22
Neutral Record 5-2
Longest Winning Streak 4 games, 4 times (last from 5/1/01 to 3/4/03)
Longest Losing Streak 8 games (4/6/90 to 3/16/94)
Extra Innings 2-1
Most Runs Scored in a Game 30 runs (4/26/80)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent 15 runs, 2 times (last on 2/23/97)
Largest Margin of Victory 25 runs (4/26/80)
Largest Margin of Defeat 11 runs (3/18/08)
PEPPERDINE NOTES: Pepperdine enters the weekend with a 4-4 record and will host Hawaii for a four-game series before heading to Fullerton to take on the Titans. The Waves have played two Big West Conference opponents prior to taking on Hawaii and the Titans. Pepperdine dropped a 3-2 decision to Long Beach State at Blair Field on Feb. 17 and then lost a home contest to UC Santa Barbara 6-4 on Feb. 24 prior to hosting Hawaii.
• The Waves scored a three-game sweep of Butler last week, downing the Bulldogs three straight times at home to run their record to 4-3. Pepperdine opened the series with big games from two of its veterans in a 6-3 win. Hutton Moyer hit a pair of home runs, starting with a solo-shot and then a grand slam later in the game to drive in five of the team's six runs. Jackson McClelland got the start on the mound and tossed 7.0 scoreless innings to pick up the win. The Waves then took both games of a doubleheader the following day, getting a 3-2 victory in the opener thanks to a game-ending outfield assist at home plate from Brandon Caruso and 8.0 innings of work on the mound from A.J. Puckett. Pepperdine then plated nine runs on 13 hits to close out the sweep with a 9-6 win.
• The Waves scored a dramatic victory to cap its series against Tulane, getting a walk-off, two-run homer from Jordan Qsar. Qsar's long ball was one of two hits on the day for Pepperdine. It was the first career home run for the freshman outfielder.
• Moyer is having a hot start to the 2015 season as he leads the team with four home runs and nine RBI. The junior second baseman has a .333 batting average and a .833 slugging percentage. Moyer also leads the team with eighth runs scored this season. He led the team and was seventh in the nation with 24 doubles last year.
• With the release of the 2015 WCC Preseason Coaches Poll, Pepperdine was picked to finish second in the conference. The Waves tallied 72 total points in the coaches' poll, with three first-place votes, to sit behind cross-town rival LMU (77 points, 6 first place). San Diego received the remaining first-place vote. The defending champion Waves were picked second in the preseason poll last year as well. Pepperdine also placed one player on the preseason all-conference team with Hutton Moyer making the list as an infielder.
• This year's Waves squad features a good balance of veterans and young talent, with 18 returners and 15 newcomers on the roster. The Waves have two seniors, six juniors, 12 sophomores and 15 freshmen. Two of the four Waves' probable starting pitchers are returners and six of the probable starting position players were with the team last season as well.
VERSUS THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE: The Titans currently hold a 296-103-3 record against teams currently in the West Coast Conference. Fullerton has faced Pepperdine 98 times and holds a 57-41 record all-time against the Waves, having won the last three meetings. This will be the first meeting between the teams since 2013 after the teams did not face each other in 2014. Overall, the Titans have a winning record against every team in the West Coast Conference with their best mark coming against Pacific (83-12).
NC DINOS EXHIBITION: Cal State Fullerton scored all eight of their runs in three straight innings and they needed every one as they defeated NC Dinos 8-7 Monday night in an exhibition game at Goodwin Field. Freshman Scott Hurst led the Titans offense with two hits and four RBIs while also coming around to score twice. Dustin Vaught was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Hunter Cullen was 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Titans. Overall, the Fullerton offense pounded out 12 hits on the night including four extra-base hits.
VAUGHT CONTINUES TO HIT: 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 seven games for the Titans, making five starts. He is currently leading the team with a .500 batting average and a .571 on-base percentage. He has nine hits in 18 at-bats and has scored four runs. He also leads the squad with four multi-hit games.
SWING AND A MISS: So far in 2015, the Titans pitching staff is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation and first in the Big West Conference with a 5.21 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Titans pitches have fanned 73 batters and walked just 14. The Titans are also ranked No. 10 in the country with a 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings average.
TOUGH AT-BAT: Sophomore Josh Estill is currently one of 53 players in Division I baseball that has yet to strikeout this season. Estill has played in six of the Titans seven games this year and made five starts. He has yet to strikeout in 21 official at-bats. He is currently hitting .333 with one home run and a team-high five RBIs.
RECYCLED NOTES:
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.
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).
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).
