CATCH ALL THE ACTION: Titans fans can catch all the action for this week's games by following the links at FullertonTitans.com. Live stats will be available for all four games this week. Audio broadcasts will also be available. A video feed will be available for Saturday and Sunday's home games will be also be available.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Friday night's matchup will be broadcast courtesy of ESPN3. Links can be found on FullertonTitans.com and can also be accessed through the WatchESPN app on mobile devices and tablets.
PITCHING MATCHUPS:
WEDNESDAY
CSF -RHP, Connor Seabold (2-2, 3.56 ERA) at CSUB - RHP, Steven Gee (4-2, 2.54 ERA)
FRIDAY
CSF - RHP, Thomas Eshelman (3-4, 2.34 ERA) vs. UCI - LHP, Elliot Surrey (4-3, 2.99 ERA)
SATURDAY
CSF - RHP, Justin Garza (3-3, 3.20 ERA) vs. UCI - RHP, Matt Esparza (7-1, 2.94 ERA)
SUNDAY
CSF - LHP, John Gavin (5-1, 3.93 ERA) vs. UCI - LHP, Evan Manarino (4-1, 3.53 ERA)
ARMED FORCES WEEKEND: It's Armed Forces Weekend at Goodwin Field this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All military personnel, past and present, with a valid military ID will receive complementary admission for themselves and three guests for the series between the Titans and Anteaters of UC Irvine. If you are on hand for Sunday's contest, you will see a helicopter land in the outfield, delivering a United States veteran for the ceremonial first pitch. This offer is valid the day of the game. Go straight to the will call line to gain admission.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE EXCELLENT TITANS BASEBALL TICKET OFFERS!
-Albertson's Promo Code: Who could use some free groceries? Use the Special Offer Code: ALBERTSONS15 to purchase four-or-more reserved seats for this weekend's baseball series against first-place UC Irvine and get a $15 Albertsons gift card! Offer is for pre-sale only and is not valid on the day of the game.
-Three-game Flex Plan: Fans can pick any three remaining home games against UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA or Long Beach State for $30.
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.
THE ROAD HOME: The Titans wrap up their season-long nine-game road trip Wednesday when they head to Hardt Field to battle the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners. They are currently 4-4 on the trip with one game left to play. Fullerton then returns to Goodwin Field this weekend to face first-place UC Irvine in a pivotal Big West Conference series.
RPI AND TOURNAMENT WATCH: The Titans moved up in the RPI rankings released by the NCAA on Monday, jumping three spots to No. 35 despite going 1-3 on the week.
CSF vs. CSU BAKERSFIELD • ALL-TIME SERIES
First Year Played/Last Year Played 2013/2015
Overall Record 2-0
Current Streak Won 2
Home Record 2-0
Road Record 0-0
Neutral Record 0-0
Longest Winning Streak 2 games (2/17/13 to present)
Longest Losing Streak NA
Extra Innings 0-0
Most Runs Scored in a Game 11 runs (3/18/15)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent 2 runs (02/17/13)
Largest Margin of Victory 11 runs (3/18/15)
Largest Margin of Defeat NA
CSU BAKERSFIELD NOTES: This will be the third meeting all-time between the two teams and first meeting at Hardt Field. The Titans scored an 11-0 victory over the Roadrunners on March 18.
-BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS: CSUB posted back-to-back shutouts (1-0 and 5-0) at Sacramento State Apr. 17 and Apr. 18. This was the first time that the Roadrunners accomplished the feat since May 15-16, 2013 when CSUB shutout Northern Colorado in two consecutive games (12-
0, 9-0). This was only the third time in school history that the Roadrunners posted consecutive shutouts.
-THE RUNNIN' ROADRUNNERS: Through the first 38 games this season, the Roadrunners have stolen 40 bases in 50 attempts, the second most in school history. The Roadrunners set the school record last season when they swiped 53 bases in 2014. Chance Gusbeth leads the team with nine stolen bases in nine attempts. He stole two bases in the team's last game against Sacramento State on April 19, marking the 11th time that a CSUB player has stolen two bases in a game.
-THE HEIN 200: Jordie Hein became the third CSUB player to play in at least 200 career games when he started the first game of the Sacramento State series. The other Roadrunners to see action in at least 200 games are Oscar Sanay (227, 2011-14) and Kevin Younger (2010-13).
VERSUS THE WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: The Titans currently hold a 54-9 record against teams currently in the Western Athletic Conference. The Titans best record against an opponent from the WAC comes against New Mexico State, whom Fullerton holds a 27-3 edge against. The Titans are 16-6 against Sacramento State, 5-0 against Grand Canyon, 3-0 against Utah Valley and 1-0 against Northern Colorado. The Titans have never squared off against Seattle, North Dakota, Chicago State and UT Pan American.
CSF vs. UC IRVINE • ALL-TIME SERIES
First Year Played/Last Year Played 1976/2014
Overall Record 79-25
Current Streak Won 8
SCBA Conference Record 23-4
Big West Conference Record 47-19
Overall Conference (SCBA and Big West) Record 70-23
NCAA College World Series Record 0-1
Overall NCAA Postseason Record 0-1
Home Record 35-15
Road Record 39-9
Neutral Record 5-1
Longest Winning Streak 14 games (4/20/76 to 4/5/80)
Longest Losing Streak 2 games, 2 times (last from 4/3/09 to 4/4/09)
Extra Innings 3-3
Most Runs Scored in a Game 22 runs (3/30/91)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent 15 runs, 2 times (last on 4/8/11)
Largest Margin of Victory 14 runs (4/12/79)
Largest Margin of Defeat 12 runs (4/8/11)
UC IRVINE NOTES: The Anteaters currently sit atop the Big West Conference standings with a 10-2 record. They are 2.5 games up on both Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara but just one game up in the loss column.
-WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: After a four-game burst of double-digit runs to tie a program record, the 'Eater offense cooled slightly in the last week, averaging just four runs a game. The team is 5-3 in one-run games after going 1-1 last week with a 4-3 loss to San Diego State and a 4-3 win against UC Davis.
-BISHOP WINS ONE, SAVES ANOTHER AGAINST AGGIES: Cameron Bishop made three appearances last week, coming away with a win and a save. The lefty was in line for the win against San Diego State last Tuesday after four shutout innings with a personal-best six strikeouts but came away with a no-decision. He dealt 2.2 innings Saturday in relief of Matt Esparza and held UC Davis to three hits to earn the win. Bishop then logged another shutout stint in relief Sunday, striking out three in two innings to earn his first save. Bishop is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and has fanned 18 in 17.1 innings of work. Offensively, he drew five walks last week and has driven in 18 runs on 17 hits.
-McCLANAHAN NEARING No. 2 SPOT IN RECORDS: Jerry McClanahan continues to sport a keen eye and climb up the UC Irvine career records after drawing three base on balls last week. The catcher, who leads the Big West and is ranked 24th in the country in walks with 31, now has 107 over his career.
-DUARTE GRABS BACK BATTING LEAD: Mikey Duarte led the starters with a .444 clip last week, hitting 8 for 18 with his team-leading 15th double and five runs scored. The shortstop had multiple-hits in three of the four games and plated the team's first run of the game in three contests. His offensive performance lifted him past teammate Keston Hiura to take over the team lead at .347. Duarte holds the top spot in hits with 50 and is tied for first with 30 runs scored. He is currently on a nine-game hitting streak and has reached safely in 13.
-MANARINO BOUNCES BACK WITH WIN TO CLINCH SERIES: After being handed his first loss of the year last week against Long Beach State, Evan Manarino rebounded with a seven-inning outing against UC Davis that led the team to a series win. The lefty struck out eight, one shy of his personal-best, and gave up three runs (one earned) while scattering eight hits. Manarino limited the early damage to a two-run fourth and would leave six stranded en route to his fourth win (4-1). He was on the hook for a leadoff runner in the eighth and that run would score on a second 'Eater error. The series clincher has come down to the rubber game three times this year for the 'Eaters and Manarino has won two of the three.
He has 53 strikeouts in 63.2 innings while giving up 25 earned runs.
-HOLLAND HAS ANOTHER STEADY WEEK First baseman Mitchell Holland hit. 333 last week, driving in a team-leading four runs. The junior was 5 for 15, lacing his ninth double that gave UCI a 3-0 lead over the Aztecs. On the defensive end, Holland has fielded 32 double plays to sit first in the Big West and is third with 312 chances. He is hitting .317 to tie for third on the team and is also third with 38 hits and 18 runs batted in.
TITANS AND THE BIG WEST: Overall, Cal State Fullerton has posted a dominant 715-252-1 (.739) conference record over 40 seasons. Rick Vanderhook, the school's fifth Div. I head coach, has compiled a 60-24 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 539-206 (.723; 32 years) PCAA/Big West Conference record.
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.
PEITZMEIER NAMED TO STOPPER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST: Senior closer Tyler Peitzmeier was named to the midseason watch list for the 11th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America Stopper of the Year Watch List, it was announced Tuesday. Peitzmeier was one of 39 players named to the midseason watch list and the only representative from the Big West Conference. The Atlantic Coast and Southern Conferences lead the way with four members of the midseason watch list apiece, while four conferences – the Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and West Coast Conferences – each have three nominees.
Assuming the closer role in 2015, Peitzmeier has made 17 appearances in 38 games so far this season including one start. He has not blown a save in 12 opportunities this season and is currently in a five-way tie for third place in the nation with 12 saves. Peitzmeier is 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 24 and 1/3 innings pitched this season. He has 33 strikeouts and five walks. His 6.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio has him ranked in the top-100 in the nation.
STIEB STREAKING: Outfielder Tyler Stieb is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak going into this week's games. It is the longest streak by any Titans player this season, surpassing Jake Jefferies and Jerrod Bravo's eight-game streaks earlier in the year. Stieb went 3-for-10 over the weekend against No. 24 Maryland and is batting .316 (12-for-38) over his last 10 games with two doubles, three runs scored and four RBIs. He has also stolen three bases in four attempts over that stretch.
VARGAS ON FIRE: Josh Vargas has been on an absolute tear for the Titans at the plate. In his last 10 games, Vargas is batting a team-best .469 (15-for-32) with a .553 on-base percentage and .563 slugging percentage. He has one double, one triple, three RBIs and 12 runs scored. He's also been perfect on stolen base attempts during that stretch, going 4-for-4 including a pair of stolen bases in Sunday's win over No. 24 Maryland. Overall, Vargas is leading the team with a .343 batting average and .465 on-base percentage. He's second on the team in walks (19), hits (35), and third in triples (2).
BRYANT DOES SOME YARD WORK: Second baseman Taylor Bryant made his sixth start of the season count on Sunday as the sophomore infielder blasted his first career home run to break a scoreless tie in the 10th inning and the Titans would go on to score the 1-0 victory at No. 24 Maryland. The Titans have now won six straight games when they hit a home run. Overall, The Titans have belted 12 home runs this season and nine of them have come on the road. The Titans hit seven straight home runs on the road before David Olmedo-Barrera's grand slam against Cal Poly at Goodwin Field on April 4. Josh Estill unpacked the long ball on the road yet again over the weekend at UC Davis, belting a three-run shot to left field in the Titans 10-6 victory over the Aggies. The Titans have now won five straight games in which they hit a home run after losing the previous five games when they went deep in a game.
SETTING THE TABLE: Dustin Vaught has entrenched himself as the team's leadoff hitter over the last 10 games. He has reached base 17 times in 39 opportunities (.436) leading off an inning, the second best mark on the team behind Josh Vargas (.447) with a minimum of 30 opportunities. In the last 10 games, Vaught is batting .297 and has a .409 on-base percentage with three walks and for HBP. He has also scored 11 runs in that stretch.
GAVIN A GOOD TIME: Freshman John Gavin had his best start of the season Sunday against No. 24 Maryland. Despite getting a no-decision, Gavin went seven innings for the first time in his career and allowed just three hits. He held the Terrapins scoreless and struck out six, tying a career high.
A COMPLETE MYSTERY: Junior right-hander Thomas Eshelman pitched his second consecutive eight-inning complete game loss on Friday night against No. 24 Maryland, falling 2-1. Eshelman surrendered two unearned runs, which proved to be the difference. This after falling at UC Davis, 3-2, on April 10 despite going the whole way for the Titans and allowing just three earned runs. In those two games, Eshelman has held the opposition to a .211 batting average but the Titans offense has hit just .190 in those two games for Eshelman, scoring three runs.
DON'T WALK: Thomas Eshelman is currently ranked third in the nation and first in the Big West in walks allowed per nine innings. The right-hander has fanned 66 batters this season to go with just five walks in 73.1 innings pitched, good for a 0.61 walks-per-nine average. He issued his first walk in 43 innings of work in Friday night's loss at No. 24 Maryland. As a team, the Titans find themselves in a familiar position as they lead the nation in walks allowed per nine innings. The pitching staff has recorded 309 strikeouts to go with just 68 walks in 336.2 innings of work, good for a 1.82 average. Texas Christian ranks second in the country with a 1.86 average while Illinois is third with a 1.90 clip. Those three teams are the only ones in the country averaging fewer than two walks per nine innings.
CROSS 'EM OUT AND PUT A "K": The Titans are currently ranked second in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio with a 4.54 average, trailing only TCU, which holds a 4.79 average. In addition, Thomas Eshelman is currently ranked 12th in the country and first in the Big West with a 13.20 ratio and also ranks 46th in the nation in overall strikeouts with 66, which also places him third in the conference.
THREE BAGS PLEASE: The Titans are currently ranked 26th in the country and second in the Big West Conference with 14 triples this season. Individually, David Olmedo-Barrera is currently ranked 12th in the nation and also leads the Big West with five triples, three behind national leader Kent Blackstone of George Mason. Scott Hurst has three triples this year for the Titans, which ranks 83rd in the country and fourth in the conference.
CLOSE EDGE: The Titans are now 7-7 this season in one-run games following their 1-0 win at No. 24 Maryland on Sunday afternoon. Last season, the Titans led the nation with 26 one-run games. They went 13-13 in those contests.
TITANS IN THE BIG LEAGUES: The Titans have had 56 former players ascend to the major leagues since their first products, Dan Whitmer and Tim Wallach, got there in 1980. Danny Dorn became the latest former Titans player to reach the Majors after being called up by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday morning. He entered Tuesday night's game against the Texas Rangers as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and drew a walk. 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).
