IRVINE, Calif.--- After claiming their 21st Big West Conference title a year ago and their sixth in the last seven years, the Titans are the favorites to do it again in 2017, as Cal State Fullerton has been picked as the team to beat in the Big West Conference, according to the nine league coaches that voted on the Big West baseball preseason poll on Thursday.
Fullerton received a total of 76 points and eight of nine first place votes in the poll, while Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara tied for second, as each tallied 65 points. Cal Poly was picked to finish fourth with 55 points, while UC Irvine came in fifth with 48 overall points, while claiming the lone remaining first place vote. CSUN (33), UC Riverside (27), Hawai'i (23) and UC Davis (13) claimed spots sixth through nine.
In 2016, head coach Rick Vanderhook led the Titans to their second straight conference crown and 29th league championship overall with a 17-7 league record. It also marked the Titans' fourth conference title in his five years as head coach. With the conference title, Fullerton earned the automatic qualifier into its 38th NCAA Tournament in 42 seasons at the NCAA Division I level. It was the Titans' 25th straight postseason berth, the third longest active streak behind Miami (44) and Florida State (39).
In addition to the 21 returners from a year ago, Fullerton welcomes back four all-conference performers in sophomore Colton Eastman (RHP), senior Timmy Richards (INF), junior Connor Seabold (RHP) and junior John Gavin (LHP).
Eastman, enters the 2017 campaign primed for another big season after dominating the mound as a freshman, compiling an 8-3 record to go along with a 2.24 ERA with a freshman school-record equaling 100 strikeouts in 100.2 innings pitched. He racked up numerous honors last season, as he was named a Freshman All-American, the Louisville Slugger Freshman Pitcher of the Year and the Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year. The Fresno, Calif. native has also been named to this year's NCBWA All-American Second Team and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Second Team.
Richards led the team with nine home runs during the regular season and batted .280 in 55 games for Fullerton. He also led the squad with 22 extra-base hits including 12 doubles. He was second on the team with a .468 slugging percentage as well as runs scored (38), stolen bases (10) and RBI (31).
In 2016, Seabold went 7-6 in 13 starts despite starting the season coming out of the bullpen. He made 16 appearances overall and posted a 2.48 ERA. He finished second on the team with 96 strikeouts and issued just nine walks in 83 and 1/3 innings pitched. His 10.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio also ranked second in the nation. The Newport Beach, Calif native has also been place on Baseball America's top-100 MLB Draft prospect list.
Gavin made 14 starts and had 18 appearances overall. He went 6-3 with a 2.09 ERA and also recorded his first career save. He struck out 60 batters in 86 innings.
The returners will be joined by a recruiting class that ranked 21st in the nation according to Collegiate Baseball, which includes six pitchers, four infielders, one outfielder and one catcher. The Titans enter the 2017 season ranked in every national preseason poll, with Baseball America awarding Cal State Fullerton with the highest ranking of eighth. This is the Titans' highest placing in the poll since being ranked No. 1 in the 2014 preseason poll.
Make sure to check out your 2017 Titans, as Fullerton opens the regular season, Friday, Feb. 17 vs. Stanford at Goodwin Field. First pitch is slated for 7 pm PT.
2017 Coaches Poll Results
1. Cal State Fullerton (8) - 76
T2. Long Beach State - 65
T2. UC Santa Barbara - 65
4. Cal Poly - 55
5. UC Irvine (1) - 48
6. CSUN - 33
7. UC Riverside - 27
8. Hawai'i - 23
9. UC Davis - 13
( ) First-place vote
OPENING WEEKEND
In honor of Augie Garrido and his extraordinary career, a limited amount of Augie Garrido bobbleheads will be available to fans who purchase a "winning" program any time during Friday's game. "Winning" programs will be marked with a specific stamp that will allow fans to pick up their bobblehead at the various marketing tables around Goodwin Field. Programs will be $3 and available at various marketing tables around the field. Garrido will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Friday's game. The celebration will continue on Saturday, as fans will receive special edition Augie Garrido soda cups while supplies last. CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets!
SUPPORT THE TITANS!
Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitans.com/Tickets. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan House off of Gymnasium Drive at the eastern end of the Intramural Fields and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) Instagram (FullertonTitans) and Snapchat (FullertonTitans). In addition, the baseball team has established its own Twitter (@BaseballTitans) and Instagram accounts (csf_titanbaseball).