IRVINE, Calif. --- Cal State Fullerton, ranked as high as No. 8 by preseason poll prognosticators and ranked in all six preseason polls, will host rival Big West programs UC Santa Barbara and Long Beach State in regionally televised FOX Sports Prime Ticket games this spring, the league office announced on Monday.
Coming off its 25th consecutive trip to the NCAA postseason, the Titans, a 2015 CWS participant, will welcome the FOX cameras to Goodwin Field on Saturday, May 13 at 7 p.m. (PT) against UC Santa Barbara and Friday, May 27 at 7 p.m. (PT) versus Long Beach State. All three participated in NCAA postseason play a year ago, while Fullerton has also been picked to repeat as Big West champions according to the conference's preseason poll. UCSB and LBSU were both picked to finish second.
The Titans will be seen on television four times this season, as they'll play host to UC Irvine on Saturday, April 29th (7 pm PT) and UCSB on Friday, May 12th (6 pm PT) in nationally televised contests on ESPNU.
The No. 8 ranking by Baseball America is the highest placing in any of the preseason polls for the Titans, which also landed in the rankings for Collegiate Baseball (10th), USA TODAY Coaches (11th), NCBWA (14th), Perfect Game (15th) and D1Baseball (16th).
For Fullerton, it'll be a good mix of returners and newcomers that should make up a team worthy of its top-10 preseason ranking. The Titans welcome back four all-conference performers from a year ago in sophomore Colton Eastman (RHP), senior Timmy Richards (INF), junior Connor Seabold (RHP) and junior John Gavin (LHP). The Titans will also be under the leadership of four-time Big West Coach of the Year Rick Vanderhook, who enters his sixth season as head coach.
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, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Second Team and DI Baseball's All-American Third 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.
In addition to the telecast coverage on Prime Ticket, all games on the regional sports network will also be available on FOX Sports GO. The FOX Sports GO app is currently available for iOS, Apple, TV, Android, Android TV, Fire tablets and Fire phones, Roku players and Roku TV, select Windows devices, and online at FOXSportsGo.com. Fans can download the mobile app for free from the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store and Windows Store.
Cal State Fullerton Television Schedule
Saturday, April 29 UC Irvine at Cal State Fullerton 7:00 pm ESPNU
Friday, May 12 UC Santa Barbara at Cal State Fullerton 6:00 pm ESPNU
Saturday, May 13 UC Santa Barbara at Cal State Fullerton 7:00 pm FOX Sports PT
Saturday, May 27 Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton 7:00 pm FOX Sports PT
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).