CATCH ALL THE ACTION: Fans wishing to watch No. 8 Cal State Fullerton at Oral Roberts this weekend, can catch all the action courtesy of the Golden Eagles' live video and audio broadcasts (subscription required). In addition, live stats are available for all three games, and are accessible by accessing the baseball schedule page at FullertonTitans.com.
TICKETS: Single-game tickets for all home games can be purchased online at www.FullertonTitans.com as well as in person or by calling the Cal State Fullerton Athletics Ticket Office at (657) 278-2783 from the hours of 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. On gamedays, tickets can be purchased one hour prior to first pitch at the Goodwin Field ticket box office.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow @BaseballTitans for daily updates during the 2013 season.
CSF vs. ORAL ROBERTS
First Year Played/Last Year Played: 1984/2012
Overall Record: 6-1
Current Streak: Lost 1
Home Record: 5-1
Road Record: 0-0
Neutral Record:1-0
Longest Winning Streak: 6 games (3/30/84-3/23/12)
Most Runs Scored in a Game: 10 runs (3/20/09)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent: 6 runs (3/20/09)
Largest Margin of Victory: 6 runs, 2 times, last (3/22/12)
Largest Margin of Defeat: 3 runs (3/24/12)
ORAL ROBERTS NOTES: The Golden Eagles (5-10) are looking to snap their longest losing streak since 2006 as they have dropped six straight, most recently falling to Texas on Tuesday, 4-3. In the loss at Texas, Tyler Boss picked up two triples to right-center, the first Golden Eagles player to record a pair of triples in a game since Matt VanDerBosch in 2004.
Oral Roberts has made 24 postseason appearances, dating back to 1973, including 16 straight. Last season, the Golden Eagles finished the year with record of 38-21 and ended their season with a 1-2 record at the Waco Regional.
VERSUS ORAL ROBERTS: Cal State Fullerton holds a dominant 6-1 series record against Oral Roberts, with the first game played on March 30, 1984, with the Titans winning 8-4 at the Riverside Baseball Invitational. This weekend will mark the third three-game series played between the two programs. Cal State Fullerton swept the first series from March 19-21, 2009 at Goodwin Field. Last season, the Golden Eagles once again returned to Goodwin Field, with the Titans winning the first two contests before ORU avoided the sweep with a 3-0 win on March 24, 2012. In last year's series, Fullerton batted .263 against Oral Roberts led by Michael Lorenzen (.500), Matt Chapman (.455), and Carlos Lopez (.357). The Titan pitching staff held opposing batters to a .233 clip while striking out 28 and walking five.
VERSUS THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE: The Titans hold a 9-1 record all-time against teams currently in the Southland Conference: McNeese State (1-0), Northwestern State (1-0), Oral Roberts (6-1) and Sam Houston State (1-0).
CSF vs. NEBRASKA
First Year Played/Last Year Played:1984/2013
Overall Record: 4-0
Current Streak: Won 4
NCAA College World Series Record: 1-0
Overall NCAA Postseason Record: 1-0
Home Record: 3-0
Road Record: 0-0
Neutral Record: 1-0
Longest Winning Streak:4 games (3/8/84 to present)
Most Runs Scored in a Game: 10 runs (2/16/13 • Game 1)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent: 7 runs (3/8/84)
Largest Margin of Victory: 9 runs (2/16/13 • Game 2)
NEBRASKA NOTES: Following a three-game series in Ruston, La., with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, the Nebraska baseball team continues its season-long 12-game slate away from Lincoln, Neb., with an eight-game road trip.
The Huskers will open play on Friday at UC Irvine for a three-game series at Anteater Ballpark.
Following an off-day on Monday, Nebraska remains in the Los Angeles area to play a two-game midweek series with the Titans on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will be the Huskers' second trip to Goodwin Field this season after playing a doubleheader with the Titans during the season's opening weekend.
The Nebraska baseball team is five wins away from notching the 2,000th win in program history.
Dating back to the team's first season in 1889 when the team went 1-2, the Huskers entered the season ranked 45th all-time in the NCAA record books in wins.
Entering 2013, only 44 programs in NCAA history had won more than 2,000 games, while only two programs had posted 3,000 or more wins. Fordham entered the season ranked first all-time with 4,320 wins and Texas was second with 3,276 wins.
VERSUS NEBRASKA: Cal State Fullerton holds a 4-0 all-time record against Nebraska. The Huskers and Titans first met in Fullerton on March 8, 1984 with the Titans prevailing 9-7. The next time Fullerton and Nebraska played one another was in the postseason at the 2001 College World Series as Fullerton edged the Huskers, 5-4, on June 8, 2001. Most recently, the clubs played a doubleheader on opening weekend of this season, with the Titans victorious by the scores of 10-5 and 9-0 on Feb. 16. In the two-game set, Fullerton batted .348 against Nebraska's staff, while the CSF pitching staff dealt 21 strikeouts and walked two.
VERSUS THE BIG 10: The Titans hold a 26-8 advantage all-time against teams currently in the Big Ten Conference: Illinois (4-2), Michigan (3-0), Minnesota (7-5), Nebraska (4-0) Ohio State (5-1), Wisconsin (3-0).
TITAN CONNECTIONS: Former Cal State Fullerton head coach Larry Cochell (1988-90) also served as head coach of the Oral Roberts program from 1977-1986. He is the all-time winningest coach in Golden Eagles' history with a record of 428-172-1. Cochell was the first coach to take three schools to the College World Series (Oral Roberts, '78; Cal State Fullerton, '88 & '90; Oklahoma, '92). Ted Silva (pitching coach Nebraska) was an assistant coach with the Titans (2005-2006), helping CSF to the 2006 College World Series when Fullerton produced an NCAA-best 2.73 ERA. Silva also played three seasons for the Titans from 1993-95, helping Fullerton to its third national championship during his junior year.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Right-hander Justin Garza was named the Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week, it was announced by the conference office on Monday.
Garza handcuffed Texas A&M to the tune of seven shutout innings in last Saturday's 2-0 victory over the Aggies, which evened the weekend series.
The native of Ontario, Calif., scattered five hits and walked one in his effort as the rookie struck out six and racked up his second combined shutout.
This is Garza's first Big West Pitcher of the Week award, and the second for Cal State Fullerton in 2013 as Thomas Eshelman earned the honor on March 4.
A JUMP IN THE RANKINGS: Cal State Fullerton entered the week at No. 8 in the Baseball America Top-25 poll. For the Titans, it is their first top-25 ranking since holding the No. 8 spot from April 23-May 21, 2012 in the Baseball America Top 25.
OFF TO A HOT START: Currently with a record of 13-3, the Titans are off to their best start since 2009, when the club opened the year 16-3. According to BoydsWorld.com, Fullerton's RPI entered this week at No. 10. UC Irvine was the next team from the Big West rated at No. 45.
ROOKIE ARMS: Cal State Fullerton's 2.83 ERA currently ranks second in the Big West Conference, and 36th in the country. A big part of the pitching staff's success is a pair of freshman right-handers in the weekend rotation, with Thomas Eshelman getting the nod on Friday nights, followed by Justin Garza (Saturday).
On Feb. 15, 2013, Eshelman (3-1, 1.57) became the first freshman to start a season opener for the Titans since Feb. 5, 1987 when Mark Beck took the mound vs. Saint Mary's. Eshelman didn't disappoint the sellout crowd of 3,508 as CSF edged USC, 3-2 on Feb. 15. In the win, Eshelman allowed two unearned runs on four hits while striking out six in six innings of work.
Currently, Eshelman's ERA of 1.57 ranks fourth in the Big West Conference. In 28 and 2/3 innings pitched, the rookie from Carlsbad, Calif., has yet to issue a walk, while striking out 26 - a total that ranks second in the Big West.
Garza (4-0, 0.95) has picked up wins over Nebraska, TCU, Oregon and Texas A&M during his first month on the mound. In 28 and 1/3 innings, Garza has surrendered just three earned runs, and his ERA of 0.95 tops the Big West Conference.
FREE RIDE: Cal State Fullerton entered the week leading the country allowing just 1.51 walks per 9.0 innings pitched. In addition, the Titans 5.04 strike-to-walk ratio ranks second in the country.
AT THE PLATE: Entering the 2013 season, Cal State Fullerton had 15 position players from a year ago returning to the roster, including six starters. That wealth of experience has helped the Titans to its No. 8 ranking and 13-3 record. Fullerton's .271 average ranks fifth in the Big West.
EARLY AND OFTEN: A key ingredient to Fullerton's success has been the club's ability to score early and often. Cal State Fullerton has outscored opponents in 19-2 in the first inning in 2013, and Fullerton has outscored opponents 37-5 in the first three innings of games this year. In addition, the Titans have not lost a game in which they have obtained the lead.
OVER THE FENCES: In 2012, the Titans totaled just 10 home runs. After just four weeks in 2013, Fullerton is just one round tripper shy of that number. Senior Anthony Hutting leads the Titans with three home runs followed by J.D. Davis (2), Michael Lorenzen (2), Jake Jefferies (1) and Austin Kingsolver (1).
GOOD FOR EXTRAS: Michael Lorenzen's .583 slugging percentage currently leads the Big West as the Titans' starting center fielder is batting .317 with a team-leading nine extra-base hits: four doubles, three triples and two home runs. As a team, the Titans have totaled 36 extra-base hits: 19 doubles, eight triples and nine home runs.
MAKING THE TOP-30: Senior first baseman Carlos Lopez was one of 30 NCAA® baseball student-athletes selected as candidates for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate baseball, it was announced on Feb. 27.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
NICK HURTADO: The Cal State Fullerton baseball program is mourning the loss of teammate Nick Hurtado, who passed away at the age of 21 after a battle with cancer on March 1.
Hurtado, a 2010 graduate of Corona Santiago High School in Corona, Calif., committed the Titans as a senior in the fall of 2009, before his battle with bone cancer began.
Hurtado was a four-year letterwinner for head coach Ty DeTrinidad and the Sharks. Before his senior season began, Hurtado was diagnosed with cancer after being hit by a ball in the knee during the preseason. On March 5, 2010, he made his only appearance of his senior season at Corona Santiago, tossing one pitch (a strike) in the opening game of the 2010 season just days before his treatment was to begin.
The pitcher was finally able to join the Titans for the 2012 season, but sat out the year as his treatment and recovery continued. Due to his illness, he was unable to join the roster in 2013, but made the effort to connect with his teammates at Goodwin Field as often as possible.
Statement from the 2013 Titans
"The world lost and amazing person last night. We will forever remember his genuine love for the people around him, and for life itself. He was the ultimate friend, and we hope we can grow, and be half the person he was. He touched the lives of so many people with his compassion and unyielding positive attitude. He will be in our hearts every single day."
PICKED TO WIN IT: Cal State Fullerton was picked as the favorite to win the 2013 Big West title as selected by the 10 conference head coaches that voted in the Big West Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll, it was released by the league on Jan. 31.
The Titans were voted to defend their Big West title as the program garnered nine of the 10 available first-place votes.
Fullerton, winner of the past three league titles, captured the 2012 league crown with a 17-7 mark, one game ahead of Cal Poly. Fullerton has won 10 conference championships in the Super Regional era (dating back to 1999; 14 years), sharing the titles with Nevada in 2000 and Long Beach State in 2008.
TITANS AND THE BIG WEST:
Overall, Cal State Fullerton has totaled 26 conference championships dating back to 1975, including 10 in the last 14 years. With last season's title, the Titans made their 34th postseason appearance as well.
Overall, Cal State Fullerton has posted a dominant 672-235-2 (.741) conference record over 38 seasons. Rick Vanderhook, the school's fifth Div. I head coach, won his first Big West crown in 2012, following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Augie Garrido (14 conference championships), Larry Cochell (1), George Horton (7) and Dave Serrano (3).
A further breakdown has the Titans winning three PCAA conference championships (1975-76, 1987), eight straight SCBA titles (1977-84) and 15 while playing under the Big West name (1990-91, 94-95, 1997, 1999-2001, 2004-06, 2008, 2010-12). The Big West absorbed the PCAA records in 1990 upon its formation, giving the Titans 18 total Big West championships and a 499-189 (.725; 30 years) PCAA/Big West Conference record.
WATCH LIST: Michael Lorenzen was one of 75 players named to the initial watch list for the ninth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. Lorenzen was one of two players from the Big West Conference named to the list as UC Irvine's Race Parmenter also made the watch list.
LORENZEN PRESEASON HONORS: Michael Lorenzen returned to the diamond after an All-American season in 2012. Lorenzen received four preseason All-American selections entering 2013. He was projected as the National Player of The Year by Collegiate Baseball, and was named to the 13th annual NCBWA Preseason All-America second team as well as the Perfect Game Preseason College All-American second team. He was also selected to the 2013 Baseball America Preseason All-America second team.
Lorenzen, who garnered All-American honors as well as Big West Conference First Team accolades in 2012, developed into one of the nation's top two-way players, starting 57 games in center field while making 20 appearances on the mound. Lorenzen did not allow a run in 18 of his 20 appearances. He garnered double first-team All-Big West Conference honors as a utility player on offense, and as a closer on the pitching staff. His 16 saves in 17 chances tied him for second in program history with Nick Ramirez (2011) behind only Scott Wright's school record of 22 saves in 1984.
HOME GROWN: Thirty-four men on the Titans' 35-man roster list their hometown within the great State of California. The lone Titan not from the Golden State comes from, where else? Nebraska. Sophomore southpaw Tyler Peitzmeier is from Yutan, Neb., a city about 25 miles east of the Mecca of college baseball, Omaha.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: In 2013, the Titans will play seven opponents that advanced to the 2012 Division I Baseball tournament (Oral Roberts, Pepperdine, Texas A&M, San Diego) three opponents that advanced to the super regionals (Oregon, TCU) and one opponent that advanced to the College World Series (UCLA)…CSF will play four opponents that finished 2012 ranked in Baseball America's Top-25 (No. 5 UCLA, No. 11 Oregon, No. 16 TCU, No. 19 Texas A&M)…six of Fullerton's opponents were ranked in the top-50 of the NCAA's final top-50 2012 RPI ratings (No. 1 UCLA, No. 6 Oregon, No. 16 Texas A&M, No. 29 Pepperdine, No. 31 TCU, No. 36 San Diego )...four of CSF's opponents were also conference champions in 2012: Pepperdine (West Coast), TCU (co-Mountain West), Oral Roberts (Summit), UCLA (Pac-12).
CONTINUED EXCELLENCE: The Titans have won 30-plus games in each of its 38 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 50
2. Miami, Fla. 42
3. Cal State Fullerton 38
Clemson 38
THE ROOKIES: Cal State Fullerton's 2012 class was ranked the No. 23 recruiting class in the nation, according to Baseball America's annual evaluation.
Under second-year head coach Rick Vanderhook and recruiting coordinator Mike Kirby, the Titans have welcomed 13 freshmen to Goodwin Field. Fullerton's 2012 class ranks second amongst Big West Conference opponents as the Gauchos were ranked 12th with 23 newcomers including 19 freshmen and four junior college transfers. The Titans and Gauchos were the only BWC programs to make the top 25.
DRAFT DODGERS: Nine Titans on the current roster have been selected previously in the MLB First-Year Players draft. Carlos Lopez is the only Titan that has been drafted while at Fullerton. He was selected as a redshirt his sophomore year (based on his age), but declined the offer made by the Detroit Tigers in 2010.
TITANS IN THE DRAFT (by round):
J.D. Davis 2011 5th round Tampa Bay Rays
Michael Lorenzen 2010 7th round Tampa Bay Rays
Austin Diemer 2011 26th round Cleveland Indians
Justin Garza 2012 26th round Cleveland Indians
Jake Jefferies 2012 34th round Washington Nationals
Carlos Lopez 2010 37th round Detroit Tigers
Anthony Hutting 2009 38th round Texas Rangers
David Olmedo-Barrera 2012 40th round Oakland Athletics
Chad Wallach 2010 43rd round Los Angeles Dodgers
TOP 50 FRESHMAN: Ontario, Calif., native Justin Garza was ranked ninth by Baseball America in the publication's evaluation of the top 50 freshmen in college baseball released in early February.
TOP 50 SOPHOMORES: Matt Chapman, 2012 Big West Freshman of the Year, was ranked 18th by Baseball America in the publication's evaluation of the top 50 sophomores in college baseball released in early February. Chapman was also rated by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in the Big West Conference for the 2014 MLB Draft. J.D. Davis was considered the fifth-best prospect in the Big West for the 2014 draft.
TOP 50 JUNIORS: All-American Michael Lorenzen was ranked 19th by Baseball America in the publication's evaluation of the top 50 juniors in college baseball released in early February. Lorenzen was also rated by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in the Big West Conference for the 2013 draft.
TOP 50 SENIORS: Senior shortstop Richy Pedroza was ranked 45th by Baseball America in the publication's evaluation of the top 50 seniors in college baseball released in early February. Pedroza led the Titans batting .324 in 2012.
FAMILY AFFAIR: The Titans have six players on the 2013 roster that have had family members play for Fullerton in the past:
• Outfielder Anthony Hutting is the cousin of former Titan star and major league outfielder Aaron Rowand (.345, 23 HR, 121 RBI from 1996-98).
• Infielder Richy Pedroza's older brother, Sergio, was a national champion outfielder for the Titans (.328, 27 HR, 121 RBI from 2003-05).
• Outfielder Austin Kingsolver's father, Kurt, was a national champion catcher in 1979 (.291, 5 HR, 30 RBI in 1979) and was a teammate of College Baseball Hall of Famer Tim Wallach.
• Catcher Chad Wallach's father, Tim Wallach (.392, 39 HR, 182 RBI), was a national champion, a Golden Spikes Award winner, and a first-round draft pick in 1979. Chad's older brother, and Tim's eldest son, Matt, was also a Titan in 2005 (.255, 5 HR, 28 RBI in 2007) and played first base like his father. Tim is currently entering his third year as the third base coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Pitcher Dave Birosak's brother, Dustin (0-0, 2.89 ERA), was a relief pitcher for the 2007 Titans.
• And to top it all off… Head Coach Rick Vanderhook has had two nephews, Russ (.500, 0 HR, 0 RBI in 1999) and Cory (.304, 1 HR, 17 RBI in 2006) play in a Titan uniform. Coach Vanderhook, himself, was a player in 1983 and 1984. Cory is currently serving as an administrative assistant.
• Freshman right-hander Joe Navilhon's father (Larry) played at Cal State Fullerton from 1979-1980.
• First baseman Carlos Lopez and right-handed pitcher Michael Lopez are of no relation.
TITANS IN THE BIG LEAGUES: The Titans have had 52 former players ascend to the major leagues since their first products, Dan Whitmer and Tim Wallach, got there in 1980. Erik Komatsu got the call in 2012, taking last year's totals to nine: David Cooper (Toronto), Reed Johnson (Chicago Cubs/Atlanta), Erik Komatsu (St. Louis/Minnesota), Mark Kotsay (San Diego), Brett Pill (San Francisco), Kurt Suzuki (Oakland/Washington), Justin Turner (New York Mets), Vinnie Pestano (Cleveland) and Ricky Romero (Toronto). For the second consecutive year, Romero was named one of 30 nominees for the 2012 Roberto Clemente Award as announced by Major League Baseball. Pestano was named this year's recipient of the Bob Feller Man of the Year Award, as announced by the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The distinction is bestowed upon the organization's player or executive who consistently performs at the top of his game.