CATCH ALL THE ACTION
Television: Friday's series opener against UC Irvine will be broadcast on ESPNU (Paul Lo Duca & Roxy Bernstein) and WatchESPN (online) starting at 8 p.m. Game two of the series on Saturday begins at 6 p.m., and will be broadcast on Fox Sports West (Paul Sunderland & John Jackson).
Streaming Video: Friday's game will be broadcast on WatchESPN. Sunday's game will be available on BigWest.tv.
Audio Webcast: www.FullertonTitans.com for all three games.
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at www.FullertonTitans.com for all three games.
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.
TITANS IN THE BIG WEST
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. Fullerton, winner of the past three league titles, captured the 2012 league crown with a 17-7 mark, one game ahead of Cal Poly.
Overall, Cal State Fullerton has totaled 26 conference championships dating back to 1975, including 10 in the last 14 years. Overall, Cal State Fullerton has posted a dominant 689-239-1 conference record over 39 seasons.
CURRENT STATUS
Cal State Fullerton sits at the top of the Big West standings with a conference record of 17-4, and the Titans currently have a two-game lead over Cal State Northridge (31-20, 15-6). The Titans will close the 2013 regular season with a three-game Big West series against the Matadors in Northridge (May 23-25).
CSF vs. UC IRVINE
First Year Played/Last Year Played: 1976/2012
Overall Record: 73-25
Current Streak: Won 2
SCBA Conference Record: 23-4
Big West Conference Record: 41-19
Overall Conference (SCBA and Big West) Record: 64-23
NCAA College World Series Record: 0-1
Overall NCAA Postseason Record: 0-1
Home Record: 32-15
Road Record: 36-9
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: 2-3
Most Runs Scored in a Game: 22 runs (3/30/91)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent: 15 runs, 2 times (5/4/85; 4/8/11)
Largest Margin of Victory: 14 runs (4/12/79)
Largest Margin of Defeat: 12 runs (4/8/11)
UC IRVINE: The Anteaters currently stand alone in third at 13-8 in the Big West standings, and are two games behind second-place Cal State Northridge. UCI continues to flash the leather and tops the conference in fielding percentage at .980.
The Anteaters improved to 5-3 against ranked opponents after taking two of three games against No. 22 Cal Poly last weekend.
With seven games remaining in the regular season, head coach Mike Gillespie is six victories away from reaching the 1000-win milestone. He entered the season 16th among Division I active coaches in victories.
VERSUS UC IRVINE: Cal State Fullerton holds an all-time record of 73-25 against UC Irvine (dating back to 1976). In Fullerton, the Titans hold a 32-15 advantage. This weekend's series will mark the 12th time the two clubs play a conference series against one another dating back to 2002 when the UCI program was reinstated. In those meetings, the Titans have won the series on 11 occasions, sweeping UCI just once. At Goodwin Field since 2002, Fullerton has won four of five series, dropping two-of-three to the Anteaters in 2007.
A JUMP IN THE RANKINGS: Cal State Fullerton enters the week at No. 4 in the Baseball America Top-25 poll. The Titans have been ranked in the top-10 for 11 straight weeks.
OFF TO A HOT START: Currently with a record of 42-8, Fullerton's mark is the best for any Titan team after 50 games dating back to the start of Division I play in 1975. The NCAA RPI currently rates Fullerton at No. 9 in the country as the Titans boast an 9-2 record against top-25 teams. The closest Big West program to Fullerton's ranking is Cal Poly at No. 32.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Cal State Fullerton is one of four teams in the country with a minimum of 20 wins on the road this season. Canisius leads the nation with 25 road wins, while the Titans have totaled 23 victories away from Goodwin Field. The Titans are batting .277 on the road, and have outscored opponents 171-76 as the pitching staff manages a 2.37 ERA. In addition, Fullerton boasts a .972 fielding percentage on the road.
MILESTONES: Cal State Fullerton's 14-7 victory at UC Riverside on May 8 was the team's 40th win of the year. Since 1975, Fullerton has totaled 27 40-win seasons...On May 9 at UC Riverside, freshman Justin Garza earned his 11th victory on the mound, matching Tyler Pill's freshman record of 11 wins set in 2009.
STARTING STAFF: Cal State Fullerton's 2.53 ERA tops the Big West Conference and ranks eighth in the nation. The weekend trio of Thomas Eshelman (Friday), Justin Garza (Saturday) and Grahamm Wiest (Sunday), have combined for 39 starts, 260 and 2/3 innings, 200 strikeouts while managing a 2.21 ERA.
ESHELMAN: During his rookie season, Thomas Eshelman has been named to the Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List.
In his first season for Cal State Fullerton, the Titans' Friday-night starter posts a record of 9-2 in 13 starts and his miniscule 1.42 ERA leads the Big West, ranks 14th in the country and third among freshmen across the nation.
Eshelman has pitched in three combined shutouts this season, and has struck out 59 while holding opposing batters to a staff-best .197 average.
In his first 63 and 1/3 innings as a collegiate pitcher, Eshelman did not issue a walk, a streak that fell just two innings short of Wes Roemer's program record of 65 and 1/3 innings in 2006. The main difference between the two streaks was that Eshelman plunked only two batters, while Roemer drilled 12.
In addition, Eshelman's mark of 6.29 hits allowed per nine innings ranks 38th in the country, while he leads the nation in walks allowed per nine innings (0.20), strikeout-to-walk-ratio (29.5) and WHIP (0.72). Eshelman has also totaled 10 quality starts in 2013.
On Feb. 15, 2013, Eshelman 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.
GARZA: Garza (11-0, 2.12) has picked up wins over Nebraska, TCU, Oregon, Texas A&M, Oral Roberts, Pacific, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly, Hawai'i, Long Beach State and UC Riverside during 13 weeks on the mound. His 11 wins tie Tyler Pill's Cal State Fullerton freshman record in 2009. In addition, the Titans are an undefeated 13-0 when Garza starts. In a staff-leading 89 innings, Garza has surrendered 21 earned runs while fanning 70 - a total that ranks seventh in the Big West. Garza was the first Titan freshman since Dylan Floro in 2010 to win five straight starts.
Garza's 11 wins top the Big West, tie for third in the country and rank first among freshmen in NCAA Division I play.
WIEST: Sophomore Grahamm Wiest (8-3, 3.14, 71 K's) solidifies the rotation on Sunday as his 71 strikeouts lead the Titans and tie for fifth in the Big West. Wiest's 1.19 walks allowed per nine innings rank 21st in the country and his 6.45 strikeout-to-walk ratio rates 17th.
THE STREAKS ARE OVER: Thomas Eshelman issued his first walk of the season to Brandon Trinkwon in the top of the sixth vs. UC Santa Barbara on April 12. The walk ended Eshelman's streak at 63 and 1/3 innings without issuing a base on balls. The streak was just shy of the all-time record held by Wes Roemer at 65 and 1/3 innings to start the 2006 season. During Roemer's stretch, he drilled 12 batters, during Eshelman's stretch he plunked only two batters. Roemer also delivered his first walk in his ninth start of the season, in the sixth inning vs. Cal State Northridge on March 31.
Michael Lorenzen was denied a save after surrendering two runs to UC Santa Barbara in the top of the ninth on April 12. The blown save ended his streak of 16 straight that dated back to May 1, 2012.
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. 4 ranking and 42-8 record. Fullerton's offense currently leads the Big West or is tied for the lead in the following offensive categories: slugging percentage (.411), on-base percentage (.388), runs scored (321), RBIs (290), triples (23), home runs (30), triples (23), walks (222) and stolen bases (63).
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 57-14 in the first inning in 2013, and Fullerton has outscored opponents 129-40 in the first three innings of games this year. Fullerton is 29-3 in 2013 when scoring first, and 13-5 when the opponent scores first.
OVER THE FENCES: In 2012, the Titans totaled just 10 home runs. After 13 weeks in 2013, Fullerton has already surpassed that total, hitting 30 round trippers. Michael Lorenzen leads the Titans with seven home runs followed by Anthony Hutting (5), J.D. Davis (3), Matt Chapman (3), Greg Velazquez (3), Jake Jefferies (2), Austin Kingsolver (2), Carlos Lopez (2), Chad Wallach (2) and Richy Pedroza (1). The Titans have also hit four grand slams in 2013.
GOOD FOR EXTRAS: Cal State Fullerton starting center fielder and closer Michael Lorenzen continues to garner national attention. This week, Lorenzen was announced as one of 10 players named to the latest John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award watch list. In addition, Lorenzen was named as a semifinalist for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's 2013 Dick Howser Trophy, regarded by many as one of college baseball's most prestigious awards.
Lorenzen is 16-for-18 in save attempts this season, but in both blown save attempts, kept the Titans within reach to record the win.
In two years on the mound, Lorenzen has totaled 32 saves, a number that ties Scott Wright's (1981-84) mark of 32 for third all-time at Fullerton.
In 18 appearances this season, Lorenzen has tossed 18 and 1/3 innings, striking out 13 and managing a 1.96 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .197 clip.
At the plate, Lorenzen is batting .328 with 37 runs scored (7th Big West), 61 hits (T-9th Big West), 10 doubles, three triples, a team-leading seven home runs (T-3rd Big West) and a team-best 43 RBIs (3rd Big West). Lorenzen has also totaled 16 multiple-hit games and nine multiple-RBI games. His 13-game hitting streak from March 15-April 2 was the longest for any Titan this season, as Fullerton went 12-1 during that stretch while Lorenzen batted .469 with 19 RBIs, three doubles, three home runs and 13 runs scored.
NOTES FROM LAST WEEK: Fullerton's 42-8 record is the best for the program after 50 games in the team's Division I history, which dates back to 1975...Cal State Fullerton has won 12 weekend series in 2013, and the Titans have won 13 consecutive weekend series since dropping two of three to UCR at Goodwin Field (May 18-20, 2012)…Fullerton has outscored opponents 57-14 in the first inning this year...Fullerton is 29-3 when scoring first…the Titans have totaled double-digit runs nine times in 2013...the Titans have totaled double-digit hits 22 times in 2013...UCR's five runs in the first inning last Sunday were the most runs Fullerton has surrendered in a single inning this season...the Titans have scored at least four runs in an inning on 22 occasions and at least five runs in an inning 10 times in 2013…Fullerton has shut out 10 opponents this year...Fullerton's three home runs in a single game last Saturday were a season high.
Vanderhook Signs Five-Year Contract Extension: Second-year Cal State Fullerton head baseball coach Rick Vanderhook signed a five-year contract extension through the 2018 season, it was announced by Athletic Director Jim Donovan on April 15.
"I am privileged and grateful to continue as the head coach at Cal State Fullerton," Vanderhook said. "The coaching staff and our student-athletes work each and every day to continue the tradition of hard-nosed Titan baseball. We believe that this effort will result in the prolonged success of our program that our students, campus, community and fans deserve and have come to expect."
During the 2012 campaign, Vanderhook didn't miss a beat, taking the Titans to the Big West Conference championship, a top-20 national ranking for the majority of the season, and the Titans' 21st consecutive NCAA appearance. His rookie year also resulted in his first conference coach of the year award.
VOTE4CARLOS: Cal State Fullerton senior first baseman Carlos Lopez was selected as one of 10 NCAA baseball student-athletes who excel both on and off the field for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award, it was announced on April 24.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 30 candidates announced in February. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2013 NCAA College World Series® in Omaha June 15-26.
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 689-239-1 conference record over 39 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.
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.
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 39 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 51 (includes 2013)
2. Miami, Fla. 43 (includes 2013)
3. Cal State Fullerton 39 (includes 2013)
Clemson 39 (includes 2013)
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.
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:
• The fathers of Joe Navilhon (Larry Navilhon), Austin Kingsolver (Kurt Kingsolver) and Chad Wallach (Tim Wallach) each played on the 1979 national championship team from Cal State Fullerton.
• 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 53 former players make their major leagues debuts since their first products, Dan Whitmer and Tim Wallach, got there in 1980. Most recently, Khris Davis made his debut for Milwaukee on April 1. 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).
