FULLERTON, Calif. – The Titans will conclude their season-long 12-game homestand this week when they welcome No. 5 Texas Tech for a weekend series followed by a Tuesday matchup with long-time rival San Diego at Goodwin Field.
PARTY LIKE IT'S 1995: The 2015 season marks the 20th anniversary of the 1995 National Championship Cal State Fullerton squad that many media outlets consider the greatest college baseball team of all-time. The Titans will honor that squad prior to Sunday afternoon's finale against the Red Raiders as members of the 1995 team will be in attendance and on the field for the pregame ceremony. The 1995 Titans finished with a 57-9 overall record including an 18-3 mark in conference. That team won its last 18 games of the year including a perfect 11-0 record in the postseason, dispatching of Stanford, Tennessee twice and USC in the College World Series to win Fullerton's third NCAA National Championship. The 1995 team also featured Golden Spikes Award winner Mark Kotsay, who was the last Titan to earn the national award given to the best collegiate baseball player in the country.
#WEARYOURCOLORS T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY: Cal State Fullerton students attending Friday night's opener against No. 5 Texas Tech will receive a free t-shirt while supplies last.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS:
FRIDAY
CSF - RHP, Thomas Eshelman (1-2, 1.77 ERA) vs. TTU - LHP, Cameron Smith (1-0, 4.20 ERA)
SATURDAY
CSF - RHP, Justin Garza (0-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. TTU - RHP, Ryan Moseley (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
SUNDAY
CSF - LHP, John Gavin (1-0, 5.65 ERA) vs. TTU - LHP, Dylan Dusek (2-0, 1.20 ERA)
TUESDAY
CSF - TBA vs. USD - TBA
CATCH ALL THE ACTION: Fans can follow the action for all of Cal State Fullerton's baseball games this week via live stats, live video and audio. Links can be found at FullertonTitans.com.
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.
POLL POSITION: This week, the Titans are broke back into the rankings as Collegiate Baseball placed Fullerton at No. 30 while the Titans also received votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
CSF vs. TEXAS TECH • ALL-TIME SERIES
First Year Played/Last Year Played 2001/2001
Overall Record 1-1
Current Streak Won 1
NCAA Regional Record 1-1
Overall NCAA Postseason Record 1-1
Home Record 1-1
Road Record 0-0
Neutral Record 0-0
Longest Winning Streak 1 game (5/27/01 to present)
Longest Losing Streak 1 game (5/27/01)
Extra Innings 0-0
Most Runs Scored in a Game 9 runs (5/27/01)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent 11 runs (5/27/01)
Largest Margin of Victory 7 runs (5/27/01)
Largest Margin of Defeat 6 runs (5/27/01)
TEXAS TECH NOTES: No. 5 Texas Tech (10-1) heads to California for its first road games/weekend series of the season at No. 30 Cal State Fullerton (6-5) for a three-game set this weekend beginning Friday at 9 p.m. CT. The Red Raiders are playing in the Golden State for the first time since 2009. Tech opened the season with an 11-game homestand while winning its last two games with walk-off wins over Sacramento State (4-3) and Abilene Christian (6-5, 16 inn.). Tech enters the weekend having played only two games during the last 12 days while losing four games (3 vs. Sacramento State ... 1 vs. Northern Colorado) due to inclement weather. The Red Raiders have won six consecutive games - its longest win streak of the season and its longest string of victories since capturing eight straight last season (Apr. 8-19, 2014). CSF has won four straight with a three-game series sweep over Baylor (10-1, 11-6, 7-6) and a midweek home victory over Pepperdine (3-0).
• Tech and Fullerton meet for the first time since 2001 as they have split two games in the all-time series.
• Tech and CSF met twice in the 2001 Fullerton Regional. Tech won 11-5 and then lost 9-2 in the title game.
• Tech is 22-25 all-time in games played in California while making its first trip to California since 2009 (1-7).
• Tech is 29-36 all-time in road/neutral site openers. Tech defeated SFA last season 5-4 in Nacogdoches, TX.
• Started the season 10-1 for the sixth time in school history (2015, 2005, 1997, 1996, 1991, 1986).
• Won back-to-back games in walk-off fashion (vs. Sac State/vs. ACU) for the first time since May 15-16, 2014.
• Tech's 11-game homestand to start the season is the Red Raiders longest since 2011 (18 games, 12-6).
• Tech leads the NCAA in doubles (34)... ranks 4th in double plays (15) and 5th in shutouts (3).
• Tech leads Big 12 in 12 statistical categories, including: wins, batting, 2B, OB%, scoring, SLG%, winning %.
• Tech has 8 players that have hit a HR in 11 games - Tech had 6 players hit a HR in 66 games last season.
• Texas Tech coach Larry Hays (1987-2008) named inductee into College Baseball Hall of Fame (Class `15).
VERSUS THE BIG-12: The Titans currently hold a 48-39 all-time record against teams currently in the Big-12 Conference. They hold a 1-1 record against the Red Raiders and have not played Texas Tech since the Fullerton Regional in 2001. Fullerton's most success has come against Texas Christian, whom the Titans have a 15-7 record against. The Titans have a .500 record against Texas Tech, Texas, and Oklahoma while they hold a losing record (3-6) against Oklahoma State, a team that eliminated the Titans from the postseason in 2014.
CSF vs. SAN DIEGO • ALL-TIME SERIES
First Year Played/Last Year Played 1976/2014
Overall Record 53-11-2
Current Streak Lost 3
Overall Conference (SCBA) Record 20-3-1
NCAA Regional Record 1-0
Overall NCAA Postseason Record 1-0
Home Record 33-6-1
Road Record 18-5-1
Neutral Record 2-0
Longest Winning Streak 16 games (4/7/87 to 3/2/97)
Longest Losing Streak 3 games (3/5/13 to present)
Extra Innings 3-1-1
Most Runs Scored in a Game 17 runs, 2 times (last on 4/9/91)
Most Runs Scored in a Game by Opponent 11 runs, 2 times (last on 4/4/81)
Largest Margin of Victory 17 runs (4/9/91)
Largest Margin of Defeat 5 runs (3/17/87)
SAN DIEGO NOTES: The Toreros were supposed to begin the week with a game against UC Riverside, but due to inclement weather over the weekend the field conditions at Fowler Park were unplayable on Tuesday, forcing the postponement of the game to a later date. San Diego will travel this weekend to Starkville to take on No. 9 Mississippi State in a three-game set. It will be the first ever meeting between the Toreros and the Bulldogs.
• Junior right-hander David Hill of the University of San Diego baseball team has been named the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon. Hill turned in his most dominant performance in a Torero uniform this past Sunday against Texas. The Texas offense was stifled for six innings by San Diego's Hill (1-2), who allowed just one run on one hit and four walks, while striking out six Longhorn hitters. Hiss is not 1-2 on the season, with a 4.18 ERA, and he leads the team in strikeouts with 20.
• Junior lefty PJ Conlon (1-0) was dominate on the mound in USD's win over Texas this past Sunday. San Diego's Conlon (1.59 ERA, .153 opp. avg.) tossed six shutout innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out five Texas batters before giving way to the bullpen. Conlon is now 1-0 and he is second on the team in strikeouts with 18.
• Junior shortstop Kyle Holder led the USD offense in a double-header sweep of No. 8 Texas on Sunday afternoon. Holder went 3-for-7 with one run scored and one RBI. He pushed across one of USD's six runs in the top of the ninth in game two of the double-header. On the season, Holder is leading the team with a .342 batting average, while collecting 13 hits, one home run and four RBI.
• Collegiate Baseball has ranked the University of San Diego baseball team's 2014 recruiting class No. 4 nationally. The No. 1 recruiting class goes to LSU, followed by Wichita State, then Florida, and in fourth place comes San Diego.
• San Diego's Rich Hill has built the USD Toreros into one of the most successful Division I baseball programs on the West Coast. The 2015 spring season will be Hill's 28th year as a head coach at the collegiate level, and 17th at USD, having enjoyed 24 winning seasons in 27 years. Since taking over at USD in 1999, Hill has been remarkable in leading the Toreros to 16 winning campaigns, rewriting the school record book en route to claiming five West Coast Conference Championship titles in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2010, and one WCC Tournament Championship in 2013. Under his leadership San Diego has averaged 35 wins per season, including winning a school record 44 games in 2008, a year in which Hill was honored by his peers as the WCC Coach of the Year. In 2007, Hill led USD to its highest national ranking in program history at No. 4, as well as USD's first-ever national seed in the NCAA Regionals. In 2008, Hill guided the Toreros into the championship game of the Long Beach Regional, marking the first time USD had reached that game in a NCAA Division I Regional.
VERSUS THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE: The Titans currently hold a 297-103-3 record against teams currently in the West Coast Conference. The Titans have faced the Toreros 66 times and hold a dominant 53-11-2 record against San Diego. However, the Toreros have won the last three against Fullerton and swept the Titans in two games last season, the first time San Diego has ever swept a season series against Fullerton. Overall, the Titans have a winning record against every team in the West Coast Conference with their best mark coming against Pacific (83-12).
E-STILL GOT IT: Sophomore Josh Estill was instrumental in the Titans three-game sweep of Baylor last weekend and was named the Big West Conference Field Player of the Week. The Carlsbad, Calif. native went 6-for-12 in the series and had six RBIs. He drove in the game-winning run on two occasions, including a two-run single in the seventh inning of the Titans 7-6 win over the Bears on Saturday afternoon.
STIEB STREAKING: Junior Tyler Stieb is currently riding a team-high six-game hitting streak going into this weekend's series against No. 5 Texas Tech. During that stretch, Stieb is batting .435 (10-for-23) with two doubles, four RBIs and a team-best seven runs scored. He is slugging .522 over the last six games and boasts a dynamic .536 on-base percentage. He's also been a terror on the bases for opposing pitchers over the last six games, swiping three bags in four attempts.
JEFFERIES AND THE BRAVE .300: Second baseman Jake Jefferies is the only Titans player to have started in all 11 games this season. He's made 10 starts at second and one as the designated hitter. Jefferies is currently batting .300 (12-for-40) with seven runs scored. He had three multi-hit games in Fullerton's three-game sweep of Baylor and has reached base in 10 straight games, the most by any player on the team so far.
SLAMMING THE DOOR: Senior Tyler Peitzmeier has been solid as the team's closer so far this season. The Yutan, Neb. native has four saves in four opportunities this season, which ranks 13th in the nation. He has been nearly untouchable, striking out 15 batters while allowing just one walk. In his save opportunities, Peitzmeier has struck out nine batters while allowing just one walk. He has allowed five hits but two of those came against Stanford while protecting a three-run lead. He's allowed two earned runs on the year, both of those also coming in that game against the Cardinal.
WATCH THE WINDMILLS: Titans pitchers continue to make hitters earn their way aboard while making opponents miss. Fullerton currently ranks No. 1 in the nation with a 5.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Titans have fanned 108 batters this season while allowing just 16 walks.
CLOSE EDGE: The Titans scored a 7-6 win over Baylor on Saturday afternoon and are currently 1-2 in one-run games this season. In 2014, Fullerton led the nation, playing in 26 one-run games. They went 13-13 in those contests.
RECYCLED NOTES
REMEMBERING THE TITANS: Junior Justin Garza pitched five scoreless frames and Cal State Fullerton had consecutive big innings to defeat the Alumni 10-0 on Jan. 24 at Goodwin Field. The Titans scored their sixth consecutive win over the Alumni since 2007. The game was cancelled due to inclement weather in 2008 and 2009.
The game featured many great Titans from the past including Justin Turner (2003-06), who served as the team's manager. Other former Titans that played in the game included Carlos Lopez (2010-13), Matt Chapman (2012-14), Greg Jacobs (1998), Richy Pedroza (2010-13), Corey Jones (2007-08, 10), Dustin Garneau (2006-09), Nick Ramirez (2009-11), Josh Fellhauer (2007-09), Erik Komatsu (2008), Chad Wallach (2011-13), Jared Deacon (2011-14), Austin Diemer (2012-14), Clay Williamson (2012-14), Joe Scott (2006-09), Anthony Hutting (2010-13), Keegan Dale (2011-14), Matt Orloff (2010-13), Longo Garcia (1987-88) and Wes Roemer (2005-07). Current undergraduate assistant Sergio Pedroza (2003-05) and volunteer assistant coach Ronnie Prettyman (2003-05) along with former undergraduate assistant Cory Vanderhook (2006) also made appearances as pinch-hitters during the game. Other alumni that were in attendance included Christian Colon (2008-10), Ryan Jara (1995), Robert Matos (1994-95), Tony Miranda (1994-95), Blake Davis (2004-06), Jeff Nichols (1975-78), Mike Rouse (2001), Dave Birosak (2012-13), Reed Johnson (1997-99), James Betzsold (1991-94), Ryan Owens (1997-99), Chris Robinson (1988-91), Rod Klopfer (1989), Shane Costa (2001-03), Kevin Rath (2008-10), Paul Canedo (2007), Jason Corapci (2000-03), Dave Chavez (1975), Koby Gauna (2012-14), Tyler Pill (2009-11), Chad Rolish (1993-94), Michael Lopez (2012-13), Noe Ramirez (2009-11), Frank Vilorio (1977-78), Adam Millan (1993-94), Vinnie Pestano (2004-06), Billy Marcoe (2007-10), Billy Pinkerton (2007), Dustin Birosak (2007), Grahamm Wiest (2012-14), Michael Lorenzen (2011-13) and Christian Coronado (2011-12, 14).
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.
TITANS AND THE BIG WEST: Overall, Cal State Fullerton has posted a dominant 709-249-1 (.739) conference record over 40 seasons. Rick Vanderhook, the school's fifth Div. I head coach, has compiled a 54-21 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 533-203 (.724; 32 years) PCAA/Big West Conference record.
GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH LIST: Thomas Eshelman and Justin Garza were each named to the 50-man preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List this week, marking the second straight season the two pitchers were named to the initial list. In 2014, Garza only made the initial list but Eshelman made it all the way to the 30-man list one year after being named a semifinalist for the prestigious award as a freshman. Three players have won the Golden Spikes Award in Fullerton's history: Tim Wallach (1979), Phil Nevin (1992) and Mark Kotsay (1995).
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: During the 2015 season, the Titans will take on 11 teams that finished 2014 with a top-50 RPI. Fullerton will face three teams that made it to the 2014 College World Series (Louisville, UC Irvine, Texas Tech) along with three other teams that advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals (Stanford, Maryland, Pepperdine) last season. Overall, the Titans will face 10 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2014; a list that also includes Cal Poly, Indiana, Nebraska and Long Beach State.
Furthermore, the Titans will take on four teams ranked in Baseball America's 2015 Preseason Top-25 rankings including No. 5 Texas Tech, No. 11 UCLA, No. 12 Louisville and No. 16 Maryland.
According to BoydsWorld.com, the Titans have the third toughest overall schedule in the nation, ranked only behind 2015 opponents Baylor and Stanford. Fullerton's non-conference schedule ranks as the second toughest behind only Stanford.
CONTINUED EXCELLENCE: The Titans have won 30-plus games in each of its 40 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 52
2. Miami, Fla. 44
3. Cal State Fullerton 40
Clemson 40
THE ROOKIES: Cal State Fullerton's 2014 class was ranked the No. 10 recruiting class in the nation, according to Collegiate Baseball newspaper's annual evaluation.
Fullerton's class ranks first among Big West Conference opponents, ahead of No. 18 Long Beach State. The Titans class also ranks third among Division I programs in the state of California behind No. 4 San Diego and No. 8 Stanford.
DRAFT DODGERS: Nine Titans on the current roster have been selected previously in the MLB First-Year Players draft. In 2014, newcomers Tristan Hildebrandt, John Gavin, Jordan Hand, Connor Seabold and Chris Hudgins were each selected in the MLB Draft but elected to attend Cal State Fullerton.
TITANS IN THE DRAFT (by round):
Tristan Hildebrandt 2014 16th round St. Louis Cardinals
Connor Seabold 2014 19th round Baltimore Orioles
Justin Garza 2012 26th round Cleveland Indians
Jordan Hand 2014 34th round New York Mets
Jake Jefferies 2012 34th round Washington Nationals
Chris Hudgins 2014 35th round New York Yankees
John Gavin 2014 39th round Milwaukee Brewers
Timmy Richards 2013 40th round Miami Marlins
David Olmedo-Barrera 2012 40th round Oakland Athletics
HIT THIS, I DARE YA: The Titans pitching staff was spectacular in 2014 and the unquestioned strength of the team. Fullerton accumulated a 2.24 team ERA, setting a new Cal State Fullerton single-season record, shattering the previous mark of 2.47 set in 2013. They also ranked second on the all-time list in fewest walks allowed per nine innings (1.52), shutouts (9), fewest walks (92) and fewest home runs allowed (12). The Titans led the nation in walks allowed per nine innings (1.52) in 2014 as well as strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.04). They were third in the country with a 1.03 WHIP and third in the nation with a 2.24 ERA. Overall, the weekend rotation of Thomas Eshelman (1.89), Justin Garza (3.22), and Grahamm Wiest (1.68) finished the season with a collective 2.13 ERA, allowing 73 earned runs in 309 innings pitched.
WORKING OVERTIME: In 2014, the Titans played 11 extra inning games, the most played by a Titans squad in recorded history and the most since the 2004 National Championship team played seven. They finished the year 5-6 in extra-inning games. In addition, the Titans played the longest game in the program's recorded history (19 innings on Feb. 21 vs. San Francisco). The Titans played 36 extra frames in 2014, the equivalent of four full games.
DINNER IS SERVED: The ninth annual Dinner With the Titans set new attendance and fundraising records for the baseball program as more than 500 guests gathered on Jan. 10 at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim, Calif. to support the Cal State Fullerton baseball program.
The event raised more than $75,000 for the nationally renowned Titans baseball program thanks to donations, raffle drawings and proceeds from the silent auction. The night set a new record, eclipsing the previous mark of $46,700 raised in 2013.
College baseball and Titans legendary coach Augie Garrido headlined the event, serving as the keynote speaker.
Along with the many fans of the Titans, more than 85 former players and alumni came out for the event including Tim Wallach, Mark Kotsay, Phil Nevin, Justin Turner, Kurt Suzuki, Christian Colon, Matt Chapman, J.D. Davis and Jim Irvine, a member of the first NCAA Division I Titans squad in 1975.
SUMMER IN KOREA: The four-time national champion Cal State Fullerton baseball program has been selected to represent the United States at the 2015 World University games from July 3-14 in Gwangju City, South Korea.
The World University Games is the American term for "Universiade," an international multi-sport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The Universiade, which began in 1959, is an international sporting and cultural festival, staged every two years in a different city around the world, representing both winter and summer competitions.
The 2015 Summer Games in Gwangju City, South Korea will have U.S. representation in up to 21 sports by 550 people which will be, by far, the largest American team in the history of U.S. participation in the Games. By contrast, the 2013 American team had 400 athletes and staff in Kazan, Russia.
The U.S.A. won a total of 40 medals at the 2013 Kazan Summer Games, finishing sixth in the world. Many now-famous athletes have represented the U.S.A. in previous WUG competitions prior to gaining stardom in the Olympics and professional sports. These include such elite athletes as Michael Johnson (Track), Charles Barkley and Larry Bird (Men's Basketball), Matt Biondi and Michael Phelps (Swimming), and Lisa Leslie (Women's Basketball).
TITANS IN THE BIG LEAGUES: The Titans have had 55 former players ascend to the major leagues since their first products, Dan Whitmer and Tim Wallach, got there in 1980. 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).
