Titans Make Another Run to the World Series

Make it to Sweet Sixteen Following Monday Win Against UCLA

June 3, 2008

By Mel Franks

Cal State Fullerton has made the "Sweet Sixteen" of college baseball again in 2008 and will host Stanford this weekend in a Super Regional at Goodwin Field, the last step towards a return trip to the College World Series in Omaha.

The Titans won a four-team regional tournament over the weekend capped by a 5-4 victory over UCLA Monday night before a crowd of 3,012. The Titans had to win two games on Sunday and one on Monday night after getting knocked into the losers' bracket by an 11-4 loss to the Bruins on Saturday night. The Titans, who opened the tourney with an 11-0 win over Rider on Friday, beat Virginia, 4-1, and UCLA, 11-8, on Sunday.

Pitcher Brian Wilson, a transfer from Loyola Marymount who had not started a game all season, started twice in the tourney and went 2-0 and won the Most Outstanding Player Award. He pitched a complete-game shutout vs. Rider and went the first 4 innings on Monday night, allowing only 3 runs.

Catcher Dustin Garneau was the hitting star for the Titans. His two-run double broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning and he drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth for what proved to be the winning run. He made the all-tournament team and was joined by Wilson, pitcher Cory Arbison, shortstop Christian Colon and outfielder Erik Komatsu.

Pitcher Jeff Kaplan pitched the final three innings for his first save. He was the losing pitcher vs. UCLA on Saturday night but got his revenge.

Fullerton has played in seven previous Super Regionals since the format was developed in 1999 and has won six of them, more than any other school in the nation. At Goodwin Field, the Titans have won five of six.