June 14, 2007

Titans Omaha bound

Caps were strewn from first base to third base and scattered all around second base as Cal State Fullerton players headed to the banner on the outfield wall that reads “1,544 Miles to Omaha.”

The 25th-ranked Titans had reached their destination Sunday night, earning their second consecutive trip to the College World Series and fourth in the past five years with a 2-1 super regional victory against No. 20 UCLA at Goodwin Field.

Matt Wallach had gone 1 for 13 in the Titans’ first four postseason games, collecting his lone hit in the final game of the regional. He watched others collect hit after hit as his batting average slipped from .267 to .254.

But he made up for his struggles at the plate Sunday with his winning RBI single in the seventh inning.

Wallach, who struck out and had a sacrifice bunt in his two previous at-bats, singled through the left side, driving home John Curtis, who had led off the inning with a single to right.

The Bruins (33-28), who were looking for their second trip to Omaha, made one final stand in the ninth.

Justin Uribe led off with a double against reliever Bryan Harris, then went to third on a groundout to short. Uribe (Foothill High) took off for home on Ryan Babineau’s ground ball to the left side, but third baseman Evan McArthur scooped up the ball, spun around and fired to catcher Curtis, who made the play at the plate.

Harris, who came in with one out in the eighth, earned his third save, while Adam Jorgenson (4-2) got the victory.

Brooks (6-7) threw his third consecutive complete game, having tossed a three-hitter against Oregon State two weeks ago and a two-hitter against Illinois-Chicago in the regionals last weekend.

He posted a career-high 12 strikeouts.

The game started well for Brooks until Clark Hardman led off the fourth inning with a single, breaking up Brooks’ perfect game. He had not given up a hit or walk in the first three innings and struck out six.

Brooks gave up a second hit to Nick Mahin, a hard-hit single to left, and Titans coach George Horton waved Hardman home from second base.

But the junior center fielder was thrown out at home, leaving at least Brooks’ shutout intact for the moment.
Cal State Fullerton starter Jeff Kaplan wasn’t as lucky.

The Titans right-hander, who also was working on a shutout, got into a bases loaded jam, starting with a leadoff double to Gabe Cohen.

Will Penniall then reached first on a fielder’s choice and Cohen moved to third on Kaplan’s error.

After Uribe popped up, Kaplan walked Tim Stewart to load the bases with Babineau, a .272 hitter on deck.

Babineau then slapped a single to left, driving in Cohen for the Bruins’ first run and the Titans’ first deficit of the postseason.

But it wouldn’t last.

Hardman tied the score in the sixth with his fifth home run of the season and second of the postseason, a solo shot that bounced off the light pole in right field.

Hardman, batting .385 on the season, hit a home run in the clinching game of last weekend’s regionals against Fresno State.

Kaplan gave up one run on five hits and struck out six in 6 2 /3 innings, but when he fell behind the batter, 2-0, pitching coach Rick Vanderhook decided he had gone far enough.

Jorgenson came in and got the last out, a potential go ahead run at third.