OMAHA, Neb. –Cal State Fullerton played its “team baseball”strategy to perfection Friday against LSU in both schools’ CollegeWorld Series opener, but the Titans also added some unexpected homerun power too.
Fullerton right fielder Shane Costa’s three-run home run toright field off LSU pitcher Nate Bumstead in the third inning brokea 1-1 score and powered the Titans past the Tigers, 8-2, before23,135 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium.
“We’re tickled to death,” said Fullerton coach George Horton.”Anytime you can beat LSU at the College World Series is a greataccomplishment.”
Costa’s home run was only the 35th of the year for Fullerton(49-14) – a team that prides itself in not relying on roundtrippers to win, but rather on base hits, bunts, sacrifice flyballs and stolen bases to win.
“That’s the way we’ve played all year long – put some buntsdown, directional hitting, teamwork,” Horton said. “Costa ran intoa ball obviously, we got off to a good start and that kind of tookthe edge off of everything.
“We’d like to have three or four guys with double-digit homeruns in the order. I think even if we had great power we wouldstill commit to [playing the same style of baseball].”
Costa said the pitch Bumstead (11-3) gave the home run up on wasaround his shins.
“I like the ball low and it was a good pitch,” he said.
LSU (46-20-1) will now play South Carolina Sunday at 3 p.m. inan elimination game. The Gamecocks lost to Stanford 8-0 to open theCWS. The teams met in early April at Alex Box Stadium and LSU took2-of-3 from South Carolina.
The game started on a positive note for the Tigers with Bumsteadcruising through the first two innings and LSU taking a 1-0 lead ondesignated hitter Ryan Patterson’s solo home run, his 16th of theseason. But the game turned ugly in a hurry for LSU with Fullertonscoring seven runs over the next two innings.
CSF catcher Kurt Suzuki started the rally in the third with abunt base hit down the third base line and second baseman JasonCorapci followed with a walk. Third baseman Ronnie Prettymansacrificed both runners 90 feet, and Suzuki later scored on a wildpitch. Bumstead then walked shortstop Justin Turner setting upCosta’s three-run shot.
“It’s a little bit different style of ball than we’re used tofacing,” Bumstead said. “They did a great job of hitting me today.That home run I felt was a pretty good pitch. I tip my cap, but Ijust didn’t get it done today.”
The Titans got “little ball” going again in the fourth withanother bunt base hit to lead off the inning, this time from centerfielder Kyle Boyer. He stole second base, moved to third on leftfielder Danny Dorn’s single and scored on Jon Zeringue’s throwingerror while Dorn moved to second.
Dorn then scored on Prettyman’s single to center and he tooksecond on the throw home. Turner then doubled down the right fieldline to score Prettyman.
Suzuki led off the sixth inning with a double, moved to thirdbase on Corapci’s fly out and scored on Prettyman’s sacrifice flyto left to give CSF an 8-1 lead and knocking Bumstead out of thegame. The junior right-hander gave up a career high eight runs onnine hits in 5 2/3 innings. LSU pitchers Greg Smith, Jake Tompkinsand Billy Sadler finished the game for the Tigers.
“Whenever there was a chance for Fullerton to deliver the bigpitch or get a big hit, they did,” said LSU coach Smoke Laval.”They’re a very good ballclub, did what they were supposed to doand capitalized on all their opportunities. We did deliver a prettygood pitch to Costa when he hit it out.”
While the Titans’ lineup kept giving Bumstead fits, Fullertonstarter Jason Windor (11-2) held the LSU offensive attack in check.After giving up the home run to Patterson in the second, Windsorsettled down and pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing one run on fourhits.
“This was my first time playing here, so obviously my adrenalinewas pumping pretty good,” Windsor said.
LSU loaded the bases in the sixth and Sean Martin relievedWindsor and got Patterson to fly out to left to end the inning.
Patterson said the one mistake Windsor made the whole game wasthe home run he gave up in the second on a pitch left up in thezone.
“He threw one bad pitch all day,” Patterson said. “But that onedoesn’t really count when we gave up eight runs.”
Added Aaron Hill on Windsor’s performance, “He did a great jobtoday. He kept us off balance. He started a little slow but gotback into his rhythm and pitched a good game.”
LSU scored its second run in the seventh when Zeringue led offthe inning with a double and later scored on Bruce Sprowl’sgroundout.
LSU plans to start senior right hander Bo Pettit against theGamecocks. But Pettit could be a late scratch, depending on ablister on his finger on his pitching hand. If Pettit isn’t able togo, freshman Justin Meier will pitch.
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