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Final Thoughts, Video & Notes From Stanford…

By CB360 Contributor Kevin Kennedy

Game 2: #1 Stanford 8 #2 Pepperdine 7

Mark Appel was named MOP of the Palo Alto Regional. He could go number one tonight when the MLB Draft begins.

Palo Alto, CA—The Stanford Cardinal advanced to the Super Regionals with an 8-7 victory over the Pepperdine Waves Sunday night in Game 6 of the Stanford Regional.

For the second night in a row Stanford (41-16) fell behind 4-0 only to rally and score eight unanswered runs to take an 8-4 lead after the fourth. Pepperdine would pull with in a run at 8-7 by scoring three times in the seventh but would be unable to get across a tying run.

The Waves (36-23) were unable to pull off their second late inning comeback of the day and were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. Pepperdine rallied with a six-run ninth to beat Fresno St Sunday afternoon (more on that game below).

Stanford advanced to the Super Regional’s for a second consecutive year. The Cardinal will travel to Tallahassee next weekend to take on #3 national seed Florida St.

“Obviously, in back-to-back nights, these were two fantastic college baseball games. Both teams played fantastic. For Coach (Steve) Rodriguez and Pepperdine, those are two tough games to lose,” said Stanford Head Coach Mark Marquess. “I’m just real proud of the effort we put forward. We earned it and deserved it.”

Pepperdine Head Coach Steve Rodriguez summed up the loss with his entire opening statement in the postgame press conference. “Great baseball game. I really don’t have much to say,” said the head coach.

After the Waves went up 4-0 in the opening frame of the game Stanford scored a run in the bottom of the first and two in the third to cut the deficit to 4-3.

“We could hit…If they wanted a slugfest, we were willing to go for that,” said Stanford first basemen Brian Ragira. “We were confident we could come back.”

In the fourth the Cardinal had the bases loaded with two out when reliever Aaron Brown came out of the pen to replace Mat Snider. The first batter Brown faced, right fielder Austin Wilson, singled home two runs to give the Cardinal a 5-4 lead.

Next batter, true freshman third basemen, Eric Blandino made up for an error that continued the bottom of the first when Pepperdine scored four runs by blasting a 3-run homer to left field giving the Cardinal a 8-4 lead.

“Obviously dropping that foul ball in the first cost Stephen (Piscotty) a couple of runs. I knew it was a big spot. I think the key was to not get caught up in the moment and get a good pitch to hit,” said Blandino.

“The guy crushes fastballs. He (Blandino) got one right down the middle and that’s what he does with them,” said Rodriguez.

Pepperdine would rally in the seventh off Cardinal starter Stephen Piscotty (5-2). The Waves had done nothing vs. the Stanford pitcher since the first, but second basemen Joe Sever doubled home the first run followed by an 2-RBI single by right fielder Tony Cooper cutting Stanford’s lead to 8-7.

Reliever Sahil Bloom came in after the Cooper single and pitched the final 2.2 to pick up his first save of the season.

Pepperdine but a scare into the home crowd when Waves shortstop Zach Vincej just missed a potential game tying homer that was foul down the left field line leading off the ninth.

“I was scared because the ball started to go foul and started to come back. It was close, but it was foul,” Marquess said.

“It wouldn’t have surprised me if it was fair, just because of how things were going for this team and the fight and tenacity that they’ve shown this whole week,” said Rodriguez.

The scoring started with Pepperdine picking up where they left off after their ninth inning rally a few hours earlier by scoring four in the top of the first off Piscotty. The Waves were up 1-0 when Blandino dro

pped a foul popup off the bat of left fielder Floyd Given that would have ended the inning. A couple of pitches later Given ripped a 2-RBI double making it 3-0. The Waves added another run with an RBI single by Game 1 hero DH Matt Forgatch.

“I got knocked down, but I wasn’t going to give up,” said Piscotty who allowed no runs and two hits from the second through the sixth.

“After giving up four runs in the first inning, I thought it was going to be a long night. I thought the key for us was Piscotty, obviously settling down,” said Marquess.

Stanford scored their first run in the bottom of the first with a RBI single by Piscotty. In the third the Cardinal scored on a double and sacrifice fly and pulled within 4-3.

Notes from Stanford’s win over Pepperdine…

-Stanford also rallied from a 4-0 deficit Saturday against Pepperdine to win 5-4.

-Piscotty, also one of Stanford’s top hitters, went 6.1 innings allowing seven runs, four earned on 11 hits. He was 2-for-3 at plate with an RBI and a run.

-Piscotty was the only Stanford hitter to have a multi hit game. Wilson was 1-for-5 with 2 RBI and Blandino was 1-for-3 with 4 RBI and a home run.

-For Pepperdine Cooper was 2-for-5 with 3 RBI and Given was 1-for-4 with 2 RBI. Vincej, third basemen Austin Davidson, first basemen Sam Meyer had two hit games.

-Waves starter Matt Mauer pitched 3 innings allowing three runs on three hits with five walks.

-Pepperdine used three relievers in the game, after using just three total in their first three games of the regional.

-For the regional the Cardinal were led by Ragira who went 4-for-8 with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and four walks. Second basemen Danny Diekroeger went 5-for-12 (.416).

-Cardinal hit .300 (30-for-100) as a team during the weekend with a team ERA of 2.67.

-In their four games this weekend Pepperdine was led on offense by Cooper who was 6-for-17 (.352). Forgatch, Given, Meyer, and catcher Miles Silverstein each hit .333.

-WCC Player of the year and the Waves leading hitter second basemen Joe Sever hit .313 5-for-16 after entering the tournament batting .370. The Waves second leading hitter in the regular season Vincej hit just .200 (3-for-15) after entering the tournament with a .348 average.

-Pepperdine finished with a .289 average in their four games (40-for-138) and had a team ERA of 3.60.

-Pepperdine made the tournament for the first time since 2008 by winning the WCC Regular Season Championship and automatic bid their first conference title since 2006.

-Pepperdine made the tournament a year after going 22-34

-Since winning the National Championship in 1992 the Waves have failed to advance in the tournament. The Waves have made the NCAAs ten times since ’92.

-Their second place finish marks the fifth time in a row the Waves have finished runners-up in a regional (2004, 05, 06, 08 and 2012)

-In 2008 Pepperdine was also eliminated by Stanford in Palo Alto.

-Stanford makes back-to-back Super Regionals for the first time since making five straight from 99-03. The Cardinal were swept at North Carolina last year.

-The Cardinal is seeking their first CWS appearance since 2008 and 17^th overall.

Stanford Head Coach Mark Marquess, Pitcher Stephen Piscotty, 3B Eric Blandino and 1B Brian Ragira speak after the Cardinal 8-7 win over Pepperdine to win the Stanford Regional and advance to the Super Regionals.

Pepperdine Head Coach Steve Rodriguez and DH Matt Forgatch speak after the Waves season ending 8-7 loss to Stanford. The Waves discuss the Stanford loss and their 8-5 win over Fresno St earlier in the day.

 

Game 1: #2 Pepperdine 8 #4 Fresno St 5

Palo Alto, CA—Pepperdine won Sunday’s first game with a dramatic come from behind 8-5 victory over Fresno St in an elimination game in the Stanford Regional. The Waves (36-22) scored six runs in the top of the ninth, including the go-ahead runs on a grand slam by DH Matt Forgatch. Fresno St (31-28) lead 5-0 after six and 5-2 going into the top of the ninth.

The first six base runners for the Waves all scored in the ninth. Fresno starting pitcher Cody Kendall began the ninth going for a complete game. Kendall allowed one run to score after Pepperdine got the first four runners on via three singles and a bases loaded walk.

Fresno St Head Coach Mike Batesole, who earlier in the ninth decided to stay with Kendall after a mound conference, pulled his starter for closer Taylor Garrison.

Garrison allowed a RBI single to LF Floyd Given cutting the Bulldogs lead to 5-2.

Forgatch became the hero of the game with his go ahead grand slam to left field. It was just his second home run of the year. The pitch before the game winner Forgatch just missed a grand slam that was foul down the left field line.

“As soon as he hit it, I yelled out “That one’s not going foul.” It brought great elation to our team,” said Waves Head Coach Steve Rodriguez.

“It was going to take something big and dramatic and it was going to take something late to beat them (Fresno) the way they’ve (Fresno) been playing,” said Batesole. “And that’s exactly how it went down.”

The Bulldogs got on the board first going up 2-0 in the bottom of the 2^nd benefitting from two Pepperdine errors.

In the fifth the Bulldogs scored three more to go up 5-0 on a 3 RBI double by DH Kenneth Wise.

Pepperdine scored in the top of the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles cutting the Bulldogs lead to 5-2. The Waves rally was cut short when Kendall induced his third inning ending double play of the game.

Other notes from the Pepperdine-Fresno St game…

-Kendall (4-4) was very strong for FSU through eight innings allowing just six hits and two runs. He retired 14 straight from the second to the seventh innings.

-Kendall’s final line was eight innings, nine hits and six earned runs.

-Batesole decided to stick with his starter in the ninth even after the Waves started to rally. Kendall was below 100 pitches in the ninth (ended with 92) and the coach said Kendall had gotten ground balls all afternoon and just needed one more to stop the comeback.

-“He was doing exactly what we wanted him to do: get ground balls. We just needed one of those four-hoppers to go at somebody instead of squeaking through the infield,” said Batesole.

-Pepperdine starter Corey Miller went 5.1 innings allowing seven hits and five runs, but because of four errors (two by Miller) none of the runs were earned.

-Two Waves’ relievers pitched the final 3.2 and allowed no runs and just four hits. Michael Swanner (3-3) pitched the last 1.1 and got the win.

-Other than Forgatch Pepperdine was led at the plate by and 3B Tony Cooper who were both 3-for-4. 2B Joe Sever was 2-for-4.

-Forgatch’s grand slam was first home run by Pepperdine in the NCAAs and just the second between the four teams here this weekend.

-For Fresno St Wise was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and a double and 3B Jake Alvarez was 3-for-5.

-In their three games this weekend Alvarez lead the team in hitting going 7-for-14. Outfielder Jordan Brink, hitting just .214 entering NCAAs, was 4-for-11 (.364) this weekend.

-Fresno hit .288 and had an ERA of 6.23 in their three games.

-Fresno St made the NCAAs after winning the WAC Tournament last weekend as the five seed. The Bulldogs went 12-4 in May to reach their second straight NCAA Tournament and their sixth in the last seven years.

-Even with the tough ending the season Fresno was proud of their run.

-“I’m very proud of this team. Amazing where they are now compared to where they were in August and compared to where they were in March. They’ve come a long long ways,” said Batesole. “We left a lot on the field in Arizona (WAC Tournament). To get here…these guys did probably more than what they should have done.”

2012 Palo Alto Regional All Tournament Team

C-Eric Smith, Stanford. 1B-Brian Ragira, Stanford. 2B Danny Diekroeger, Stanford. SS Kenny Diekroeger, Stanford. 3B-Jake Alvarez, Fresno St. OF-Anthony Checky, Michigan St. DH-Matt Forgatch, Pepperdine. Pitchers-Mark Appel, Stanford, AJ Vanegas, Stanford, and Jon Moscot, Pepperdine.

MOP: Stanford Pitcher Mark Appel

 

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Notes, Quotes, Observations & Video From Stanford Regional…

Stanford's Stephen Piscotty helped his team beat Pepperdine on Saturday to help his team go to 2-0 in the Palo Alto Regional.

#1 Stanford 5 #2 Pepperdine 4

(Postgame Video Interviews Below)

The nightcap of Day 2 in the Stanford Regional featured the most exciting game of the regional so far with the host Cardinal pulling out a 5-4 win over Pepperdine in a tense game Saturday night.

The Cardinal (who were the designated road team) scored the winning run in the top of eighth on junior shortstop Kenny Diekroeger’s RBI double down the left field line to give Stanford (40-16) a 5-4 lead.

-“This is why we came to Stanford honestly, to play in front of a packed house. There was a lot of electricity tonight, and it was a really exciting game,” said Diekroeger.

-Stanford trailed 4-0 after three innings and 4-1 going into the sixth when Pepperdine starter sophomore Scott Frazier uncorked a wild pitch with the bases loaded to score one run. That’s where things got interesting Waves catcher senior Miles Silverstein lost the handle of the ball allowing another run to score on the error. The craziness continued when the ball appeared to hit the Stanford runner who scored the first run. The umpires ruled interfererence allowing a third run to score.

-The easiest way to say it is Stanford scored three runs on a wild pitch and tied the game 4-4.

-Stanford Sophomore first basemen Brian Ragira, who appeared to be the player the ball touched, said, “I didn’t see too much of it, ball in the dirt to the back stop, I’m busting to try and get home.” “Next thing I know the ball is rolling around and the pitch is around me and we ended up with three runs.”

-“I think it’s really hard on our guys when (Stanford scores) three runs on a wild pitch and a fluke play,” said Pepperdine Head Coach Steve Rodriguez.

-Rodriguez continued to talk about the play saying, “I think the call was correct in regards to the logistics of the rules. My only problem was the crowd control around the dugout (Stanford players). When their whole team is out there and the pitcher goes out for the ball-that was probably the only thing I could say was an issue, but the call in regards to officiating was correct.”

-Ragira said in the postgame press conference he was unsure if the ball touched him.

-Pepperdine scored first in the bottom of the third with a four run inning. The Waves scored their first two runs on an RBI single and a fielder’s choice and two batters later after Stanford pulled starter junior Brett Mooneyham after 2.1 IP the first batter Cardinal reliever junior Dean McArdle faced, freshman left fielder Bryan Langlois, doubled home the last two runs of the inning making it 4-0 Waves.

-Stanford made it 4-1 in the top of the fourth with a solo homerun from Ragira. His drive to dead center field was the first homer in any of the four games of the regional.

-After Pepperdine scored its four runs two Stanford relievers held them to two hits from the fifth inning on. The Waves did have chances, leaving two on in the seventh and eighth.

-In the sixth Langlois was thrown out at home on a ground ball to second that would have given the Waves the lead.

-Waves left 10 men on base

-Langlois lead the Waves offensively for the night going 3-for-4 with two RBI.

-WCC Player of the Year junior second basemen Joe Sever (.370 avg. entering NCAAs) went 2-for-5, a day after going 0-for-3 vs. Michigan St. He did strikeout in his final two at-bats in the seventh and ninth innings.

-“You got good stuff if you strike him out twice. He is a fantastic hitter,” said Stanford Head Coach Mark Marquess.

-Stanford sophomore reliever AJ Vanegas (4-0) got the win pitching 3.2 innings of relief allowing one hit, no runs, three walks and eight strikeouts. Vanegas struck out the 3-4-5 hitters for Pepperdine to end the game.

-“It was an unbelievable job by AJ. Obviously he was just fantastic, won some big spots, great stuff,” Marquess said.

-Vanegas and McArdle combined to pitch 6.2 innings of relief allowing no runs, three hits, three walks and 10 Ks.

-Waves starter sophomore Scott Frazier (7-5) took the loss going 7.2 innings, allowing five runs, four earned on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts. When Frazier was replaced in the eighth it was the first time Pepperdine went to its bullpen during the regional.

-“That’s why I think he’s going to be a high draft pick next year,” said Rodriguez. “He’s a big ol’ donkey who wants to get out there and wants to compete and get after it.”

-Offensively for Stanford they were lead by Ragira who went 2-for-3 with a homerun, two runs and an RBI. Sophomore second basemen Danny Diekroeger and freshman third basemen Alex Blandino also had multi-hit games.

-Danny Diekroeger is 4-for-9 in the two games this weekend. Ragira and junior catcher Eric Smith are each 3-for-6.

-Pepperdine committed three errors, two by freshman third basemen Austin Davidson.

-Stanford is one win away from advancing to the Super Regional’s for a second straight year. Last time the Cardinal did that was when they made five straight from 1999-03.

-Pepperdine will have to win three straight games to move on to the Super Regional. Since winning the National Championship in 1992 the Waves have been eliminated in the regional’s the last nine times they have made the tournament.

-“It’s a hard pill to swallow…but what’s great is this is probably one of the best teams for us in regards to pitching depth and in regards to our own team, so I feel very comfortable with where we are right now,” said Rodriguez.

-“To be honest, it was an outstanding college baseball game. If people paid money to come and see this, they got to watch a really good game, and that’s my opinion. But I just told them they need to erase it because they have nothing to be ashamed of. And if they keep that same competitive nature, I like our chances, I really do,” said Rodriguez.

Stanford Head Coach Mark Marquess, 2B Kenny Diekroeger, 1B Brian Ragira and RP AJ Vanegas discuss their 5-4 win over Pepperdine in the winners bracket game of the Stanford Regional.

Pepperdine Head Coach Steve Rodriguez and LF Bryan Langlois speak after the Waves 5-4 winners bracket game loss to Stanford in the Stanford Regional.

Fresno State head coach Mike Batesole got his first NCAA Tournament win on Saturday since winning the 2008 national championship.

Game 1: #4 Fresno St 8 #3 Michigan St 2

(Postgame Video Interviews Below)

-In Saturday’s first game #4 seed Fresno St eliminated #3 Michigan St with an 8-2 win.

-Fresno St (31-27) started ace pitcher senior Thomas Harlan after he was scratched from Friday night’s game with an injury. Harlan struggled in the first allowing two runs and two hits. Harlan then allowed just two base runners until he was pulled after 4.1 innings.

-Bulldogs Head Coach Mike Batesole did not want to risk overusing his starter and risk injury. Harlan was pulled after 64 pitches allowing two runs, three hits, two walks and two strikeouts. He retired seven of the last eight hitters he faced.

-“Tommy gave us everything he had,” Batesole said.

-Batesole’s plan was to use Harlan and senior relievers Gene Escat and Taylor Garrison in that order for the game and the plan worked to perfection.

-“That almost never happens the way you plan that out,” said Batesole.

-Escat (4-0) got the win and closer Garrison picked up his 11^th save. The two relievers combined to pitch 4.2 innings allowing four hits, no runs or walks with two strikeouts.

-“I wasn’t too disappointed to see the lefty (Harlan) leave the game.” Michigan St Head Coach Jake Boss said. “The right-hander they brought in threw just as well.”

-The Dogs scored in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead, but from the second to the fifth Fresno had one hit against Michigan St junior starter Andrew Waszak

-Batesole called scoring first, “the best thing we did today.”

-Offensively Fresno was lead by Garrison was 3-for-4 with three RBI’s. Junior catcher Austin Wynns, senior second basemen Patrick Hutcheson and freshman left fielder Jordan Brink also had multi-hit games.

-Brink, 2-for-4, was hitting just .210 coming into Saturday.

-Garrison is 5-for-8 with four RBI’s in the first two games of the regional.

-One of two Fresno hitters that did not have a hit was freshman right fielder Jordan Luplow who was the only Bulldog hitter who had two hits against Stanford ace Mark Appel on Friday.

-Fresno St did not commit an error Saturday after having four in the loss to Stanford.

-Batesole’s club is now 16-3 in NCAA/WAC Tournament elimination games since 2008. Fresno is 4-0 in do-or-die games in 2012.

-Batesole on elimination games, “That’s the sign of an experienced team that’s been through these kind of wars.”

-“It’s a lot of fun playing in these elimination games. Coming in today, we played the game we always play. We stuck to our plan of getting clutch hits, and luckily everything worked out together,” said Garrison.

-The Bulldogs win was their first NCAA victory since winning the National Title in 2008.

-This was the first time Fresno and Michigan St played in baseball.

-On the losing side the biggest positive for Michigan St (37-23) was pulling the likely play of the regional with a triple play in the top of the eighth. With runners at 1^st and 2^nd Spartan center fielder freshman Andrew Cheky made a diving catch. The runners were well on their way to scoring and the Spartans turned a F-8-3-6-3 triple play.

-Michigan St left six runners on base. Spartans left a total of 15 in their two regional games.

-After scoring two runs in the bottom of the first to tie the game 2-2 the Spartans only had one hit until the seventh inning.

-Michigan St had three singles in the seventh but did not score. Fresno had a 1-6-4-3 double play

-“There were a few (good at-bats) and they made a couple plays on us, said Head Coach Jake Boss. “Again, when we got in the positive counts, we took some tentative swings and you’re not going to win that way.”

-Cheky was the only Spartan hitter with two hits, going 2-for-3. Freshman DH Blaise Salter had MSU’s 2-RBI’s.

-Junior left fielder Jordan Keur, who came in leading the Spartans with a .359 average, went 1-for-7 in MSU’s two games.

-On the mound Waszak (4-4) took the loss throwing 7 innings allowing four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

-After allowing two runs in the first Waszak set down 11 of the next 12 Fresno hitters. He allowed two runs and four hits in his last two frames.

-MSU’s two relievers senior Bryce Jenney and junior closer Tony Wieber combined to allow four runs on seven hits in their two innings of relief.

-Michigan St scored just four runs and hit .265 as team in their two games. They entered the tournament hitting .298.

-“Very disappointing as far as today is concerned, I thought we were capable of playing better, which is probably the most disappointing thing,” Boss said.

-Michigan St made the tournament for the first time since 1979 and just the fifth time in school history.

-The Spartans have had three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since they had four straight from 1990-94.

-Boss on his team’s historic season. “Obviously losing today hurts right now, but in a week or two when we really step back and take a look at things. A lot of credit goes to our senior class. Really, all the credit goes to our senior class. All those guys came in our first year and they bought in and changed the culture of the program.”

Sunday’s schedule will have Pepperdine facing Fresno St in an elimination game at 1 p.m. PST. Pepperdine will start sophomore Corey Miller (8-3 3.56 ERA). Fresno did not announce a starter.

The winner will play Stanford at 6 p.m. The Cardinal will start junior Stephen Piscotty (5-2 2.57 ERA). If Stanford wins they advance to the Super Regional’s. If Stanford loses than the final two teams will play again Monday night.

Fresno St Head Coach Mike Batesole, Pitcher Thomas Harland and 1B Trent Garrison speak after the Bulldogs 8-2 elimination game victory over Michigan State.

Michigan St Head Coach Jake Boss and SS Justin Scanlon speak after the Spartans season ending 8-2 loss in the Stanford Regional.

Postgame Videos With Stanford, Pepperdine & More…

The Road To Omaha leads to TD Ameritrade Park and The Dugout – located right across the street from TDA’s home plate entrance. The Dugout has a ton of authentic college baseball caps – just like the ones the players wear on the field.

If you’re going to Omaha for the College World Series make sure to make your first stop The Dugout for all officially licensed CWS apparel. If you can’t make it to Omaha just follow our red links to The Dugout!

Game 2: #1 Stanford vs. #4 Fresno St (Postgame Video Below)

Palo Alto, CA— After a year of scouting, the process that leads up to the Major League Baseball Draft is almost complete. With the 2012 draft coming up on Monday the evaluation process is all but finished and now it is time for teams to make their final decisions.

Now it’s the waiting that players will have to deal with leading up to the draft.

Stanford ace junior Mark Appel (10-1) will go into Monday knowing his name will be called very early in the 1^st Round but Friday night in the NCAA Regional in Palo Alto Appel had one more start to show why he is so highly rated.

Easy to say he only improved his stock with his complete game 11 strikeout performance in #1 seed Stanford’s 9-1 win over #4 seed Fresno St in the second game of the Stanford Regional.

The Cardinal (39-16) ace also got some revenge on the only team that beat him during the season. Fresno St beat Appel and Stanford 7-4 on March 2 in Fresno. It was the first loss of the season for the Cardinal and Appel allowed a season high seven runs.

Friday was a much different outing.

“I thought it was a great performance by Mark. He was tough and had good command with his stuff,” said Stanford Head Coach Mark Marquess.

Appel cruised through the first six innings allowing just one Bulldog (30-27) hit. He retired the first six batters he faced and following a single to lead off the third he set down the next twelve hitters.

Appel accounted for 10 of his 11 punch-outs in the first six innings.

Fresno St got to Appel in the last three innings of the game, but only scored in the seventh. By the time the Bulldogs cracked the scoreboard Stanford was up 5-1.

Appel finished the game allowing one run, two walks along with the 11 strikeouts on 122 pitches.

Fresno St Head Coach Mike Batesole said this may have been the best game Appel pitched all year.

“I’m pretty sure he could have won a big league game today,” said Batesole.

It was Appel’s fifth complete game of the season and second in his last three starts. It was the eight time this year Appel struck out at least 10 hitters.

Fresno St head coach Mike Batesole said last time they faced Appel they were able to take his fastball away. Three months later Batesole said Appel made adjustments and threw two breaking pitches he did not throw back in March.

“Last time out we took his fastball away early and we were pretty sure he was going to come out and make an adjustment this week and he surely did,” Batesole said.

Appel said “They are a fastball hitting team, so we knew the off-speed would be effective against them. We learned from the mistakes we made against them the first time.”

The game was 0-0 through four innings, but while Appel cruised Fresno St starter junior Justin Haley (7-4) faced trouble nearly every inning early.

Stanford left six men on base in the first four frames, including leaving a runner at third each inning from the second through the fourth.

In the fifth Appel finally got support from his offense.

After Haley retired the first two hitters of the inning, for the first time all game, a double by junior left fielder Stephen Piscotty and a walk to first basemen sophomore Brian Ragira kept the inning alive. Sophomore right fielder Austin Wilson singled up the middle to give the Cardinal a 2-0 lead.

The wheels came off for Haley in the sixth. Stanford sent nine batters to the plate while scoring three runs to increase their lead to 5-0.

Second basemen sophomore Danny Diekroeger had an RBI infield single. Stanford scored it’s other two runs with the bases loaded when Haley hit Ragria with a pitch followed by a walk to Wilson.

Haley was pulled after the walk going 5.2 innings allowing eight hits, five runs, six walks and five strikeouts. It was the third straight outing Haley pitched on short rest.

“I think he emptied his tank on short rest,” said Batesole. “What I really like is he pitched with a lot of heart.”

The Cardinal put the game away with a four run bottom of the eighth increasing their lead to 9-1. The Cardinal scored on the second bases loaded hit batter of the game, a 2-RBI single by junior shortstop Kenny Diekroeger and a throwing error on the Diekroeger single giving Stanford a 9-1 lead going into the ninth.

Stanford was lead offensively by Kenny Diekroeger who finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI’s, junior catcher Eric Smith was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Austin Wilson who had three RBIs. Danny Diekroeger and Piscotty also had multi-hit games.

It was a tough night for Fresno St all around. Along with being shut down by Appel the Bulldogs committed four errors.

Freshman right fielder Jordan Luplow was the only Fresno player with multiple hits going 2-for-3. He also had a nice diving catch to end the bottom of the first inning.

The Bulldogs went 12-4 in the month of May and won the WAC Tournament last weekend in Arizona as the #5 seed in a six-team tournament.

Fresno St will look to avoid going 0-2 in regional play for the third consecutive tournament appearance. The Bulldogs have not won a tournament game since winning the National Championship in 2008.

Stanford is seeking a second straight Super Regional appearance and their first CWS trip since 2008.

Fresno State head coach Mike Batesole and outfielder Jordan Luplow after the Bulldogs 9-1 loss to Stanford…

Game 1: #2 Pepperdine vs. #3 Michigan St (Postgame Video Below)

Palo Alto, CA— In the first game of the day at Stanford #2 seed Pepperdine defeated #3 seed Michigan State 6-2 behind Waves (35-21) junior ace Jon Moscot’s sixth complete game of the season.

It was Moscot’s second consecutive complete game after he tossed one last weekend against San Diego in the first game of a de-facto WCC Championship Series against the Toreros last Friday.

Though he went the distance the junior had to battle all afternoon against the Spartans (37-22).

Michigan St. collected 10 hits, but left nine men on base.

After retiring Michigan St. in order in two of the first three innings Moscot allowed base runners every inning for the rest of the game.

Moscot worked out of jams in the second, fourth, sixth and eighth innings with out allowing any runners to score.

“Today was kind of the same it’s been all year. When there were guys on base, I seem to bare down,” Moscot said.

Moscot (7-5) finished the game allowing 10 hits, two earned runs, four strikeouts and two walks throwing 126 pitches.

“He’s got a good arm, there’s no doubt,” said Michigan State Head Coach Jake Boss. “We’re close, I thought we hit some balls hard that just had been hit right at some guys. It’s a cruel game sometimes.”

The game started off as a pitchers duel between Moscot and Michigan St. senior ace Tony Bucciferro (6-4).

After facing the minimum through two innings, Bucciferro got into trouble in the third.

Number seven-hitter senior designated hitter Matt Forgatch started the inning with a double followed by a bunt single by senior catcher Miles Silverstein. Ninth place hitter freshman center fielder Matt Gelalich than brought home the first run with a safety squeeze scoring Forgatch. Two batters later freshman third basemen Austin Davison hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Silverstein making it 2-0 Waves.

The Spartans answered in the top of the fifth with an RBI single by left fielder junior Jordan Keur cutting the Waves lead to 2-1.

Pepperdine broke open the pitcher’s duel with a four run sixth inning. After Bucciferro retired the first hitter of the inning the Waves put the next seven men on base with four singles, a double, an error and hit batter.

After Forgatch and Silverstein singled home the first two runs of the inning Gelalich hit a two RBI double to right making it a 6-1.

Gelalich, who came into the tournament hitting just .202, finished the game with three RBI’s.

“In order to win championships, you have to have guys step. It can’t be the same guy everyday,” said Pepperdine Head Coach Steve Rodriguez.

The bottom of the order was huge for the Waves. Forgatch went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while Silverstein was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

The bottom three hitters for the Waves (Forgatch, Silverstein and Gelalich) combined to go 6-for-11 with five of the team’s six RBI’s.

Bucciferro was pulled after 5.1 innings allowing ten hits, five earned runs and four strikeouts. It was his shortest outing of the season.

Michigan St cut the deficit to 6-2 with a run in the top of the seventh but could not get anything across in the eighth when three runners reached base.

It was a frustrating day for the Spartans who along with leaving nine men on base equaled the Waves with 10 hits.

“We made a lot of the same mistakes we made a lot of the year, to be honest with you,” said Boss. “We left nine guys on base, so it’s more of the same for us.”

Seven of the nine Michigan St starters recorded a hit with junior second basemen Ryan Jones, freshman first basemen Ryan Krill and right fielder freshman Jimmy Pickens each collecting two hits apiece.

Michigan St, which received one of the last at-large bids in the tournament, was playing in the NCAA’s for the first time since 1979, but Head Coach Jake Boss said his team was not satisfied by just making the tournament.

“I think we came out with a purpose and a focus,” said Boss. “Nobody likes to lose. So to say we’re just happy to be here, I think, is incorrect.

Pepperdine is in the NCAA’s for the first time since 2008. Four years ago they also played in Palo Alto starting the regional 2-0 before being eliminated by host Stanford.

Saturday’s schedule will have Fresno St going up against Michigan St in an elimination game at 1 p.m. PST, followed by the winners bracket game between Stanford and Pepperdine at 6 p.m. PST.

Pepperdine Head Coach Steve Rodriguez and pitcher Jon Moscot after the Waves 6-2 win over Michigan St in Opening Round of Stanford Regional

Michigan St Head Coach Jake Boss and Starting Pitcher Tony Bucciferro speak after the Spartans 6-2 loss to Pepperdine

A Look At Stanford’s Regional…

Stanford's Stephen Piscotty drove-in seven runs in a game twice in 2012 (Stanford photo)

#1 Seed: Stanford Cardinal

Record: 38-16 (18-12 Pac-12, Tied for 4^th, 2 games back of first)

How they qualified: At-large

Ranking: (All rankings): #10 CB360 Composite/#10 NCBWA/#12 Collegiate Baseball/#13 USA Today/#19 Baseball America

Tournament History: 31^st NCAA Appearance/(3^rd straight/Lost in Super Regional in 2011)/16 CWS Appearances (Last 2008)/Two National Championships (1987, 1988)

Head Coach: Mark Marquess (36^th year at Stanford)

Top Hitters: Junior UTL Stephen Piscotty, All Pac-12 (.319 avg., 54 RBIs, 72 hits)

Sophomore UTL Brian Ragira, Pac-12 Honorable Mention (.318 avg., 47 RBIs, 75 hits)

Sophomore OF Austin Wilson, Pac-12 Honorable Mention (.290 avg., 46 RBIs, 9 HRs)

Top Pitchers: Junior Mark Appel, All Pac-12 (9-1, 14 starts, 2.37 ERA 116 Ks)

Junior Brett Mooneyham (7-5, 13 starts, 4.05 ERA, 88 Ks)

Sophomore A.J. Vanegas (3-0, 19 appearances, 2.38 ERA, 5 Saves)

Notable Wins: Three-game sweeps of Vanderbilt, Texas, and Arizona State

Series victories vs. Rice, and at UCLA

2012 Results vs. Palo Alto Regional Opponents: Won two out of three at Fresno State

All-time records: Pepperdine: 22-5, Michigan St: Never played, Fresno St: 79-45

Season Recap: Stanford started the season 8-0, and 16-3 with series sweeps of Vanderbilt and Texas in Palo Alto. Following a series sweep at Arizona in late March the team won four of their next five games to improve to 20-7. In April the Cardinal lost a series at Oregon, but picked up a sweep of Arizona State and a road series win at UCLA to enter May 27-11. The Cardinal started the month losing four of five, including a series loss at Oregon St. Stanford then rattled off seven straight wins to enter the final week of the season with a chance to win the Pac-12, but the team lost two of three at home to rival Cal last weekend.

CLICK HERE to listen to an exclusive preseason podcast interview with Stanford head coach Mark Marquess by CB360’s Sean Stires.

CLICK HERE to listen to an exclusive interview with Stanford pitcher Mark Appel with Sean Stires.

Pepperdine's Joe Sever is the 2012 WCC Player of the Year

#2 Seed Pepperdine Waves

Record: 34-21 (16-8 WCC, 1^st in WCC. Finished 1 game ahead of San Diego)

How they qualified: Won WCC Automatic Bid by winning regular season title. (WCC does not have a conference tournament)

Rankings: #24 Baseball America/#26 CB360 Composite

Tournament History: 26th NCAA Appearance (Last 2008)/Two CWS Appearances (Last 1992)/One National Championship (1992)

Head Coach: Steve Rodriguez (9^th year at Pepperdine)

Top Hitters: Junior INF Joe Sever, WCC Player of the Year (.370 avg., 52 RBIs, 6 HRs)

Junior INF Zach Vincej, All-WCC and Conference Defensive Player of the Year (.348 avg., 23 RBIs, 18 2Bs)

Senior INF Tony Cooper, WCC Honorable Mention (.309 avg., 25 RBIs, 50 hits)

Top Pitchers: Junior Jon Moscot, All-WCC (6-5, 14 starts, 2.97 ERA, 91 Ks)

Sophomore Corey Miller, WCC Honorable Mention (8-3, 15 starts, 3.56 ERA, 65 Ks)

Sophomore Eric Karch (3-3, 24 appearances, 2.83 ERA, 28 Ks)

Notable Wins: Two out of three vs. Oklahoma and San Diego

2012 Results vs. Palo Alto Regional Opponents: Two out of three vs. Fresno State

All-time records: Stanford: 5-22, Michigan St: 1-0 (1979 NCAA Tournament), Fresno St: 26-40

Season Recap: Pepperdine began the season 7-2 with home series victories over Oklahoma and Fresno State. After a series loss at Louisville the Waves won eight of their next nine entering late March at 16-5. From March 23 to April 6 the team went 2-8, including being swept at home by Texas A&M. After an up and down stretch the Waves entered the last three weeks of the season at 26-19. In those three weeks Pepperdine caught fire winning six of seven. The Waves went into the final week of the season tied for first in the WCC with San Diego. In what was essentially a conference championship series the Waves won two out of three at home vs. the Toreros to take the WCC championship, their first conference title since 2006. Pepperdine won the championship with a 5-1 win over USD last Sunday in the regular season finale.

2012 Palo Alto Regional

All-B1G player Jordan Keur leads Michigan St. with a .359 batting average.

#3 Michigan State Spartans

Record: 37-21 (13-11, 5^th in the Big Ten, four games back of first)

How they qualified: At-large

Ranking: Not ranked

Tournament History: 5^th NCAA Appearance (Last 1979)/One CWS Appearance (1954)/0 National Championships

Head Coach: Jake Boss Jr. (4^th year at Michigan State)

Top Hitters: Junior OF Jordan Keur, 1^st team All Big Ten (.359 avg., 33 RBIs, 14 2Bs)

Junior INF Ryan Jones, 2^nd team All Big Ten (.356 avg., 38 RBIs, 16 2Bs)

Junior INF Torsten Boss, 3^rd team All Big Ten (.306 avg., 43 RBIs, 5 HRs)

Top Pitchers: Senior Tony Bucciferro, 3^rd team All Big Ten (6-3, 15 starts, 2.80 ERA, 90 Ks)

Junior Andrew Waszak (4-3, 15 starts, 2.81 ERA, 75 Ks)

Junior Tony Wieber (2-2, 1.37 ERA, 9 Saves)

Notable Wins: at Baylor, vs. St. John’s and at Purdue

2012 Results vs. Palo Alto Regional Opponents: Did not play any of the Stanford Regional Participants

All-time records: Stanford: Never Played, Pepperdine: 0-1 (1979 NCAA Tournament), Fresno St: Never Played

Season Recap: Michigan State opened the season going 1-2 in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge. After going 3-1 in the First Pitch Invitational in Greenville, SC the Spartans traveled to Texas where they were swept at Texas A&M and picked up a win at Baylor. After the win in Waco Michigan State won 13 of 15 from March 9 to April 4. The streak included an eight game win streak. The team went into early April 18-8. The Spartans finished April by going 9-7 and entered the final month of the season 27-15. They finished the month losing two of three at conference champion Purdue. After starting the month by winning seven of nine the squad finished the regular season losing a series at Penn State. The Spartans then went 2-2 last weekend in the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State was able to grab one of the last at-large tournament bids. The Spartans are the first Big Ten team to receive an at-large bid since 2009.

CLICK HERE to listen to an exclusive interview with Michigan State pitcher Tony Bucciferro.

Fresno State's Kenneth Wise earned 1st team All-WAC honors

#4 Fresno State Bulldogs

Record: 30-26 (8-10, 5^th in WAC, three games back of first)

How they qualified: Automatic Bid – Won WAC Tournament

Ranking: Not ranked

Tournament History: 34^th NCAA Appearance (2^nd straight/Last Year 0-2 in UCLA Regional)/Four CWS Appearances (Last 2008)/One National Championship (2008)

Head Coach: Mike Batesole (10^th year at Fresno State)

Top Hitters: Junior C/INF Trent Garrison, 2^nd team All WAC (.333 avg., 35 RBIs, 10 2Bs)

Senior OF Kenneth Wise, 1^st team All WAC (.323 avg., 36 RBIs, 4 HRs)

Sophomore OF Aaron Judge (.312 avg., 25 RBIs, 13 2Bs)

Top Pitchers: Senior Thomas Harlan, 2^nd team All WAC (7-7, 15 starts, 2.73 ERA, 83 Ks)

Senior Justin Haley, 2^nd team All WAC (7-3, 2.98 ERA, 89 Ks)

Senior Taylor Garrison (1-2, 26 appearances, 2.77 ERA, 10 Saves)

Notable Wins: Two out of three at New Mexico State and wins vs. Pepperdine, Stanford and New Mexico

2012 Results vs. Regional Opponents: 1-2 vs. Pepperdine, 1-2 vs. Stanford

All-time records: Stanfords: 45-79, Pepperdine: 40-26, Michigan St: Never Played

Season Recap: The Bulldogs started the season by winning three of four vs. Butler, but followed that by losing six of their next eight with series loses at Pepperdine and vs. Stanford.. The win vs. #1 Stanford on March 2 the Bulldogs handed Stanford ace Mark Appel his only loss of the season. Fresno entered mid-March at just 7-9 before winning five straight. From late March to the end of April the Bulldogs went 6-13 to enter May 18-22. Fresno lost each of its first three conference series. The team turned their season around by going 7-3 in May to finish the regular season. During those ten games FSU won series vs. WAC Regular Season Co-Champions Sacramento State and New Mexico State. The Bulldogs started last weekends WAC Tournament 2-0 before losing to Sacramento St. The Bulldogs then won three straight elimination games to win the tournament title. In the final game the Bulldogs defeated Sacramento St 4-3 in 13-innings on a walk-off single.

The Palo Alto Regional gets underway Friday with #2 Pepperdine taking on #3 Michigan State at 1 p.m. PST/4 EST followed by #1 Stanford going up against #4 Fresno State at 6 p.m. PST/9 EST. Saturday’s and Sunday’s games are scheduled for 1 and 6 p.m. local time as well. If a Monday game is necessary it will be played at 6 p.m. PST.

The winner of the regional takes on the winner of the Tallahassee Regional, which features #3 National seed Florida State, Mississippi State, Samford and UAB.

34 Home Games Set For Bulldogs…

Fresno State has released its 2012 college baseball schedule. The Bulldogs open their season Feb. 17-19 when they host a four game series with Butler.

After a Feb. 22 game at Cal State Bakersfield, FSU heads to Malibu for three games at Pepperdine Feb. 24-26.

Stanford visits Fresno for three games March 2-4 and then San Francisco comes to town for a March 8-11 four game set. Both the Cardinal and Dons qualified for the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Cal State Bakersfield travels to Fresno for a March 16-18 three game series. The Bulldogs then play another 2011 NCAA team, Kent State, March 20 & 21. After three home games against UC Riverside, 2011 College World Series team Cal visits for a mid week game on March 27.

Western Athletic Conference play begins March 30-April 1 when FSU hosts four games vs. New Mexico. Other conference home series are against Sacramento State and Louisiana Tech. Conference road series are at Hawaii, San Jose State and New Mexico State.

The Bulldogs play 25 of their first 31 games at home, with their first 32 games taking place in the state of California. The 2012 season will be Fresno State’s last in the WAC. The school is moving to the Mountain West Conference for the 2012-2013 academic season.

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By Collegebaseball360.com Editor Sean Stires

South Carolina players received their CWS rings Saturday (courtesy South Carolina athletics).

Gamecocks received their 2010 national championship rings over the weekend. The presentation came at halftime of the South Carolina-Arkansas football game Saturday night (11/6) at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC. Tanner, his assistants and team received their CWS rings at the 50-yard line. Fireworks and balloons punctuated the ceremony.

Honoring “The Voice”…

Before that same South Carolina-Arkansas football game the Gamecocks paid tribute to longtime South Carolina play-by-play announcer Bob Fulton. The 89-year-old died last Wednesday at his Lexington home. Fulton retired in 1995 after 43 years calling South Carolina football, basketball and baseball. He was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.

Wonderdogs Or Torture?

Fresno State radio play-by-play man Paul Loeffler is also a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan. Just a few years ago it might have seemed that fans like Loeffler would go a lifetime without seeing a championship for either team, but all that has changed. Loeffler called FSU’s 2008 “Wonderdog” run to the CWS Championship, and now he has seen his beloved Giants win a World Series title. He has also written a good piece comparing the improbable title runs of both teams. Here’s one of his observations:  “The most powerful parallel is that the team is so much more potent than the sum of its parts. Turn these Giants into your fantasy league entry, and you’ll fall to dead last. It’s not about the eye-popping stats, it’s about the power of we over me.”  The entire piece is posted on Fresno State’s web site. CLICK HERE to read the whole thing.

The Beard Not Feared…

No doubt, San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson (formerly of LSU) and his beard garnered about as much attention as anyone (or anything) during the Giants’ World Series run. “Fear The Beard” signs were everywhere, as were San Francisco fans with faux beards in the stands. Wilson now has a group of college players who are using him (and his beard) for motivation. The University of Northern Colorado pitching staff has plastered Wilson’s mug on the back of their staff t-shirts. They read “Baseball NC P-Staff” on the front and “Mental Assassins” along with a screen print of Wilson’s face on the back of the shirts (pictured left, click-on photo to enlarge). There might be an influx of facial hair coming soon in Greeley, CO.

Molitor Out Front…

MLB Hall of Famer, Paul Molitor, has been enlisted to help the University of Minnesota raise funds to build a new baseball stadium. Prior to his 21-year Big League career, Molitor starred for three years as a Golden Gopher in the 1970s. He is now the chairman of  The Siebert Field Legacy Campaign, which hopes to raise $7.5 million to build a new stadium on the site of the current Siebert Field. The stadium, built in 1971, has split Minnesota home games with the Metrodome over the years, but it was not used in 2010 and all of the Gophers’ 2011 home games are slated for the

Golden Gopher great Paul Molitor is now helping raise funds for a new stadium (courtesy Minnesota Athletics).

Metrodome as well. The university says the new facility would be a “multi-use venue that will accommodate the needs of Gopher baseball, provide benefits to sports using adjacent facilities, enhance the experience of fans and visitors and serve as an important resource for amateur baseball in Minnesota.”

A New Stony Stadium…

Stony Brook is in the process of renovating it’s Joe Nathan Stadium. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by March 2011. It includes a new FieldTurf surface, new dugouts, new bullpen, and new fences. Fundraising is currently underway for phase two of the project, which would include a new scoreboard, lights, stadium seating, and a press box. Joe Nathan Field is named for former Seawolves and current Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Nathan. He contributed the lead gift for the facility. Stony Brook has won three America East Tournament championships since its elevation to Division One status in 2002.

Say What?

Just for some perspective, a non-BCS Conference school, Stony Brook, is building a new stadium in the northeastern part of the country in the village of Stony Brook, NY. Another cold weather school, Minnesota, is spending millions to build a new stadium as well. Meanwhile, Cal-a school that receives BCS revenue and has the benefit of great weather…not to mention the fact that it had more alums on MLB rosters than any other school at the start of last season, is eliminating its baseball program. Does that make sense? Savecalbaseball.com.

Red Sox For Rams…

Boston Red Sox season tickets are hard to come by, but the Rhode Island baseball team has a pair. URI is raffling off a pair of Red Sox season tickets for the 2011 season. The tickets (Section 24, Seats 17 and 18) have a face value of more than $8,000. Raffle tickets for a chance to win the season tix can be purchased for $100, with no limit on the number of raffle tickets an individual can buy. Proceeds will help Rhody baseball offset the costs of travel, equipment and facility upgrades. CLICK HERE for more information.

Former Northridge Head Coach Named Pitching Coach…

Steve Rousey

“We are happy to have attracted one of the premier pitching coaches in the country to our university, in Steve Rousey,” said head coach Mike Batesole. “Steve has played for and coached for, some of the most respected coaches in Division I baseball history. He pitched on the 1984 National Championship team at Cal State Fullerton for former Bulldog Augie Garrido and later was the pitching coach at Long Beach State under Dave Snow. This has us very excited to see him in a Bulldog uniform.”

Rousey will serve as the Bulldogs pitching coach and work with the catchers. He will also assist with recruiting and team travel.

“It is a truly a privilege to have the opportunity to work for Coach Batesole and Fresno State,” said Rousey. “It took no longer than one day on the job to experience the integrity of Bulldog Athletics, University operations, and all the people contributing. So many Fresno community members have gone out of their way to welcome our family. It’s humbling for our family to be blessed with so much unsolicited care and concern. Every day in Bulldog Baseball promises to be better than the next. It is an exciting opportunity to contribute to further building the success and winning ways of Bulldog Baseball!”

Rousey finished his eighth season as head coach of the Cal State Northridge Matadors with a 29-27 overall record and going 9-15 mark in the Big West. After successfully recruiting his second top-40 class in as many seasons, Rousey finished the 2010 season with the program’s first winning season since the 2002 campaign.

Rousey had six players, Ryan Pineda, Dominic D’Anna, Billy Ott, Brian Longpre, Brad Decater and Drew Muren, from the 2010 sqaud, who were drafted or signed by a Major League Baseball organization. He also had four student-athletes ear All-Big West honors in Pineda, D’Anna, CJ Belanger and Jimmy Jolicoeur.

The top assistant coach at Northridge for the 2001 and 2002 seasons, Rousey helped lead Northridge to a two-year record of 75-39 and the Matadors claimed the Big West title in 2002. Working primarily with the pitchers, Rousey saw his staff finish the 2002 season with 41 wins, 13 saves and 478 strikeouts.

Northridge pitchers ended 2001 second in the Big West in strikeouts and third in earned runs allowed. In 2001, Rousey’s pitching staff included current Milwaukie Brewers pitcher Kameron Loe and former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bill Murphy. The Matadors saw two pitchers earn all-conference honors and one pitcher, Murphy, named to the All-West Region team.

In Rousey’s first season with the Matadors he guided the pitching staff to a 4.60 earned run average and 459 strikeouts in 492.2 innings during the 2001 season. The Matadors ranked second in the Big West Conference in strikeouts, fourth in ERA and gave up the third-fewest earned runs in the conference.

Before coaching at Cal State Northridge, Rousey’s 12-year coaching career included stints at Long Beach State and Los Angeles City College.

As the head coach at Los Angeles City College (`95-’00), Rousey compiled a 24-18 record in his first year after taking over a team that had no players after being cut and then reinstated. His teams compiled 50 wins over his last two seasons while 56 of Rousey’s players went on to play at the university or professional level.

Before taking the helm of Los Angeles City College, Rousey was the pitching coach at Long Beach State (`93-’95). While with the 49ers, the team claimed two Big West titles while making three regional appearances. His staff helped Long Beach State make it to the College World Series semifinals in 1993. During his stay, the 49ers had three pitchers earn All-American honors and one named the National Pitcher of the Year Daniel Choi, ’93.

The 1994 staff posted a 3.47 earned run average, which ranks third all-time on the Long Beach State Career List, while the 1993 pitching staff finished with a 3.55 team earned run average, which ranks fourth all-time. His 1993 pitching staff finished the season third all-time in saves with 19, fifth in fewest runs per nine innings with 4.6 and third in strikeouts with 495. His 1995 squad is first in saves with 21 and second in total strikeouts with 528.

Rousey has also coached with several summer collegiate teams, including as the pitching coach for the Alaska Goldpanners (`98-’99) and as the head coach for the Brewster Whitecaps of the prestigious Cape Cod League (`95).

Before his career as a coach, Rousey was a top pitcher at Cal State Fullerton. In three seasons with the Titans, he compiled an impressive 15-5 record with 120 strikeouts. Rousey played in the College World Series twice (`82 and `84), helping the team to the national championship in ’84 while compiling an 8-3 record with a 3.47 earned run average.

A fourth-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 1984, he spent five years playing professionally in the Mariners and Montreal Expos organization.

(FSU Release)

Top Performers Shine During Opening Weekend

Max Willett (NewMexico/CF)

CollegeBaseball360.com has recognized a group of players from throughout the nation for their “primetime performances” during the season’s opening weekend (Feb. 19-21). Leading the way are three top honorees – as New Mexico senior centerfielder Max Willett (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Oregon sophomore second baseman Danny Pulfer (Cypress, Calif.) share the inaugural honor as Co-Primetime Players of the Week while Ball State senior righthander Morgan Coombs (West Terre Haute, Ind.) is the first Primetime Pitcher of the Week. These three players headline the first Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll (listed below).

Willette batted 7-for-11 (RBI, 3R, 2B) in leading New Mexico to a series win at top-ranked Texas, while Pulfer hit .412 (7-for-17) and had a hand in nearly 40% of Oregon’s 32 runs (6 RBI, 6 R) during the Ducks’ breakout southern-California roadswing (highlighted by wins over #3 Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State). Coombs delivered in a pressure-packed situation at #15 Arkansas, closing Ball State’s 5-2 win with 5.0 strong innings (UER, 4H, 8K) despite 8,000-plus spirited Razorbacks fans cheering against him.

Danny Pulfer (Oregon/2B)

Similar to the weekly awards presented on sister site CollegeSoccer360.com, the CB360 Primetime Performer honors various players based on any/all of the following “primetime” criteria…not solely based on raw stats.

Primetime Performer Award Criteria

• Must have been playing for or against a CB360 top-50 team (in the Composite National Rankings)  or performed a high level in a game that could be key to a team’s conference/NCAA postseason qualification.

Morgan Coombs (Ball St./RHP)

• Involved in clutch performances, such as late game-winning hits, noteworthy comebacks, game-changing plays, team leadership, etc.

• Performing at a top level against a team rated highly nationally (or within its conference), with bonus consideration given for key performances away from home field.

• Overcoming adversity or extreme circumstances (for the team and/or individual).

Additional information and bio. data on the Primetime Performers, along with headshots and action photos, is being added to this release.

The other 17 members of the CB360 Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll include New Mexico senior 1B Justin Howard, two sophomores (LHP/1B Danny Hultzen and 3B Steven Proscia) from the Virginia team that took 2-of-3 at East Carolina en route to the #1 national ranking, and two players (so. RHP Jordan Pries, jr. SS Jake Schlander) from the Stanford team that swept Rice, along with the following clutch performers: Northwestern State so. OF/1B Colin Bear … Hawaii so. RF Collin Bennett … Georgia Tech so. LHP Jed Bradley … East Carolina so. LHP Kevin Brandt … Louisiana-Monroe jr. RHP Wil Browning … Pepperdine jr. LHP Matt Bywater … Florida sr. CF Matt den Dekker … TCU fr. RF/C Josh Elander … Gonzaga sr. CF Drew Heid … Kentucky so. RHP/1B Braden Kapteyn … Baylor sr. RHP Willie Kempf … and Fresno State jr. 1B Jordan Ribera.

The 20 honorees include nine pitchers (pair of 2-way players; 5 RHP/4 LHP), five first baseman (including both 2-way players, plus one who also played OF), three centerfielders, three corner outfielders (one also played 1B, one C), one second baseman, one shortstop, one third baseman and one catcher (also played OF). TCU’s Elander is the only freshman among the Primetime players, which also include a fifth-year senior, six seniors, three juniors and a big sophomore-class representation of nine honorees.

The group includes four Texas natives – Bear, Elander, Howard and Kempf – and four more from California (Bywater, Pries, Pulfer and Ribera), along with two Primetime players from Washington and one each from Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York and North Carolina.

(from left) Oregon second baseman Danny Pulfer, Ball State closer Morgan Coombs and New Mexico centerfielder Max Willett headline CB360’s first group of Primetime Performers (photos courtesy of each school).

WILLETT – batting from the #6 spot – combined with Howard to lead a Lobos offense that hit .284 with 10 extra-base hits in a three-game road series versus #1-ranked Texas and its vaunted pitching staff. UNM shocked the college baseball world by taking the series in Austin (2-6/6-5/3-1), with Willett batting 7-for-11 (.636, RBI, 3 R, 3B, 2B, HBP, SF) and playing error-free in center field.

After a solid showing in the opener (2-for-4, 2B), Willett went 3-for-4 in UNM’s game-2 upset. He led off the 6th by placing and opposite-field triple into the right-center gap and scored moments later for a 5-4 deficit. Three innings later, moments after Howard’s game-tying home run, Willett delivered in a situational plate appearance – flying out the left field for a sacrifice fly that plated Devon Conley as the eventual winning run.

Willett’s game-3 effort (2-for-3, 2R, 2B) helped produce another win over the Longhorns. He hit a 1-out single up the middle and scored the game’s first run in the 4th, later adding the game’s final run in the 8th (after a 2-out double down the leftfield line).

A second team all-Mountain West Conference selection in 2009 (.355, 46 RBI, 4 HR, 15 2B, 12-13 SB, 15 sac. bunts, 0 errors), Willett played sparingly in his first three seasons at UNM – totaling only 59 games played and 31 starts spanning the 2006-08 seasons. He batted only .229 as a sophomore in 2007 before seeing his junior season (12 GS) cut short by a hand injury. He is a product of Colorado’s Thunder Ridge High School, where he played on state-championship teams in both baseball and football.

Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll (Feb. 19-21)

“It’s not so much what you do, as it is when you do it.”

Player (Pos.) … School … Yr., Ht./Wt. … Hometown … Stats & Notes

Colin Bear (OF) … Northwestern St. … So., 6-3/210 … Houston, TX

Collin Bennett (RF) … Hawaii … So., 6-1 … Bellevue, WA

Jed Bradley (LHP) … Georgia Tech … So., 6-4/210 … Huntsville, AL

Kevin Brandt (LHP) … East Carolina … So., 6-2/190 … Fuquay Varina, NC

Wil Browning (RHP) … La. Monroe Jr., 6-3/200 … Kosciusko, MS

Matt Bywater (LHP) … Pepperdine … Jr., 6-2/195 … Thousand Oaks, CA

*Morgan Coombs (RHP) … Ball State … Sr., 6-1/190 … West Terre Haute, IN

Matt den Dekker (CF) … Florida … Sr., 6-1/210 … Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Josh Elander (RF/C) … TCU … Fr., 6-0/205 … Round Rock, TX

Drew Heid (CF) … Gonzaga … Sr., 5-10/175 … Touchet, WA

Justin Howard (1B) … New Mexico … Sr., 6-0/205 … Ennis, TX

Danny Hultzen (LHP/1B) … Virginia … So., 6-3/200 … Bethesda, MD

Braden Kapteyn (RHP/1B) …Kentucky … So., 6-4/220 … Lansing, IL

Willie Kempf (RHP) … Baylor … Sr., 6-0/195 … Castroville, TX

Jordan Pries (RHP) … Stanford … So., 6-0/190 … Alameda, CA

Steven Proscia (3B) … Virginia … So., 6-2/215 … Suffern, NY

*Danny Pulfer (2B) … Oregon … So., … 5-10/190 … Cypress, CA

Jordan Ribera (1B) … Fresno State … Jr., 6-0/220 … Fresno, CA

Jake Schlander (SS) … Stanford … Jr., 6-2/195 … Scottsdale, AZ

*Max Willett (CF) … New Mexico … Sr., 5-10/190 … Highlands Ranch, CO

* – Note: Pulfur and Willett shared the CB360 Primetime Player of the Week award, while Coombs was the inaugural Primetime Pitcher of the Week

Fresno State Picked To Win Another WAC Crown

DENVER, CO- Fresno State has been selected as the favorite to win the 2010 Western Athletic Conference regular season baseball crown in a vote by the league’s seven head coaches. The coaches also voted on a preseason all-WAC team with Fresno State and Nevada leading the way as each placed four players on the team. Fresno State junior second baseman Danny Muno was named the preseason player of the year, while Fresno State sophomore Derek Benny was picked the preseason pitcher of the year.

Fresno State received 32 points and five first place votes after a 32-30 season last year. The Bulldogs have won the WAC tournament title the past four seasons. New Mexico State ranked second with 27 points followed by Hawai‘i with 26, Louisiana Tech with 22, San Jose State with 19 points, Nevada with 15, and Sacramento State with six.

The preseason all-WAC team included four Fresno State players: sophomore outfielder Dusty Robinson, junior second baseman Danny Muno, sophomore catcher Trent Garrison and sophomore pitcher Derek Benny. Muno was picked as the preseason player of the year after hitting .379 last year with 85 hits, 74 runs, 41 RBI and 25 doubles. Benny was selected the preseason pitcher of the year after posting a 4-4 record with one save, 58 strikeouts and a 5.09 ERA last season.

Nevada also had four players on the team: senior outfielder Westley Moss, senior first baseman Shaun Kort, sophomore designated hitter Nick Melino and senior relief pitcher Tyler Graham. Hawai‘i had three players on the team: junior outfielder Sean Montplaisir, junior shortstop Greg Garcia and senior pitcher Nate Klein. New Mexico State also placed two on the team in senior utility Jared Jordan and sophomore relief pitcher Scott Coffman. San Jose State was represented by junior outfielder Jason Martin and senior third baseman Corey Valine. Sophomore pitcher Jesse Darrah represented Sacramento State.

The 48th year of WAC baseball begins Friday, February 19 when each of the league’s seven teams will open regular season play. The WAC Tournament will be held in Mesa, Arizona at Hohokam Stadium, May 26-29/30. The top six teams will advance to the tournament.

2010 WAC Preseason Poll

2010 Preseason All-WAC Team

Player of the Year
Danny Muno, Jr., Fresno State

Pitcher of the Year
Derek Benny, So., Fresno State

Can Fresno State Continue Recent Dominance?

2009 Regular Season Champ: San Jose State

2009 Tournament Champ: Fresno State beat New Mexico State 5-3

The Western Athletic Conference might never have been stronger from top to bottom as it was in 2009. The season did not end in a WAC team winning the College World Series as it did in 2008 with Fresno State, but for the first time in the conference’s 47-year history each team won at least 25 games. No less than five of the seven teams in the WAC improved from 2008, led by New Mexico State, which won 16 more games in 2009 than the year before.

Fresno State continues to be the national face of the WAC, winning the postseason tournament the last four years. The Bulldogs, the conference’s all-time leader with 32 NCAA appearances, are the only WAC team to advance to a regional tournament the last three years.

Fresno State is ranked (33rd) and New Mexico State and Hawaii have received votes in one (Collegiate Baseball) 2010 pre-season poll.

The WAC returns four freshman All-Americans this season (Fresno State’s Dusty Robinson, Hawaii’s Kolten Wong, Nevada’s Nick Melino and Sacramento State’s Jesse Darrah).

Fresno State

2009 Record: (32-30, 12-12)

Mascot: Bulldogs

Head Coach: Mike Batesole.

Location: Fresno, Calif.

Vitals: .283 BA, 89 HR, 453 R, 44 SB, .964 Fld% . . . 5.61 ERA, 374 SO, 218 BB, 10 SV

WAC Attack: The Bulldogs’ four tournament titles in a row ties a WAC record set by Arizona State (1975-78).

Seeing Double: Pitcher Taylor Garrison (4-3, 4.87 ERA) and catcher Trent Garrison (.219, 12 RBI) are twins. The two 19-year-old sophomores graduated from Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, Calif.

Flair For Dramatics: Jordan Ribera had a day (May 24) in the WAC Tournament last year that he’ll never forget. The infielder hit a two-run homer to break a 7-7 ninth inning tie to beat New Mexico State, 9-7, in the first championship game. In the second championship game that day, Ribera’ two-run, eighth inning homer broke a 3-3 tie, leading the Bulldogs to a 5-3 victory and the WAC crown.

Home Run Champ Missing: Tommy Mendonca, the 2008 College World Series Most Outstanding Player, hit a WAC-best 27 homers last year as a junior

Danny Muno

and set a Fresno State record with 44 career blasts. Mendonca was drafted in the second round by the Texas Rangers and is now playing professional baseball.

Among The Best: Second baseman Danny Muno ranked ninth in the nation last year with a .525 on base percentage, 28th with 74 runs scored and 10th with 25 doubles.  His brother, Kevin Muno, is a junior outfielder at San Diego.  They went head-to-head two years ago at an NCAA Regional when FSU beat SD en-route to winning the 2008 national title.  Dusty Robinson (.319, 45 RBIs, 12 doubles) was a Freshman All-American in 2009.

Decades Of Dominance: The Bulldogs have had 33 consecutive seasons of .500 or better.

Hawaii

2009 record: (32-26, 11-12)

Mascot: Rainbows

Head Coach: Mike Trapasso

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Vitals: .278 BA, 346 R, 64 HR, 38 SB, .975 Fld% . . . 5.74 ERA, 10 SV, 350 SO, 177 BB.

Playing The Big Boys: Hawaii will play a tough non-conference schedule in 2010, taking on the likes of Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Long Beach State, Fullerton, Stanford, and San Diego.

From Los Angeles to Honolulu: Nathaniel Klein, who spent two years (one as a redshirt) in the USC program, debuted for the Rainbows last year and went 3-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 11 games.

Patience Pays Off: Harrison Kuroda, the 2004 Gatorade Hawaii High School Player of the Year, pitched in just nine games over four seasons after graduating from the Mid-Pacific Institute (high school). The 5-foot-9 right-hander, though, pitched in 15 games in 2009 with a 4-1 record for the Rainbows.

Cheering On The Rainbows: Hawaii averaged 2,990 tickets issued each game last year at 4,312-seat Les Murakami Stadium, the most in 12 years at the school. The Rainbows drew over 3,500 for six games in ‘09.

Freshman Flash: Outfielder Kolten Wong was named to five Freshman All-American teams after hitting .341 with 11 homers and 52 RBI last year.

Louisiana Tech

2009 Record: (29-22, 13-11)

Mascot: Bulldogs

Head Coach: Wade Simoneaux

Location: Ruston, La.

Vitals: .323 BA, 438 R, 92 HR, 60 SB, .962 Fld% . . . 7.24 ERA, 8 SV, 353 SO, 259 BB.

Getting The Love At Home: The Bulldogs have had a winning record at J.C. Love Field for 33 of the past 39 seasons. They were 18-6 last season at home.

Following Big Brother?: Outfielder Clint Stubbs (.304, 6 RBI in 79 at-bats), is

Devon Dageford

the brother of Drew Stubbs (University of Texas, 2006) of the Cincinnati Reds. Clint, a senior, played one season at Texas, hitting .250 in 12 games in 2007.

No Call On Draft Day: Devon Dageford was among the national leaders last year as a junior with 23 home runs (9th) and 68 RBI (54th) and also hit .385, slugged a WAC-best .862 and had a school-record 168 total bases but was not drafted last June.

Backstop Back: Senior Drew Thomas, who played 2006-08 with the Bulldogs, is returning this season after missing all of 2009 with an injury. Thomas, who was drafted in the 45th round by Arizona in 2005, hit .212 in 33 at-bats in 2008 as a backup catcher.

Slam Deja Vu: Devon Drageford made Dallas Baptist see double in back-to-back games last March. The outfielder hit a grand slam in a Bulldogs’ victory on March 26 at Love Field and then repeated the act the very next day.

Bulldog Power: Louisiana Tech ranked 13th in the nation last year in slugging at .545.

Nevada

2009 Record: (25-31, 10-13)

Mascot: Wolf Pack

Head Coach: Gary Powers

Location: Reno, Nev.

Vitals: .287 BA, 349 R, 44 HR, 51 SB, .968 Fld% . . . 6.14 ERA, 8 SV, 342 SO, 242 BB.

Alaska Pipeline:  Joe Kohan, the 2008 Gatorade Alaska High School Player of the Year, hit .253 in 87 at-bats last year as a freshman as an infielder.

Football Mentality: Senior shortstop Kevin Rodland (.267, 26 RBI), who played his freshman year in 2007 at Arizona (.170 in 30 games), was the last of four brothers to play quarterback at Snohomish (Wash.) High School.

Baseball Bloodlines: Junior pitcher/ DH Brock Stassi (.262, 18 RBI, 6-5, 6.63 ERA) is the son of Nevada Hall of Famer Jim Stasis (.381 career average in 1982-82). His great uncle Myril Hoag played with the New York Yankees with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Hitting Machine: First baseman Shaun Kort has a career batting average of .349 (229-for-657) in three seasons with 16 HR and 172 RBI. The left-hander has coaxed 93 walks and has struck out just 71 times in his career.

The Power Of Coaching: Head coach Gary Powers, a northern Nevada native (Minden) and former Wolf Pack pitcher (1970-71), is the longest tenured coach in the history of the school. The Wolf Pack has won 30 or more games 15 times in last 21 years under Powers and has been to four NCAA Regionals.

New Mexico State

2009 Record: (44-17, 12-12).

Mascot: Aggies

Head Coach: Rocky Ward

Location: Las Cruces, N.M.

Vitals: .353 BA, 668 R, 151 2Bs, 119 HR, 61 SB, .968 Fld% . . . 6.28 ERA, 15 SV, 446 SO, 247 BB.

Best With The Bat: The Aggies finished first in the nation in 2009 in runs scored per game (11.0), runs scored (668), slugging (.599) and walks (416) and were fourth in average (.353), second in home runs (119) and seventh in doubles (151).

Total  Turnaround: The Aggies’ 44-17 record in 2009 is the school’s first finish over .500 since joining the WAC in 2006. The Aggies were 69-103 from 2006-08.

Help From Dad: Gary Ward, the father of Rocky, won 1,022 games as head coach at Oklahoma State (1978-96) and New Mexico State (2001-02). Gary is in his seventh year as Rocky’s hitting coach at New Mexico State.

Mike Sodders

Leaving Las Cruces: The Aggies will have to replace two outstanding hitters in 2010 with the departure of seniors Bryan Marquez and Richard Stout. Marquez was second in the WAC with a .414 average, led the conference with 83 runs, 171 total bases, 85 RBI and a .795 slugging average and was third in homers with 22. Stout led the league in SB with 23, was third in runs with 73 and hit .346.

Aggie Accolade:  Mike Sodders is one of just three WAC players (along with Fresno State’s Dusty Robinson and Louisiana Tech’s Devon Dageford) named as a preseason All-American.  Sodders, a junior infielder, hit a WAC-best .422 last year with 13 homers and 68 RBI.

Sacramento State

2009 Record: (27-27, 8-14)

Mascot: Hornets

Head Coach: John Smith

Location: Sacramento, Calif.

Vitals: .317 BA, 389 R, 63 HR, 60 SB, .968 Fld% . . . 6.33 ERA, 11 SV, 318 SO, 209 BB.

Captain John Smith: The Hornets coach spent three years in the United States Army Special Forces as a Green Beret before becoming a coach.

Big League Presence: Former San Francisco Giants and California Angels pitcher Jim Barr is in his 16th season as Smith’s pitching coach at Sacramento State.

Helping Out The WAC: Sacramento State is an affiliate member of the Western Athletic Conference in baseball because three full-time WAC schools (Boise State, Idaho, Utah State) do not have a baseball team.

Arms Leader: Jesse Darrah was named a Freshman All-American after going 9-2 with a 5.64 ERA in 2009. He is the first Hornet freshman in history to win nine games and he did not lose a decision after March 7.

The Power Of Versatility:  Josh Powers (.358, 44 RBI) started games at four different positions (3B, SS, C, 2B) and was one of four Hornets to start all 54 games in 2009 and was sixth in nation with 26 doubles.

Help On The Way: The Hornets are expected to get pitchers Jose Ramirez (senior left-hander) and Trevor York (senior right-hander) back this season from injury. Ramirez and York combined to start 27 games in 2008 and just one in 2009.

San Jose State

2009 Record: (41-20, 15-7)

Mascot: Spartans

Head Coach: Sam Piraro

Location: San Jose, Calif.

Vitals: .339 BA, 472 R, 43 HR, 36 SB, .978 Fld% . . . 4.66 ERA, 17 SV, 453 SO, 210 BB.

Pitching And Defense: The Spartans led the WAC in ERA (4.66), strikeouts (453), saves (20) and allowed the fewest hits (546) and unearned runs (27) in 2009. They also led the conference in fielding percentage (.978) and made the fewest errors (51).

Family Affair: Junior 1B Breyon Canez is the cousin of junior outfielder

Danny Stienstra

Kolton Klauer and senior infielder Karson Klauer. All three graduated from San Beinto HS in Hollister, Calif.

Putting Bat On Ball: Junior infielder Danny Stienstra was the sixth toughest hitter to strike out in the nation last year (once every 23.4 at-bats). Stienstra hit .337 with 27 RBI and fanned just eight times (27 walks) in 187 at-bats. Stienstra tied Nevada’s Westley Moss for finishing the season with the most at-bats without hitting a home run.

Young Spartans: San Jose State has just three seniors (Karson Klauer, Corey Valine and Alex Sofranec) on its roster this year.

Top Talent Lost: The Spartans sent seven players to professional baseball off its 2009 team: catcher Anthony Aguilera (Rockies), infielder Kyle Bellows (Indians) and pitchers David Berner (Astros), Max Peterson (A’s), Trevor Gibson (Rockies), Ryan Shopshire (Blue Jays) and Jack Adams (Royals).

Taking One For The Team: Outfielder Jason Martin led the WAC and was third in the nation last year by getting hit with a pitch 25 times. Martin was fifth in WAC with 86 runs scored and 12th in hitting (.376).

2010 WAC Predictions

WAC Player of Year: Devon Dageford – Louisiana Tech

WAC Pitcher of Year: Daniel Simon – New Mexico State

Conference Champion: Fresno State

(By Collegebaseball360.com contributor Joe Santoro)