On Friday night against UCLA, Christian Colon provided the fireworks at the plate while Noe Ramirez provided the firepower on the mound. The Cal State Fullerton Titan baseball team is on the brink of heading back to Omaha for the College World Series for the 17th time.
In Game No. 1 of the best-of-three Super Regional series with UCLA, Cal State Fullerton needs one more win to punch their ticket to Omaha after winning 4-3 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Ramirez took the ball from skipper Dave Serrano and delivered a 13 strikeout performance in seven innings of work and was credited with the win. UCLA’s stellar pitcher, Gerrit Cole, gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings, posting his first loss since April. Christian Colon’s home run in the fifth-inning proved to be the difference as the Titans won the nail biter up in Los Angeles.
Since the NCAA expanded the baseball tournament to include 64 teams and adopted the Super Regional format in 1999, the Titans have advanced to the College World Series in Omaha eight times in those 12 years. A win by the Titans on either Saturday or Sunday would propel the Titans to their 17th overall trip to Omaha and their fourth visit to Omaha since winning the national championship in 2004.