By John Manuel
February 10, 2003

It would seem logical that a program of Cal State Fullerton's stature surely would have a 6-0 start, one matching the 2003 team's beginning, sometime in the last quarter-century.

But Titans coach George Horton, who played for the Titans in the mid-1970s and has been around the program as a coach since 1991, knows the program is notorious for its false starts. Fullerton hadn't even had a 3-0 start since1983, even during its 1995-96 run. Usually, Stanford has stood in the way--the Cardinal has been CSUF's first Division I foe for the bulk of that 20 year period, and '83 was the last time the Titans swept the series.

"We're perennial slow starters, and there are several different factors that have gone into that," Horton said Monday. "But we wanted to change our January practices and preparation this year to try to change that. We backed off what we used to do a bit and restructured some things.

"There was some intent there because of our lack of success versus Stanford. Certainly we have good talent also, but this team has shown a chemistry and commitment right now that is the big difference. It's almost scary how well we've played, to be honest."

The Titans' dominance showed again this weekend as they swept Fresno State, scoring 32 runs in the process and being tested only once, when they exploded for six runs in the ninth to break a 4-4 tie. Fresno State nearly stunted that ninth-inning rally with a pickoff play at third, but the Titans got the call. That's the kind of thing that happens when you're on this kind of roll.

"The umpires are never the ones who decide if you win or lose," Bulldogs coach Mike Batesole said Friday to the Fresno Bee. "Fullerton is the best team in the country. I haven't seen all the others, but it's hard to imagine seeing a better team than that."

The Titans' offense is off to a terrific start, with 20 steals in 23 attempts and a cumulative .413 on-base percentage. But as usual with the Titans, it starts on the mound. Junior righthanders Wes Littleton and Chad Cordero, both preseason second-team All-Americans, had big weekends. Littleton was downright nasty Friday, striking out seven, retiring the last 17 batters he faced and needing just 75 pitches for a complete-game, one-hit shutout that prompted Batesole to tell the Bee, "What you saw was a special player throw a special game."

Littleton didn't get out of the sixth inning against Stanford, and Horton said the righty acknowledged he had pressed against the Cardinal in the season opener, rushing his delivery.

"Coach (Dave) Serrano made an adjustment or two with him before this start, and the first five outs Wes was still fighting it a little, but then you could see him find his slot, and it was fun to watch," Horton said. "It's hard to pitch any better than that. Usually when you have those kinds of strikeouts, you're in the 90 pitch-count range. But he was unbelievable."

That word can also be used to describe freshman outfielder Danny Dorn, one of the least-hyped members of the Titans' touted freshman class. Dorn, 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, wasn't drafted out of Diamond Bar (Calif.) High, but Horton labeled him the sleeper of the class in the preseason and compared him to Shawn Green. Now, he's pulling out Ted Williams comparisons because of Dorn's sweet lefthanded swing, which has him off to a 10-for-17 start (.588) with two homers, three doubles, a triple and 12 RBIs.

"His 5-for-5 game (Saturday) was as awesome a display as I have seen," Horton said. "It wasn't just three doubles and a home run, it was that he did this to all fields. He was smoking balls to left, left-center. It was very impressive. We're lucky he got bypassed in the draft and landed with us."

Just imagine how the Titans would be playing if they were at full strength. They're without righthanders Travis Ingle and Darric Merrell, both projected starters, as well as projected cleanup hitter David Fischer, who is working to get eligible and could start practicing again soon.

The next challenge will be to integrate those players when they get healthy and to carry on the momentum next weekend at Nevada-Las Vegas, which is off to a strong 5-1 start.

"It's a new environment for our young guys, so it will be a good challenge for us," he said. "Everyone's patting you on the back and that's a new thing for our guys to deal with."

Consider this another pat on the back. It should be fun to see how the Titans react.

1. GEORGIA TECH
0-0. This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0. New Rank: 1.
NOTES: Won alumni game 11-1; 6 shutout IP by Kyle Bakker. Season starts Feb. 15-16 vs. Ga. Southern.

2. RICE
0-0. This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0. New Rank: 2.
NOTES: Senior RHP Steven Herce sidelined up to eight weeks with rotator cuff inflammation. Season begins Feb. 11 vs. UT San Antonio.

3. STANFORD
2-3 (0-3). This Week: 1-2. Overall: 3-5 (1-5 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 11.
NOTES: When's the last time Stanford had a losing record for two weeks? Hard to remember (and not in media guide!). First loss in a series at home since April 16-18, 1999, a streak of 22 series. Two of the games go 12. Seminoles rally w/3 in 9th off reliever Kodiak Quick, then Cardinal loses its highest-scoring (and, at 4:18, longest) game of the year in 12th despite 8 Ks in 3.2 IP by reliever David O'Hagan. SS Tobin Swope had a good series, 9-for-16, 3 RBIs. Four RBIs on SUN for Sr. C/DH Ryan Garko. Highly-regarded Billy Paganetti makes Stanford debut on the mound, 3.1 IP on SAT.
RESULTS:
Jan. 25-26: Santa Clara: W, 7-2; W, 5-0
Jan. 31-Feb. 2: @ Cal State Fullerton (13): L, 3-7; L, 2-10; L, 2-8
Feb. 7-9: Florida State (4): W, 2-1 (12); L, 3-4; L, 8-10

4. FLORIDA STATE
3-0 (0-0). This Week: 2-1. Overall: 5-1 (2-1). New Rank: 3.
NOTES: Seminoles rally to win the series at Stanford and take a 9-8 lead in the all-time series despite not having All-America SS Stephen Drew for final two games, out with stomach virus. Closer Daniel Hodges comes up big in the two victories, getting the last four outs SAT to save it for Matt Lynch and then goes 4 IP on SUN to get the win. Jr. LF Tony McQuade's only hit on SUN was a 3-run HR off Kodiak Quick in the top of the ninth to tie it. McQuade had 2 hits and only RBI on FRI. 'Noles win SAT behind Lynch despite getting just four hits.
RESULTS:
Jan. 31-Feb. 2: vs. VMI (@St. Petersburg): W, 12-4; W, 5-1; W, 10-3
Feb. 7-9: @ Stanford (3): L, 1-2 (12); W, 4-3; W, 10-8 (12)

5. TEXAS
3-0 (0-0). This Week: 2-1. Overall: 5-1 (0-0). New Rank: 4.
NOTES: Shocking home loss for the Longhorns to upstart TAMU-Corpus Christi, especially considering how they busted out offensively at San Diego. Texas dodges rain to win DH on SUN vs. UT Arlington behind RHP Danny Muegge (7.1 IP) and LHP Justin Simmons, who gets his first win. Muegge went career-best 7.1 IP, 3B Michael Hollimon had 3 hits (HR, 2 2Bs) and 3 R. 1B J.D. Reininger's 3-run HR propped Simmons to early lead, and Longhorns scored 5 runs in 4th as SS Omar Quintanilla had 4 hits.
RESULTS:
Jan. 31-Feb. 2: @ San Diego: W, 9-7; W, 17-4; W, 7-2
Feb. 5: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: L, 0-5
Feb. 9: UT Arlington: W, 8-2; W, 11-3 (DH) (play today)

6. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 2-2. Overall: 2-2 (1-2). New Rank: 9.
NOTES: RHP Brett Bannister (the younger brother) out with elbow strain, further stressing once-deep pitching staff. Trojans get shut out at home FRI by LBSU LHP Abe Alvarez and RHP Bo Ashabraner, first time Trojans were shut out at home since 1964 (vs. Cal Western, aka US International), just the second time ever. To compound the loss, USC made 5 Es as well, then got shut down SAT. SUN, Trojans go without a K as offense wakes up--first time w/out a K since 1993, and hit 7 2Bs, two by 2B Jon Brewster.
RESULTS:
Feb. 5: @ UC Santa Barbara: W, 5-2
Feb. 7-9: (h/a/h) Long Beach State (16): L, 0-6; L, 1-7; W, 12-7

7. WAKE FOREST
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0. New Rank: 7.
NOTES: Demon Deacons open Tuesday vs. Appalachian State, w/RHP Kyle Sleeth slated to start.
RESULTS: NONE

8. ARIZONA STATE
11-1 (2-1). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 14-1 (2-1). New Rank: 5.
NOTES: Sun Devils sweep visiting Brigham Young to keep the team's best start under coach Pat Murphy going. Team has 22 HRs after hitting just 38 all of '02, and sophomore Jeff Larish (who played a little 3B as well as usual 1B) continues to lead the way, hitting two over the weekend, he's got 7 HRs, hitting .469, 20 BB, .620 OBP, 1.000 slugging in early going. OF Andre Ethier off to strong start as well, has hit in last eight games. Starters (6.97 ERA on weekend) bailed out by bullpen; Jr. RHP Ryan Schroyer, who seems more comfortable in closer role, vultured wins in the two close games. Sr. RHP Ben Thurmond continues working way toward rotation, tossed two scoreless on FRI for win.
RESULTS:
Jan. 16-18: @ Hawaii-Hilo: 6 wins
Jan. 24-26: San Diego State (33): W, 7-3; W, 4-3; W, 24-9
Jan. 31-Feb. 2: @ Long Beach State (16): L, 4-7; W, 3-0; W, 4-2
Feb. 6-8: Brigham Young: W, 6-5; W, 17-6; W, 6-4

9. LOUISIANA STATE
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 3-0 (0-0). New Rank: 8.
NOTES: Tigers sweep Northwestern State in series with a pair of close games thanks to balance. LSU rallied FRI with pair of runs in the eighth, ending a 25 1/3-scoreless inning streak dating back to regionals vs. UL-Lafayette (shut out in super-regional by Rice). JC transfers played prominent role on the staff all weekend; 2003 transfers Billy Sadler (win FRI) and Brandon Nall (saves FRI and SUN), plus Nate Bumstead, SUN starter (Bo Pettit out w/flu). Bumstead sent 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R. Last year's transfer find, Jake Tompkins, struck out 11 in FRI opener in 5.2 IP, lifted after 89 pitches.
RESULTS:
Feb. 7-9: Northwestern State: W, 2-1; W, 10-5; W, 5-3

10. BAYLOR
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 2-2. Overall: 2-2 (0-0). New Rank: 10.
NOTES: Tough week for the Bears in one way, as their pitching doesn't get it done (specifically the bullpen on TUE, giving up 7 runs in 9th to lose to SW Texas State). But it's also encouraging to see the Bears score some runs and win on the road against a solid Arizona bunch. Bullpen almost blew SUN win, did lose 8-0 lead (and 9-8 lead in 9th), but Baylor pulled it out for coach Steve Smith's 300th win. OF Michael Griffin set school record w/6 hits SUN, he and SS Trey Webb had RBIs in 11th. Webb and OF Chris Durbin w/key hits SAT; Durbin's 9th-inning double tied it, Webb's two-run 2B in 10th won it.
RESULTS:
Feb. 4: vs. Southwest Texas State: L, 7-9
Feb. 7-9: @ Arizona: L, 4-7; W, 12-10 (10); W, 11-9 (11)

11. HOUSTON
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 1-2. Overall: 1-2 (0-0). New Rank: 13.
NOTES: Cougars score 5 runs all weekend at Pepperdine's Battle at the Beach weekend in Malibu. Jr. CF Michael Bourn misses last two games with stomach virus, ending 121-game consecutive streak. Jr. RHP Brad Sullivan excelled w/out best velocity FRI, 6 IP, 0 R, 0 BB, but no decision as Cougars fell in extras; Sullivan has thrown 30.2 consecutive scoreless and has a 0.55 ERA in last 98 IP counting Team USA. Sr. LHP Danny Zell goes 7 IP for the win SAT, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 4 Ks.
RESULTS:
Feb. 7: vs. UC Santa Barbara: L, 2-4 (12)
Feb. 8: @ Pepperdine: W, 2-0
Feb. 9: vs. Washington: L, 1-4

12. NOTRE DAME
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0. New Rank: 12.
NOTES: Don't begin play until Feb. 21.
RESULTS: NONE

13. CAL STATE FULLERTON
3-0 (3-0). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 6-0 (3-0). New Rank: 6.
NOTES: Most impressive team of 2003 so far without a doubt. Best start for the Titans in a while, as they had lost 13 of 15 to Stanford to start the last five seasons. This weekend, they blow out Fresno State three times and have outscored their opponents 57-12 thus far. FRI, Jr. RHP Wes Littleton atones for shaky first game with a gem--CG 1-hit SHO, 1 BB, just 75 pitches. SAT, FR. LF Danny Dorn went 5-for-5, 4 RBIs, Fr. LHP Ryan Schreppel goes 5 scoreless. SS Justin Smyres led off games FRI and SAT with homers, and with a double on SUN. Titans' supposedly suspect offense is 20-for-23 SB, went down in order just twice all weekend, and on defense, Titans made no errors. Fresno State had the game SUN tied in the 9th, CSUF scored 6 in 9th, keys were pickoff at third that Fresno argued, then two-run single by Kyle Boyer. Total of 10,271 on hand for the weekend at Fresno.
RESULTS:
Jan. 31-Feb. 2: Stanford (3): W, 7-3; W, 10-2; W, 8-2
Feb. 7-9: @ Fresno State: W, 12-0; W, 10-1; W, 10-4

14. SOUTH CAROLINA
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 2-1. Overall: 2-1. New Rank: 14.
NOTES: Gamecocks lose a game to visiting Bucs but rally to win series convincingly on SUN. Starters didn't get it done as only Jr. LHP David Marchbanks (SUN) got a win. Soph. RHP Aaron Rawl built on last year's postseason heroics, 3 shutout IP on FRI, 5 Ks to get the win. Sr. 3B Brian Buscher 7-for-14 on the weekend, 5 RBIs to lead the offense (but his two Es on SAT led to 3 unearned runs); 26 of 36 players saw action. CSU's Ian Holmen was the star SAT, 7.2 IP, 11 Ks, then Bucs rallied for 3 in 9^th for the victory.
RESULTS:
Feb. 7-9: Charleston Southern: W, 9-7; L, 5-8; W, 11-2

15. RICHMOND
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0. New Rank: 15.
NOTES: Feb. 18 vs. George Mason is the opener.
RESULTS: NONE

16. LONG BEACH STATE
1-2 (1-2). This Week: 2-1 (2-1). Overall: 3-3 (3-3). New Rank: 16.
NOTES: While it's not an easy series, LBSU will be glad to see visiting Washington State this weekend after back-to-back sets with ASU and USC. Stud starters LHP Abe Alvarez and RHP Jered Weaver come through vs. Trojans. Weaver goes 6 3-hit IP on SAT, 6 Ks, 1 BB for win, has 0.79 ERA in two starts. Alvarez starts shutout FRI, Bo Ashabraner finishes combined 10-hitter. SS Tim Hutting, hitting 3rd in order, has hit safely in all 6 games, C Brad Davis w/pair of two-hit games.
RESULTS:
Jan. 31-Feb. 2: Arizona State (8): W; L, 0-3; L, 2-4
Feb. 7-9: (a/h/a) Southern California (6): W, 6-0; W, 7-1; L, 7-12

17. MISSISSIPPI STATE
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0. New Rank: 17.
NOTES: Bulldogs don't play until Feb. 21 vs. Birmingham Southern.
RESULTS: NONE

18. STETSON
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 1-1. Overall: 1-1. New Rank: 18.
NOTES: Hatters get shut down by Oklahoma State's Scott Baker, who gave up 5 H in 7 IP, 3 to 2B Brian Snyder, who finished with 4 hits. Baker struck out 8, 2 BB. FRI, Jr. LHP Cy McCuen makes a strong Stetson debut, giving up 3 H, 1 R over 6.1 IP. Jr. C Chris Westervelt had 3-run HR. Hatters made 3 Es on SAT. Third day of weekend was rained out, and thanks to FAMU's win over South Florida and Bulls win vs. Cowboys, all four teams went 1-1.
RESULTS:
Feb. 7: Florida A&M: W, 6-1
Feb. 8: Oklahoma State: L, 0-9

19. CLEMSON
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0. New Rank: 19.
NOTES: Begins play Feb. 21 vs. Auburn.
RESULTS: NONE

20. NEBRASKA
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0. New Rank: 20.
NOTES: Opens Feb. 14 at Round Rock, Texas, in tourney w/Cal, UT-Pan Am and SW Texas State.
RESULTS: NONE

21. AUBURN
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 2-1. Overall: 2-1 (2-1). New Rank: 21.
NOTES: Tigers win a hard-fought series with visiting No. 25 VCU. FRI opener, Auburn's 11th consecutive win in a home opener, is the one that did it, as soph. OF Sean Gamble hit a two-out, 3-run HR in bottom of ninth to win it, the first walk-off homer to bring Auburn back from a deficit to win since current Dodgers C David Ross beat J.D. Drew and Fla. State in regional in 1997. SUN shutout, a combined 4-hitter, by Colby Paxton, Corey Dueitt and Steve Register. Three of Register's 4 outs by K. Hitting heroes included Fr. #B Josh Bell, four hits in his first college action; OF Javon Moran (6-for-14) and DH Karl Amonite (4-for-8, HR).
RESULTS:
Feb. 7-9: vs. Va. Commonwealth (25): W, 5-4; L, 2-5; W, 5-0

22. NORTH CAROLINA
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0. New Rank: 22.
NOTES: Season doesn't start until Feb. 14
RESULTS: Feb. 17 vs. Delaware State is the opener.

23. SOUTH ALABAMA
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0.
NOTES: Season starts Feb. 11 out in California at San Diego State, then at USC Feb. 14.
RESULTS: NONE

24. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
3-0 (0-0). This Week: 2-0. Overall: 5-0. New Rank: 24.
NOTES: Owls LHP Travis NeSmith has missed opening weekends, but the Owls haven't really needed him. Offense has clicked vs. Wildcats with 7 HRs and 46 runs, while Jr. RHP Chris Pillsbury has given up just 7 H in 11 IP over two starts (both wins), 10 Ks. Randy Beam w/14 Ks in 13 IP, also w/two wins, combined on the shutout. Sr. 3B Mike Cox leading team at .471, 6 BBs, his 7th-inning 3-run HR on SUN gave FAU its first lead in the 8-5 win and the team's fifth win.
RESULTS:
Feb. 1-2: @ Bethune-Cookman: W, 11-4; W, 8-6; W, 7-0
Feb. 8-9: Bethune-Cookman: W, 12-2; W, 8-5

25. VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 1-2. Overall: 1-2 (1-2). New Rank: Out of poll.
NOTES: Rams essentially do the expected, losing 2 of 3 on the road at opponent ranked higher than them. But they came tantalizingly close to a series win, losing FRI after leading 4-2 going into bottom of ninth. Closer Brian Marshall, on in relief of brother Sean, walked 2 in ninth (including SS Chuck Jeroloman, who fouled off 4 two-strike pitches), before Gamble's HR. SAT, Rams rallied with four-run eighth to get a win, w/Nick Jones' double bringing home the go-ahead run. C Jeff Parrish w/3 RBIs on weekend.
RESULTS:
Feb. 7-9: @ Auburn (21): L, 4-5; W, 5-2; L, 0-5

TULANE
0-0 (0-0). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 3-0. New Rank: 25.
NOTES: Senior CF Jon Kaplan, veteran of '01 CWS club, leads team to sweep of St. Joseph's. His two-run HR sparked FRI win, then Wave came back emphatically to cruise in next two by combined 38-4 score. Kaplan had 5 H, 2 HRs, 6 R, 5 SB and 5 RBIs for weekend. Fr. RF Brian Bogusevic anything but bogus in his debut, going 6-for-9 w/HR, 5 RBIs on the weekend, including 3-for-3 SUN.
RESULTS:
Feb. 7-9: St. Joseph's: W, 3-2; W, 27-3; W, 11-1 (7)