It’s no secret that I have not posted a journal in a while, and it’s no secret that the Titans struggled to a mediocre record out of the gates, but the tides have turned. "I’m Back," and the "Titans are Back."

It’s time to put graduation on the back burner and talk about some Big West Conference baseball. Since my last entry, the Titans have played about 25 games, but in this journal I will only focus on the Big West Conference matchups.

April 8-10

Easter weekend featured the Titans’ conference opener against the University of Pacific Tigers.

The mindset of our club was very focused on this 21-game conference "world series." We were anxious to rid ourselves of our mediocrity throughout the preseason.  If we perform in conference play, nobody will even remember what happened in the preseason.

The Tigers are a new-look ball club managed by former big leaguer and world champion Ed Sprague. Also, the boys were excited to get the opportunity to play in a minor league facility. The Tigers’ home field is also home to the Class-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers - the Stockton Ports.  

We quickly tamed the Tigers with a convincing series sweep, in which we scored at least 13 runs in all three games. The Titans were once again led by stellar and consistent pitching performances by senior Jason Windsor and sophomore Ricky Romero. The offensive attack was fueled by freshman Clark Hardman, who notched 10 hits on the weekend.

BIG WEST: (3-0)

April 16-18

The second conference series pitted the Titans at home against the 2002 Big West champs - the Cal State Northridge Matadors. The Matadors arrived with the most glimmering of overall records, but nonetheless, this is conference play, and we had a clear motive for each game no matter the opponent.  

This series sweep would be no cakewalk, as the Titans pulled out two late-inning victories. In Game 1, Jason Windsor remained dominant, hurling a nine-inning, two-run gem. Junior DH Felipe Garcia was the offensive hero, with four hits including the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth.

The very "caliente" Ricky Romero took the hill in Game 2 for the Titans. Romero at best had his "B game," but his "B game" is still good enough to beat anyone in the country.

The Titans cruised to 10-3 victory with sophomore second baseman Justin Turner headlining the offensive attack.

In conference play, Game 3 is the biggest - it determines whether you take a three-game lead or a one-game lead. A three-game setback or a one-game setback. The Titans used a different style of baseball to beat the Matadors in the third game. We captured the sweep on home runs by sophomore Sergio Pedroza, junior Kurt Suzuki and myself.

BIG WEST: (6-0)

April 23-25

We found ourselves in a tie with rival Long Beach State atop the conference standings heading into a big road series against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.  

Santa Barbara presented a solid lefty-loaded lineup and also featured one of the best fielding percentages in the country. We knew that we could not overlook the Gauchos, especially with former Titan and current Santa Barbara pitching coach Dan Ricabal leading the staff.

In Game 1, it was the Jason Windsor show. I have never seen him pitch better, as he fired a complete-game shutout in a very hitter-friendly ballpark.  

Saturday starter Ricky Romero has a certain superstition that he performs before every start. He must eat pancakes for breakfast. If our hotel does not serve them, he or the coaching staff will find them for him.  

Well, oddly enough, the hotel served pancakes before Game 2, so we knew we were in good shape. Romero kept the Gauchos silent, allowing only one run over eight innings.  

Sophomore Danny Dorn and junior Felipe Garcia led the offensive attack with three hits and a homer apiece.  

The third game was one to be forgotten. With only 21 conference games scheduled, it is extremely important that a team not get complacent or give anything away. We took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the eighth, only to see our bullpen implode. The Gauchos put the game and the Titans away with an eight-run eighth. Losing on Sunday is not a fun experience, especially on the road. It makes for an extremely tense ride home.

BIG WEST: (8-1)

April 30- May 2

With Long Beach recording yet another series sweep, we found ourselves one game back in the conference race. Heading into Fullerton was a solid Cal Poly San Luis Obispo club.

The Mustangs of Cal Poly are loaded with many experienced players. As a group, the Titans are very aware that our last four series pits us against the upper echelon teams of the Big West.  

Game 1 was a classic battle, with Jason Windsor still standing as he recorded his third consecutive complete-game victory.  

Junior Kurt Suzuki iced the Mustangs with a bottom of the ninth two-out single to win the contest for the Titans.  

Ricky Romero. Need I say more?  

We seem to hit on all cylinders when this hard-throwing southpaw takes the hill. Game 2 was a barn-burner as the Titans put up 27 runs on 25 hits to take the series.

Senior Mike Martinez got his fourth start of the year in Game 3 and tried to nail down a series sweep. He struggled early, but became untouchable from the fifth inning on. The Titans’ offense was paced by Kurt Suzuki who went 3 for 3 and finished the weekend 11 for 13. Titans sweep the Mustangs.

BIG WEST (11-1)

Oh yeah, did I mention that the ol’ Dirtbags were swept by those pesky Gauchos from Santa Barbara?

This weekend, the Titans will welcome the Highlanders of UC Riverside. The Titans will look to settle the score, as they were swept by the Highlanders just one year ago. Now, with a two-game lead in the conference race, the Titans remain focused on one goal: the Big West crown.

P.J. Pilittere

(photo courtesy of Cal State Fullerton Media Relations Office)