2006 Fullerton Super Regional

(special thanks to Steve Jones for his assistance in compiling information for these capsules)

5. Cal State Fullerton Titans
Fullerton, Calif.

Automatic bid from the Big West Conference

Won Fullerton Regional (3-0)

2006 record: 18-3, 46-13 (first in Big West)

Coach: George Horton (Cal State Fullerton, 1978)

Record at school: 448-185-1, 10 years

Overall record: same

Assistant coaches: Rick Vanderhook, Jason Gill, Ted Silva

Team offense: .311 BA, 388 R, 40 HR, .445 SLG, .384 OBA, 85/121 SB

Team pitching:  2.62 ERA, 532 IP, 431 H, 119 BB, 434 K

Top hitters: Blake Davis (.372/5/38/15 SB), Justin Turner (.354/4/39/19 SB), Danny Dorn (.331/4/37), Brett Pill (.327/5/39/10 SB), Brandon Tripp (.327/9/38), Evan McArthur (.300/6/33), Jared Clark (.274/4/26), David Cooper (.273/1/30)

Top pitchers: Vinnie Pestano (2-1, 0.97, 13 SV, 37 IP, 19 H, 14 BB, 43 K), Wes Roemer (12-1, 2.02, 133.2 IP, 96 H, 6 BB, 125 K), Lauren Gagnier (13-4, 2.51, 114.2 IP, 90 H, 22 BB, 92 K), Dustin Miller (12-1, 2.95, 91.2 IP, 78 H, 22 BB, 48 K)

Last time in tournament: 2005 (4-1 at Fullerton Regional, 1-2 at Fullerton Super Regional)

Notes: Cal State Fullerton has won 10 straight games and 19 of its past 23. The Titans boast the top ERA in the nation at 2.62. Shortstop Blake Davis was the Most Outstanding Player in the Fullerton Regional. Fullerton has four Super Regional victories in five tries. CSF lost two of three at home to Arizona State a season ago in the Fullerton Super Regional. The Titans have made 15 straight postseason appearances, the fourth-longest streak (Miami 34, Florida State 29, Clemson 20). Fullerton has made 13 trips to the College World Series and has four national titles (1979, 1984, 1995, 2004). Wes Roemer was co-National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball with Kellen Kulbacki of James Madison.

Missouri Tigers

Columbia, Mo.

At-large bid from Big 12 Conference

Won Malibu Regional (4-1)

2006 Record: 12-15, 35-26 (seventh in Big 12)

Coach: Tim Jamieson (New Orleans, 1981)

Record at school: 399-288-2, 12 years

Overall record: Same

Assistant coaches: Evan Pratte, Tony Vitello, Kevin Cullen

Team offense: .287 BA, 401 R, 40 HR, .406 SLG, .385 OBA, 72-95 SB

Team pitching: 3.27 ERA, 548.1 IP, 508 H, 159 BB, 463 K

Top hitters: Brock Bond (.345/2/29), Evan Frey (.335/0/22), Zane Taylor (.335/2/41), Ryan Lollis (.327/1/20), Derek Chambers (.307/6/38), Jacob Priday (.289/11/49), Gary Arndt (.284/5/43).

Top pitchers: Travis Wendte (2-2, 1.53, 47 IP, 42 H, 12 BB, 39 K), Max Scherzer (7-2, 1.95, 73.2 IP, 51 H, 22 BB, 72 K), David Cales (2-3, 2.83, 41.2 IP, 25 H, 14 BB, 49 K), Taylor Parker (4-4, 3.19, 5 SV, 53.2 IP, 44 H, 20 BB, 42 K), Rick Zagone (6-3, 3.28, 68.2 IP, 72 H, 23 BB, 48 K), Nathan Culp (11-5, 3.29, 117.2 IP, 107 H, 17 BB, 80 K).

Last time in tournament: 2005 (1-2 at Fullerton Regional)

Notes: The Tigers became the first No. 4 seed to reach the Super Regionals. Even more impressive is the fact that Missouri did it by winning four straight after losing its opening game to Pepperdine. The Tigers likely were one of the last couple teams to get an at-large bid to the tournament. Mizzou’s pitching line reads similar to UNC’s. Part of that is its large home field, and part of that is a very talented staff. Max Scherzer, who missed some time early in the year due to injury, is as tough as anyone in the country when healthy. He’s healthy now and is returning to the form that he showed in last year’s 9-4, 1.86 season. Taylor Parker needs one appearance to tie the school record. The lefty reliever gave the Tigers a solid start in the clinching win at the Malibu Regional. Nathan Culp has walked 17 in 117.2 innings. Missouri gets a rematch with Cal State Fullerton, which ended the Tigers season a year ago by scoring three times in the ninth to win. Mizzou had been 38-0 when leading after eight innings before that season-ending loss.