Fullerton flogs LSU

Three-run shot propels Titans to win

? Cal State Fullerton is known for its small-ball style of scoring. Shane Costa showed off another aspect of the Titans’ offense.

Costa hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the third inning as the Titans cruised past Louisiana State with an 8-2 victory Friday at the College World Series.

His first home run since March 23 — and fifth of the season — was only the 35th by the Titans in 63 games.

“I was sitting fastball the whole time,” Costa said. “The first pitch came, and it wasn’t it. The second pitch came, and it wasn’t it. The third one, I just ran into it, and it went a long ways.”

The Titans (49-14) advanced to a winner’s bracket game Sunday against Stanford, which shut out South Carolina, 8-0, earlier Friday. LSU (45-21-1) plays South Carolina in an elimination game Sunday.

Three Fullerton pitchers limited LSU to five hits.

Jason Windsor (11-2) held the Tigers to one run on four hits in 52/3 innings. He has given up three earned runs and 10 hits in his last 19 innings over three games.

Sean Martin gave up one hit in 21/3 innings, and Chad Cordero pitched a perfect ninth.

Windsor threw seven straight balls before finding the strike zone in the first inning. The first three LSU batters reached base, but he got out of the inning unscathed.

“It was my first time playing here, and the adrenaline was really pumping, so I wasn’t myself,” Windsor said.

A trip to the mound by pitching coach Dave Serrano put Windsor at ease.

“After that, I took few deep breaths, let it go and had fun,” Windsor said.

Though Costa provided the offensive highlight with his home run, Fullerton played true to form. the Titans had two bunt singles, two sacrifices and four stolen bases.

“We worked hard on bunting and we take pride in it,” Kurt Suzuki said. “We don’t hit a lot of home runs, but we work hard at hitting what we call the honey hole, a base hit up the middle.”

The Titans padded their lead with three runs in the fourth. Kyle Boyer scored on a wild pitch, and Ronnie Prettyman and Justin Turner hit consecutive RBI singles.

Prettyman’s sacrifice fly made it 8-1 in the sixth and chased Tigers starter Nate Bumstead (11-4), who had his worst outing since giving up eight runs in 22/3 innings against Kansas University Feb. 16.

Stanford 8, South Carolina 0

Omaha, Neb. — John Hudgins gave up two hits over eight innings and Ryan Garko drove in three runs as Stanford defeated South Carolina.

It was the third CWS shutout since 1995 and the first since last year’s opener, when South Carolina lost 11-0 to Georgia Tech. The Gamecocks then won four straight to reach the national championship game, where they lost to Texas.

Hudgins (12-3) held South Carolina hitless until Justin Harris doubled with one out in the fourth inning. Only two other batters reached base.

Hudgins walked one and struck out three in his 84-pitch outing. Kodiak Quick pitched the ninth.

Hudgins and Quick combined on the first CWS two-hitter since Long Beach State’s Mike Fontana beat KU, 6-1, June 6, 1993.