Titans Beat LSU in College World Series Opener
June 13, 2003 – Omaha, Neb.

Box Score

AP-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 at the College World Series on Friday night.

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 5 2-3 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 2 1-3 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 LSU starter Nate Bumstead (11-4), who had his worst outing since giving up eight runs in 2 2-3 innings against Kansas on Feb. 16.

The Tigers came into the CWS after collecting 15 hits in four of their last six games, but were silenced by Windsor and the Titans relievers. LSU's Nos. 3 through 6 hitters -- Aaron Hill, Blake Gill, Clay Harris and Ivan Naccarata -- were a combined 0-for-15, including five strikeouts and one double play.

"I wasn't trying to attack those guys any differently," Windsor said. "It was all about hitting my spots and keeping them off-balance."

LSU opened the scoring in the second on Ryan Patterson's 16th homer of the season.

But the Titans took control with their four-run third inning. Trailing 1-0, Suzuki bunted for a single and later scored on Bumstead's wild pitch. Bumstead walked Justin Turner to put runners at the corners, then Costa hit his three-run shot.

LSU scored its other run in the seventh when Jon Zeringue doubled and scored on Bruce Sprowl's groundout.

"We are tickled to death," Fullerton coach George Horton said. "Any time you beat LSU at the College World Series, it's a great accomplishment."

LSU coach Smoke Laval said his team missed an opportunity to build momentum by going hitless for three straight innings after Patterson's homer in the second.

"We could have gotten the juices flowing, but they settled down and took care of the ball game," Laval said. "They were in control."

Post-Game Quotes

Cal State Fullerton
Head Coach George Horton
Opening statement ...
"We're tickled to death. Anytime you beat LSU at the College World Series is a great accomplishment. We got off to a good start which helped things. It was a good ballgame."

On using the bunt as a weapon ...
"Of course you'd like to have three or four guys with double digit home runs. But even if we did I think we'd still use it. It'll always be a part of my game."

On right fielder Shane Costa's home run ...
"Shane's been a great player since he got on campus as a freshman. He tends to special things at special times. He is a great player."

Catcher Kurt Suzuki
On jumping to an early 7-1 lead ...
"When you're playing against LSU in the College World Series, you don't think that's a big lead. LSU is a good team. I still had thoughts of them making a run at us, but we settled in."

Starting pitcher Jason Windsor
On his pitching performance ...
"This was my first game here. The adrenalin was really pumping in the first (inning). I wasn't myself in the first inning, I think I threw seven balls and that's not my game. I really settled down after that."

LSU
Head Coach Smoke Laval
Opening statement ...
"Whenever there was a chance for Fullerton to deliver the right pitch or get a big hit, they did it. They did what they were supposed to do for the most part and capitalized on most of their opportunities. They were in control."

Designated hitter Ryan Patterson
On Cal State Fullerton pitcher Jason Windsor's performance ...
"He made a lot of good pitches. He changed speed well and pitched his game."

On losing the first game ...
"We've been doing this all year. When our backs are against the wall, we fight back."

Shortstop Aaron Hill
On Cal State Fullerton pitcher Jason Windsor's performance ...
"He did a great job. He kept everyone off balance for most of the game."

On losing the first game ...
"We've been successful when we've played from behind this year. Just last week we lose the first game and come back and win the next two games. I don't count us out."

Starting pitcher Nate Bumstead
On facing Cal State Fullerton ...
"It was a difference style of ball than I'm used to facing. A couple of times they led off the inning with a bunt. They did a great job of hitting me. I thought the home run was a pretty good pitch. I just didn't get it done today."

On the two walks before the home run ...
"I missed a couple changeups up that I threw pretty close. I tried to pitch around to get a guy in a double play situation. That's just how things worked out."

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