Fullerton Unbeaten In Cws; Stanford Wins To Stay Alive Florida State, Usc To Square Off In Second Winners’ Bracket Feature

Fullerton State’s Mark Kotsay went 4 for 4 with four RBIs, and Jon Ward allowed four hits in seven innings to lead the top-seeded Titans over No. 5 Tennessee 11-1 Monday in the Bracket Two winners’ final at the College World Series.

Kotsay, who hit a grand slam home run, won the battle of Collegiate Baseball’s co-players of the year. Tennessee’s Todd Helton, the other co-player, was 0 for 3 against Ward (10-3), who walked four and struck out four.

The win gives Fullerton (55-9) a few days off. The Titans will play Thursday against the survivor of today’s loser bracket final between Tennessee (53-15) and Stanford (40-24).

Fullerton State, riding a 15-game winning streak, jumped on Tennessee All-America pitcher R.A. Dickey. Jeremy Giambi hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning and Kitsay’s third grand slam of the season highlighted a six-run second.

Stanford 8, Clemson 3

Homegrown product Kyle Peterson pitched an eight-hitter as the Cardinal eliminated the Tigers (54-14).

Peterson (14-1), an All-American and most outstanding player in the Midwest I Regional, threw his 10th complete game of the season. The freshman from Omaha’s Creighton Prep had seven strikeouts and no walks.

Florida State vs. USC

Florida State coach Mike Martin is thinking ahead, not always an easy thing to do when your season ends with the next defeat.

The second-seeded Seminoles are three victories away from their first College World Series championship, and first up in the elimination round today is No. 6 Southern Cal.

And Florida State is in great shape with pitching. The 53-15 Seminoles have two first-round draft picks and first-team AllAmerican pitchers.

One, Jonathan Johnson, won Friday at the CWS, stopping defending champion Oklahoma 3-2 in the opening game. The other, David Yocum, was rocked in the first inning of Sunday’s 4-2 loss to Miami. Both are 12-3.

Johnson is scheduled to face USC in the elimination game for Bracket One. USC (46-20) will start Brian Cooper (7-2).