Titans a win away from title

OMAHA, Neb. -- Felipe Garcia had four hits and three RBIs and Ricky Romero pitched six-plus strong innings, leading Cal State Fullerton to a 6-4 victory over Texas in the first game of the College World Series finals Saturday night.

The Titans, seeking their first national title since 1995 and their fourth overall, can wrap up the best-of-three series with a win Sunday.

Romero (14-4) gave up all eight of Texas' hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out eight.

Vinnie Pestano, Ryan Schreppel and Mike Martinez combined on 2 2/ 3 innings of shutout relief. Martinez earned his second save.

Texas (58-14) threatened in the bottom of the ninth after Pestano hit pinch hitter Hunter Harris with a pitch and Michael Hollimon reached on a fielder's choice when shortstop Neil Walton was charged with a throwing error on an attempted force play at second.

But Drew Stubbs, facing Martinez, struck out for the fifth time in the game and Seth Johnston grounded out to end the game.

Fullerton (46-22), which saw a 3-0 lead turn into a 4-3 deficit in the fifth inning, went ahead again in the seventh.

Texas reliever J. Brent Cox (6-2) gave up back-to-back singles to open the inning. Huston Street came on to strike out Kurt Suzuki and P.J. Pilittere, but then Danny Dorn lined a ball into the gap that bounced off the heel of Texas left fielder Carson Kainer's glove for a two-run double.

Garcia drove in Dorn for a 6-4 advantage.

The Longhorns had taken their 4-3 lead with a three-run fifth inning against Romero.

Ryan Russ walked and Hollimon followed with a bunt single. Johnston lined a single into right and Fullerton right fielder Bobby Andrews overthrew catcher Suzuki, with the ball bouncing off the top step of the Longhorns' dugout and into the stands. That allowed Hollimon to score the tying run and put Johnston at third.

Johnston scored on Curtis Thigpen's sacrifice fly.

The Longhorns got out of the sixth inning unscathed after Fullerton loaded the bases with none out against J.P. Howell.

Cox came on and struck out Walton, and then Ronnie Prettyman hit a hard comebacker. Cox threw home, and catcher Taylor Teagarden threw to first to complete the double play.

Fullerton broke to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, with all the runs unearned. Justin Turner singled up the middle leading off, moved up on Clark Hardman's bunt and scored when Johnston, Texas' second baseman, threw wildly to first trying to turn a double play on Suzuki's grounder.

Garcia followed with a two-out, two-run single.

The Longhorns got a run back in the second on Russ' two-out single.

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