University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball Heads To Cal State Fullerton for NCAA Regionals
5/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minnesota claimed the No. 3 seed, and will take on the second-seeded host Cal State Fullerton in the second game on June 4 at 9 p.m. (CT). The first game of the session between first-seeded Arizona State and fourth-seeded Pepperdine will take place on Friday, May 30 at 5 p.m. (CT).
The losers of the first two games will play on Saturday, June 1 at 1 p.m. (CT), while the winners play at 5 p.m. (CT). The final game of the second day would take place at 9 p.m. (CT). The championship game(s) would be Sunday, June 2.
"We fee like we are entering the tournament with a lot of momentum after winning both the regular season and conference titles in the Big Ten," said Minnesota Head Coach John Anderson. "We are playing a very familiar opponent in Cal State Fullerton. The past two years we have split six games with their program. It should be a good matchup of two teams that are playing really well at the right time of the season. It is a good region with four very good baseball programs in Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Pepperdine and our program."
Minnesota lost two out of three games at Cal State Fullerton this season on Mar. 12-14. The Titans took the first and third games, while the Golden Gophers claimed the middle game by rallying from a 7-4 deficit in the ninth inning. Minnesota won two of three against a then second-ranked Cal State Fullerton team in 2003 at the Metrodome. The Golden Gophers claimed the first and third games of that series, while the Titans won the middle game.
Last time Minnesota faced Arizona State it defeated the Sun Devils 14-5 in the Oscar Meyer Baseball Classic at the Metrodome on Mar. 4, 1994. However, Arizona State owns a 5-1 series advantage against Minnesota. The Golden Gophers also defeated Pepperdine 7-5 in their last meeting in last year's NCAA Regional at Long Beach, Calif. on May 31. In that game, Minnesota rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the top of the ninth to give John Anderson his 800th career victory.
The winner of the Cal State Fullerton Regional (No. 1 Arizona State, No. 2 Cal State Fullerton, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 4 Pepperdine) will take on the winner of the Mississippi Regional (No. 1 Mississippi, No. 2 Washington, No. 3 Tulane and No. 4 Western Kentucky) in the Super Regionals, June 11-14.
All of Minnesota's games will be webcast on gophersports.com. Stay tuned to gophersports.com for information regarding the games being on KCCO (950 AM) on gophersports.com.
Comments from Players and Coaches on NCAA Regional Berth
Minnesota Head Coach John Anderson
"We fee like we are entering the tournament with a lot of momentum after winning both the regular season and conference titles in the Big Ten. We are playing a very familiar opponent in Cal State Fullerton. The past two years we have split six games with their program. It should be a good matchup of two teams that are playing really well at the right time of the season. It is a good region with four very good baseball programs in Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Pepperdine and our program."
"We always would like to be closer to provide more of an opportunity for family and friends to see our team in the NCAA Regionals. However, Cal State Fullerton is a good place to for an NCAA Regional. We have played some good games with them the last two years and have a lot of respect for their program and what they have done. Arizona State is also a tremendous baseball program, and Pepperdine is a very tough No. 4 seed."
Minnesota sophomore starting pitcher Glen Perkins
"I always like playing out in California. This will be our third time in California in my two years playing here. Cal State Fullerton is a great area with great baseball fans. I just hope I can go out and pitch my best, get some runs and try to get our team some early momentum in the NCAA Reagionals."
Minnesota senior centerfielder Sam Steidl
"We are excited to head out to Cal State Fullerton for the NCAA Regionals. We have played Cal State Fullerton six times the last two season and both series have been good ones. We are looking forward to another quality matchup with them to start the tournament."
Minnesota senior starting pitcher Jay Gagner
"We have been a reslient team all year. We fought hard to win both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles this season. That resliency should help us in a situation like this heading into the NCAA Regionals. As a senior I am excited to go out there and play in the NCAA Regionals."
Minnesota NCAA Tournament Notes
- Minnesota was one of only nine teams in the nation to win its regular season and conference title.
- Glen Perkins was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore this season, and was also named the Big Ten Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
- Minnesota has made six of the last seven NCAA Regionals.
