Fullerton Players Have Suspensions Lifted

The four Cal State Fullerton players suspended from the NCAA super-regional series against Ohio State will be back with the team for the College World Series, and Adam Johnson is expected to be the starting pitcher in the Titans’ first game in Omaha on Saturday.

Coach George Horton lifted the suspensions of Johnson, pitcher Marco Hanlon and infielders David Bacani and Chad Olszanski after discussions Monday with Athletic Director John Easterbrook.

The NCAA Division I baseball committee also approved their reinstatement, Easterbrook said.

The players were arrested and charged with misdemeanors after a rock-throwing incident in South Bend, Ind., on May 30, after the Titans had won an NCAA regional tournament.

“We feel the penalty served the situation,” Horton said. “Some people might look at it as only a three-game suspension, but you have to consider the importance of those three games to those players and the team. We feel they’ve handled the suspension well, and they’re remorseful. They will also be on probation with our program for a year.”

The Titans (49-12) play Stanford (48-13) in the second game at 5 p.m. (PDT) Saturday after Florida State (53-12) meets Texas A&M; (52-16) in the nationally televised game at 10:30 a.m. (PDT). The tournament begins on Friday with Alabama (51-14) facing Oklahoma State (46-19) and Miami (46-13) playing Rice (58-13). The playing times were announced Monday.

Fullerton won the super-regional at Ohio State on Sunday with a 13-2 victory over the Buckeyes in the deciding third game of the series. Stanford won its super-regional against USC in two games.

Horton said a final decision on a pitching rotation for the first two games of the College World Series has not been made, but pitching coach Dave Serrano said Johnson was the likely choice against the Cardinal.

Johnson (10-3, 3.22 ERA) pitched the Titan season opener against Stanford, giving up two hits while walking five and striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings. He was the winning pitcher in Fullerton’s 8-0 victory. Stanford came back to win the next two games of the series, 6-5 and 13-7.

Left-hander Jon Smith (7-0, 2.71) is the probable starter in Fullerton’s second game of the double-elimination tournament Monday. Smith was the winning pitcher Saturday when the Titans tied the series against Ohio State.

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College World Series

At Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. First games in double-elimination format

FRIDAY

* Game 1--Oklahoma State (46-19) vs. Alabama (51-14), 12:30 p.m.

* Game 2--Miami (46-13) vs. Rice (58-13), 4:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

* Game 3--Florida State (53-12) vs. Texas A&M; (52-16), 10:30 a.m.

* Game 4--Cal State Fullerton (49-12) vs. Stanford (48-13), 5 p.m.