COLLEGE WORLD SERIES NOTEBOOK:Omaha takes its toll on Gorgen

OMAHA, Neb. — UC Irvine baseball coach Dave Serrano said coming into Omaha that being the only team to win a super regional as the visiting team, as well as playing in front of 9,000-plus Texas fans to win the Round Rock Regional, had prepared his team well for Rosenblatt Stadium, capacity close to 24,000.

Serrano even suggested that the crowds at the College World Series were easier to play in front of, because the stadium is filled primarily by locals and fans from schools other than those who have reached Omaha.

“These fans are just rooting for good baseball,” Serrano said.

But sophomore pitcher Scott Gorgen, who has been a pillar of strength in the postseason and has long prided himself on being a pitcher who loves the spotlight and performing on the big stage, was so affected by the 19,638 fans, the atmosphere and the moment, Serrano said Gorgen had trouble catching his breath in the early going.

NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND

Gorgen was still somewhat out of sorts when talking to media after the game, when he said he was 100% sure that Ike Davis was sitting on a changeup when he hit his game-winning home run in the eighth inning.

Davis later said he was looking for a fastball on the 1-1 pitch, but was able to stay back and hit the off-speed pitch squarely.

HOME RUN DERBY

The three homers allowed by Gorgen were the most he has yielded in any game this season. Three times he had given up two jacks in one game this year and he has now allowed 12 dingers in 2007.

No other UCI pitcher has surrendered more than five.

ASU’s three dingers gave it 78 for the season, 43 more than the Anteaters have hit.

FAILED FIRST IMPRESSION

The Anteaters (45-16-1), who take on Big West Conference rival Cal State Fullerton in Monday’s 11 a.m. elimination game, and must win four straight to advance to the best-of-three championship series, were the eighth straight team that failed to win its CWS debut.

Georgia Tech in 1994 was the last school to win in its first contest in Omaha.

Louisville lost its CWS debut Friday to Rice.

PITCHING HIS PITCH

UCI’s starter on Monday will be Wes Etheridge (12-4 with a 2.49 earned-run average), who said he decided to name his trademark sinking fastball “gootsteen,” the Dutch word for sink, at the urging of UCI freshman reliever Tom Calahan.

“[Calahan] said you need to name your pitch, about a week ago,” Etheridge said. “We figured out we’d probably have some interviews coming up, so I can’t be telling them I’m throwing an 80 mph fastball. That’s kind of embarrassing. I had to call it something else.”

HUMAN BILLBOARDS

There appeared to be only marginally more UCI rooters who made the trek to Omaha than were at the regional or super regional.

Many of the estimated 150 sitting with Anteater parents behind the first-base dugout wore some of the T-shirts sent by program sponsors.

Serrano said New Balance, which supplies the Anteaters’ shoes, sent 400 T-shirts for fans to wear in Omaha.

Serrano also said Wilson DiMarini, which provides the team’s uniforms and bats, as well as The Game, which supplies the team’s hats have also sent apparel and other items for use by players, coaches and fans.

The Anteaters wore new caps Saturday with the College World Series logo embroidered on the right side of the cap.

LATE POWER SURGE

Arizona State third baseman CJ Retherford had no homers in 35 regular-season at-bats, spanning appearances in 24 games.

But in the postseason, he now has four homers and nine RBIs in 15 at-bats and is hitting .467 since the regular season ended.

Retherford also drove UCI center fielder Ollie Linton to the warning track to haul in fly balls in his first two at-bats.

“If we would have been playing at home, CJ would have had three homers,” ASU Coach Pat Murphy said.

ALL FOR UCI EXECUTION

Murphy said he came away impressed with UC Irvine.

That’s a good baseball team and they really execute,” Murphy said. “They swing it well, they pitch it well and they play good defense.”

HITTING STREAK BUSTED

UCI junior first baseman Taylor Holiday was hitless in three at-bats Saturday, bringing an end to his 22-game hitting streak.

KEEPING FINGERS CROSSED

UCI junior right fielder Bryan Petersen went two for three Saturday, but took a pitch off the fingers on his left hand in his final at-bat. Petersen finished the at-bat and struck out, and had an ice on the hand while addressing the media afterward.

He said he was unsure of the extent of the damage, or if he would be getting X-rays.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.