Titans’ Pitching Staff Receives a Double Dose of Good News

FULLERTON — Cal State Fullerton’s baseball program got a big boost Monday when two pitchers who combined for 43 victories over the last two seasons at Cal State Northridge decided to join the Titans for their senior seasons.

Benny Flores and Erasmo Ramirez settled on Fullerton after announcing 11 days ago that they planned to transfer from Northridge. They also had considered Long Beach State.

The decision to transfer was based on the uncertainty of the Northridge program because of budget concerns and their disappointment that the Matadors were not selected for an NCAA at-large bid last season despite a 42-20-1 record as an independent.

Fullerton has made 19 regional appearances in 23 years, including six in a row, and has reached the College World Series four times in the 1990s.

“We’re really excited to have them, and we think they’ll have a big impact on our chances of success next year,” Titan Coach George Horton said after receiving an oral commitment from both players.

Both are left-handers who pitched in high school in Orange County, Flores at El Dorado and Ramirez at Saddleback. Flores was 11-3 with a team-leading 3.09 earned-run average last season, and was the winning pitcher when Northridge eliminated Stanford in the NCAA West Regional at Stanford in 1996. Flores was 7-2 with a 3.75 ERA as a sophomore.

Ramirez was 11-5 with a 4.98 ERA this season after going 14-1 with a 3.74 ERA two years ago. He had victories this season against Fullerton, Long Beach State, UCLA, Clemson and Oklahoma State. He also lost a 2-1 game at Wichita State after pitching 9 1/3 innings.

“We’re really happy that we are going to be able to stay together,” Ramirez said. “We’ve been the best of friends for the last three years. Benny helps me and I help him, and we learn from each other. Fullerton has a great program, and we were attracted to that.”

Flores said they already have set a goal of winning at least 20 games between them next season.

“I’m excited,” Flores said. “We’ll be in a great conference and be pitching close to home. It should be a perfect opportunity for us to make it to a regional and possibly the World Series next year.”

Flores and Ramirez have similar pitching styles, and rely on good control and good breaking pitches. Ramirez walked only 20 in 112 innings in 1997.

Both made big improvements during their sophomore seasons when Northridge pitching coach Dan Cowgill added more angles to their delivery. Both throw sidearm as well as overhead now, and throw fastballs, curves and sliders from both release points. Their velocity is in the low to mid-80s.

“They’ll give us several pitchers next year with quality Division I experience, and we haven’t had that going into a season for a while,” Horton said.

The Titans will lose starting pitchers Matt Wise and Brian Tokarse, both drafted by the Angels. Their third starter, right-hander Brandon Duckworth, is expected back for his senior year after going 8-1 with a 4.93 earned-run average. “He’s planning to pitch this summer in either the Cape Cod League or in Alaska and then be back with us in the fall,” Horton said.

Right-hander Scott Hild, who was the No. 3 starter two years ago as a sophomore, also will be back for his senior year. Hild (4-4) dropped out of the starting rotation after running into problems early in the year, but pitched well in relief in the final month of the season. The Titans also are counting heavily on left-hander Michael Garner, who was 2-1 with a 5.15 ERA as a freshman.

“We’ll be much better staffed with left-handers,” Horton said. “That’s something we’ve had a shortage of the last few years.”

Fullerton has recruited four other left-handed pitchers, including George Carralejo of Kennedy High and Greg Jacobs of Cypress College. Jacobs also plays in the outfield and has experience in high school at first base.

Times staff writer Steve Henson contributed to this story.