Shane Costa rounds the bases after hitting the go-ahead three-run homer in the third inning.

June 13, 2003

By ERIC OLSON
Associated Press Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Shane Costa hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the third inning, and three Cal State Fullerton pitchers combined to hold Louisiana State to five hits in the Titans' 8-2 victory at the College World Series on Friday night.

The Titans (49-14) advanced to a winner's bracket game Sunday against Stanford, which shut out South Carolina 8-0 earlier Friday. LSU (45-21-1) plays South Carolina in an elimination game Sunday.

Jason Windsor (11-2) held the Tigers to one run on four hits in 5 2-3 innings. He has given up three earned runs and 10 hits in his last 19 innings over three games. Sean Martin and Chad Cordero held the Tigers to one hit the rest of the way.

Costa's homer - his fifth of the season and first since March 23 - put Fullerton ahead for good at 4-1.

The Titans added three more in the fourth on when Kyle Boyer scored on a wild pitch, and Ronnie Prettyman and Justin Turner hit consecutive RBI singles.

Prettyman's sacrifice fly made it 8-1 in the sixth and chased LSU starter Nate Bumstead (11-4), who had his worst outing since giving up eight runs in 2 2-3 innings against Kansas on Feb. 16.

The Tigers came into the CWS after collecting 15 hits in four of their last six games, but were silenced by Windsor and the Titans relievers. LSU's Nos. 3 through 6 hitters - Aaron Hill, Blake Gill, Clay Harris and Ivan Naccarata - were a combined 0-for-15, including five strikeouts and one double play.

LSU opened the scoring in the second on Ryan Patterson's 16th homer of the season.

The Titans took control with a four-run third inning. Kurt Suzuki bunted for a single and later scored on Bumstead's wild pitch. Bumstead walked Justin Turner to put runners at the corners, then Costa hit his three-run shot into the right-center field bleachers.

LSU scored its other run in the seventh when Jon Zeringue doubled and scored on Bruce Sprowl's groundout.