FULLERTON, Calif. -- Kevin Costner pleaded with the crowd behind him to cheer louder for its team.
"The only way they're going to the College World Series is if we help them," the Cal State Fullerton graduate yelped about his alma mater's baseball team. Costner's Titans trailed ASU 8-7 Sunday with a Super Regional victory hanging in the balance.
But not even Robin Hood could stop these Sun Devils.
Looking like a different squad than at other points this season, ASU refused to bow down to the defending national champions.
It didn't matter that the Sun Devils' season had ended in Fullerton's stadium the last two seasons. It didn't matter that they ended a heartbreaking loss two nights earlier on a call by the umpire. It didn't matter they were down 7-2 in the third and final game Sunday.
And it didn't matter what the Sun Devils were ranked or what their record was. They were ready for their first College World Series since 1998.
ASU's record may not have been as glowing as it had been the last few years. But few will argue the Sun Devils played the toughest schedule in the nation this year, and it was by design. Coach Pat Murphy admitted his team could have won 50 games this season, but the Sun Devils aren't in it for the regular season.
"We've had some tough schedules in the past, but this year was by far the toughest," senior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch said. "I think that is the reason we are going to Omaha this year.It might be a rougher season, but when playoff time comes, we knew we were battle tested."
So, with their backs against the wall from the start of the series, ASU was able to play some of the most inspiring baseball the school has seen in years.
Senior righthander Jason Urquidez followed up one of his best performances of the season Friday by throwing 3 and 2/3 shutout innings less than 48 hours later.
Gosewisch enjoyed one of the finest single game performances in ASU history, hitting 5-for-5 with three RBIs on Sunday after making daring plays from behind home plate all weekend.
Unsung players like Eric Sogard and Joe Persichina came up with clutch hits when they got their chance.
And though the Titans still showed why they are a top five team in the country, ASU players still jumped in a dog pile on the field when it was all said and done. Murphy circled in front of his dugout, pumping his fist and screaming in jubilation. Sun Devil players stormed into the stands to greet their friends and family. And ASU fans who made the trip celebrated like children at a Little League game. One fan's sign -- "ASU is going to Omaha, the Titans can go to Disneyland" -- said it all.
They deserve it.
