Q&A: Seabold shines for Cal State Fullerton

There were four words that accompanied Connor Seabold’s most recent impressive outing for Cal State Fullerton’s baseball team.

Those four words could’ve also been heard this season for the Titans or seen on social media.

He’s only a freshman.

The right-handed pitcher out of Newport Harbor looked like a strong veteran Sunday night when he recorded a career-high nine strikeouts. He threw six shutout innings with six walks in the Titans’ 10-1 victory over Pepperdine.

The win moved Cal State Fullerton, which also includes outfielder Hunter Cullen (Corona del Mar), to the Super Regional, the final step before the World Series.

The Titans play at No. 3 national seed Louisville in Game 1 of a best-of-three series starting Saturday.

Seabold, who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles with the 571st pick in the 19th round last year, delivered for the Titans in his fourth start. It was his fourth straight start after taking the place of the injured Justin Garza.

The Titans have won each time Seabold has started.

Seabold took time out before he left Fullerton to answer three questions via e-mail.

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Question: What was it like to help lead the Titans to such a big/important win over Pepperdine Sunday night (on TV)?

Answer: It was a cool feeling. There were definitely some butterflies during the game but I feel that I used them to my advantage. At the end of the day though it’s just another game and even though there was a lot of importance to it you have to treat it as just another start. I feel like I did that pretty well.

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Question: What has your freshman season been like, including having to be ready when Justin Garza was lost to injury?

Answer: My freshman season’s been pretty busy, even before Garza went down I was seeing a lot of innings. I worked out of the bullpen for a majority of the season, usually going in for long relief, but I had a few mid-week starts. Then Justin went down and they moved me to the Sunday spot in the rotation. That was originally my goal when I first got to Fullerton; to be the Sunday starter. Obviously now the goal is a little larger as we continue into the playoffs.

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Question: What all did you learn while in Newport Beach and at Newport Harbor that you’re still applying to competing today?

Answer: One of the main things that I took away from playing at Newport Harbor that I still use today is how to be a good teammate. I played with a great group of guys in my two years at Harbor and there was a really good team chemistry present. I feel like I’ve been able to help my current team by being a good teammate and helping to create that good chemistry at Fullerton. If you look in the dugout during games, you’ll see a bunch of ball players having fun. Personally, that’s why I think the team’s been so successful down the stretch.