Cal State-Fullerton's Kurt Suzuki, who has won three games this season with ninth-inning hits, scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning yesterday as Fullerton beat Notre Dame, 4-3, in an NCAA regional baseball game at Fullerton, Calif.

Suzuki, a sophomore catcher out of Maui's Baldwin High, was hitless in three times at bat before he singled to center field with one out in the ninth.

He advanced to second on a sacrifice by Jason Corapci and scored the tie-breaking run on Ronnie Prettyman's double into the gap in right-center field.

Notre Dame relief pitcher Brandon Viloria, a high school rival of Suzuki's on Maui, did not get out of the bullpen.

Notre Dame had scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game.

Suzuki threw out two runners, one attempting to steal third base to end the third inning and a pickoff at first base in the sixth. He has not made an error in 385 chances in two seasons sharing the catching position and has thrown out 29 runners.

Fullerton (45-13) is in the driver's seat of its regional.

The Titans will play Notre Dame (45-17) again today at 11 a.m. (Hawai'i time) and a victory would move them into next weekend's best-of-three Super Regional series.

If Notre Dame wins, the teams will play again 50 minutes later.

Notre Dame got its second chance as Matt Macri went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in leading the Irish over San Diego, 6-3, last night.

San Diego (31-30) threatened in the bottom of the ninth by loading the bases with two outs, but Joey Prast's liner back to the mound deflected off J.P Gagne's glove. The ball rolled to third baseman Matt Edwards, who stepped on the bag for the final out.

In the first game of the day, Lucas Wennersten hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth to help San Diego eliminate Arizona, 5-2.

— By Dennis Anderson

Tallahassee (FLA.) Regional

I No. 1 FSU needs two WINS: Tony Richie had three RBIs and Daniel Wardell, Jerrod Brown and Blake Balkcom each homered as Florida State eliminated Rutgers, 17-7, in an NCAA regional. The Seminoles (52-11-1), the No. 1 national seed, must beat South Alabama (42-17) twice today to advance. Earlier, South Alabama beat Florida State, 8-6, and Rutgers eliminated Jacksonville, 8-5.

Atlanta (Ga.) Regional

• SOUTH CAROLINA NEEDS ONE WIN: Andy Wilson went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, helping Stetson eliminate East Carolina, 9-4. John Destefano went 3-for-5 with a homer for the Hatters (41-23), who must beat South Carolina (41-20) twice today to advance to the super regionals. In other games, East Carolina ousted Georgia Tech, the national No. 3 seed, 10-3, and South Carolina beat Stetson, 7-2.

Coral Gables (FLA.) Regional

• Florida against Miami: Mario Garza and Brian Rose each hit two home runs apiece, helping Florida eliminate Florida Atlantic, 22-14. The Gators (36-20-1) need to beat Miami (41-14-1) twice today to advance. In earlier games, Florida ousted Bethune Cookman, 8-6, and J.D. Cockroft threw the first one-hitter in Miami's postseason history, and Gaby Sanchez drove in the only run on a groundout as Miami beat Florida Atlantic, 1-0.

College Station (Tex.) Regional

• Houston takes on Texas A&M: Thanos Papavasiliou hit a three-run homer and had four RBIs as Houston beat Alabama, 16-8, in an elimination game. The Cougars (34-28) have to beat Texas A&M (45-17) twice today to advance. Earlier, the Cougars ousted Oral Roberts, 4-2, and Matt Alexander drove in six runs and Erik Schindewolf went 4-for-5 with two RBIs as Texas A&M routed Alabama, 16-5.

Hattiesburg (MISS.) Regional

• Baylor in driver's seat: Clint King hit for the cycle and Brad Willcutt had a grand slam as Southern Mississippi sent Southern packing, 18-1. The Golden Eagles (47-15) must to beat Baylor (43-21) twice today to earn their first trip to a super regional. Earlier yesterday, Southern Mississippi routed Murray State, 18-0, and Baylor scored five runs in the ninth to beat Southern, 10-4, to advance to the championship round.

Auburn (ALA.) Regional

• No. 4 Auburn has momentum: Colby Paxton pitched a five-hitter in his first complete game of the season, and Scott Schade hit a grand slam, leading Auburn over Clemson, 15-0, in an elimination game. Karl Amonite hit a two-run homer for the Tigers (42-20), the No. 4 national seed, who can advance to the super regionals with two wins over Ohio State (43-19) today. Also yesterday, Clemson beat Princeton, 7-6, in 10 innings, and Ohio State defeated Auburn, 6-2.

Starkville (MISS.) Regional

• MISSISSIPPI STATE RALLIES: Matthew Maniscalco had three hits and three RBIs as Mississippi State rallied to stave off elimination and defeat Missouri, 10-5. Mississippi State (42-19-1), which had 18 hits, has to beat North Carolina (41-21) twice today to advance. In other games, Missouri beat Middle Tennessee State, 13-7, for its first NCAA Tournament win since 1991, and North Carolina beat Mississippi State, 10-5.

Houston (TEX.) Regional

• WAC'S RICE IN CONTROL: Drew Moffitt's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the ninth inning lifted Wichita State (49-26) over Mississippi, 5-4, in an elimination game. The Shockers have to beat Rice (50-10) twice today to advance to the super regionals. Earlier, Mississippi eliminated McNeese State, 7-1, and Rice routed Wichita State, 10-1, as Jeff Niemann (15-0) gave up one run on three hits in seven innings for Rice.

Baton Rouge (LA.) Regional

• NC-WILMINGTON A SURPRISE: Matt Sutton's RBI single in the 10th capped a two-run rally, lifting North Carolina-Wilmington over Tulane, 9-8, in an elimination game. The Seahawks (40-22), making their first appearance in the regionals, must beat LSU (42-19-1), the No. 2 national seed, twice today to advance. In earlier games, NC-Wilmington ousted Northeastern, 12-6, and LSU beat Tulane, 13-5.

Lincoln (NEB.) Regional

• Nebraska gets another chance: Curtis Ledbetter hit a grand slam and Matt Hopper had two homers as Nebraska eliminated Eastern Michigan, 18-2. The Huskers (46-17) advanced to today's regional final against Southwest Missouri State (37-23), which can clinch the regional with a win. In other games, Eastern Michigan eliminated Coastal Carolina, 9-8, and Southwest Missouri State beat Nebraska, 4-2.

Tempe (ARIZ.) Regional

• UNLV stays in contention: Garett Shitanishi and Robert VanKirk each drove in three runs, helping UNLV eliminate New Mexico State, 16-10. The Rebels (47-16) play Arizona State (52-12), which can clinch the regional championship with a victory. Also yesterday, UNLV hammered Central Connecticut State, 22-3, and Arizona State gained the championship round with a 15-0 rout of New Mexico State.

Stanford (CALIF.) Regional

• Richmond plays Stanford: Jason Bolinski (10-1) threw a six-hitter as Richmond eliminated UC Riverside, 8-1. Richmond (48-14) advanced to the regional final against Stanford (43-15), which can win the regional with a victory. In earlier games, Richmond blanked Illinois-Chicago, 5-0, and Stanford defeated UC Riverside, 13-6.

Wilson (N.C.) Regional

• CLASH OF CAROLINAS: Brandon McDowell (7-2) took a no-hitter into the ninth, until Eric Latura led off with a single, as Western Carolina beat Virginia Commonwealth, 2-0, in an elimination game. The Catamounts (43-20) play North Carolina State (44-16) today and need two wins to advance. Earlier, Western Carolina ousted Le Moyne, 9-5, and North Carolina State beat Virginia Commonwealth, 4-3, in 10 innings.

Long Beach (CALIF.) Regional

• Washington, Long Beach again: Former University of Hawai'i player Chad Boudon hit a two-run homer, and David Dowling (7-2) combined with two relievers on a seven-hitter as Washington eliminated Minnesota, 4-1. The Huskies (42-17) will play Long Beach (40-18) in today's regional final, needing two wins to advance. In earlier games, Minnesota ousted Pepperdine, 7-5, and Long Beach State beat Washington, 7-2.

Austin (TEX.) Regional