FULLERTON, Calif. - David Olmedo-Barrera tied the school record for most RBIs in a single game as Cal State Fullerton trounced Cal Poly 13-2 to clinch win the three-game Big West Conference series Saturday afternoon at Goodwin Field.
Olmedo-Barrera drove in eight runs for the Titans (16-14, 4-2), tying Danny Dorn's record which was set on April 8, 2003 against Loyola Marymount at Goodwin Field. Olmedo-Barrera finished the day 2-for-2 with a single, grand slam, sacrifice fly and an RBI hit by pitch.
The Titans pitchers did the rest as they held the Mustangs (10-18, 1-2) to two runs despite allowing 11 hits. The Mustangs stranded 10 runners on base and were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Along with Olmedo-Barrera, seven other Titans collected a hit on Saturday afternoon. Josh Vargas went 3-for-3 with a triple, RBI and three runs scored. Jerrod Bravo was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored and reached base for the 17th consecutive game.
Olmedo-Barrera picked up his first four RBIs with one swing of the bat in the first inning. Dustin Vaught led off the frame with a walk and then Vargas reached on a bunt single to third. Josh Estill drew another walk from Mustangs starter Andrew Bernstein to load the bases and bring Olmedo-Barrera to the plate. After taking the first pitch for a strike, the Titans designated hitter hammered the next pitch clear over the netting and into the trees in right field to put the Titans in front 4-0 early.
The Mustangs scored a run in the second inning but the Titans loaded the bases again in their half of the inning. Olmedo-Barrera again stepped in, this time with two outs, and laced a single to center field to bring in two more runs and make it 6-1 Titans after two.
It stayed that way until the fourth inning when Vargas led off the inning with a triple. One out later, Olmedo Barrera again stepped in with a chance to drive in the run and once again he obliged, lining a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score Vargas and make it 7-1.
Olmedo-Barrera capped off his day in the fifth inning as he came up with the bases loaded for the third time in the game. Reliever Nick Suniga fell behind in the count 2-0 and then drilled Olmedo-Barrera in the back to give the 6-foot-1 junior his eighth run batted in, tying the record.
John Gavin labored through five innings but picked up his fourth win of the season. He allowed one run on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Miles Chambers, Maxwell Gibbs and Chad Hockin pitched the final four innings in relief for the Titans. They combined to allow one run on six hits and struck out three.
The Titans will now head out on the road for a season-long nine-game road trip beginning Tuesday at San Diego. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Notes: Olmedo-Barrera's grand slam in the first inning was the first by a Titans player since J.D. Davis hit one in the opening game of the Stillwater Regional against Nebraska on May 30, 2014… Jake Jefferies was the last Titans player to drive in more than five runs in a game when he had seven RBIs on March 29, 2013 against Pacific… The Titans are now 56-17 all-time against Cal Poly and 34-5 at Goodwin Field… Olmedo-Barrera's eight RBI game was the first time a Titans player has driven in four runs or more in a game this season.
