FULLERTON, Calif. - David Olmedo-Barrera blasted two triples and Cal State Fullerton overcame a three-run deficit for the second consecutive game to complete a three-game sweep of visiting Baylor with a 7-6 victory Saturday afternoon at Goodwin Field.
The Titans (5-5) had two players record multi-hit games and three players drive in multiple RBIs while Fullerton pitching held the Bears (6-5) scoreless for the final four innings of the game.
Olmedo-Barrera finished the day 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. A.J. Kennedy and Josh Estill each went 1-for-3 with two RBIs apiece.
On the mound, Willie Kuhl earned his first win of the season as he pitched one and 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out one. Tyler Peitzmeier earned his third save of the season, going one and 2/3 innings and allowing one hit, striking out four.
For the Bears, Aaron Dodson led the offense going 3-for-5 with a run scored while Jonathan Ducoff went 3-for-4. Kameron Esthay was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Trailing 6-5 in the seventh, the Titans mounted their comeback beginning with a leadoff walk to Dustin Vaught. Olmedo-Barrera followed with his second triple of the game, a towering drive to left-center field to score Vaught and tie the game 6-6. Estill then stepped up and hit an infield single along the first-base line to plate Olmedo-Barrera with the go-ahead run, which proved to be the difference.
The game started with Baylor grinding out two runs in the top of the first inning, sending seven batters to the plate against Titans starter Justin Garza. Leadoff hitter Logan Brown started the frame by working a walk on nine pitches against the Fullerton right-hander. After a flyout, the Bears got consecutive singles from Dodson and Cameron Miller to plate their first run of the inning. Esthay then placed a two-out single through the right side to bring in Dodson and give the Bears the 2-0 lead.
The Titans answered back in the second inning, sending nine hitters to the dish and scoring all three of their runs in the inning with two outs to take the lead. With Olmedo-Barrera on base, Jake Jefferies drew a walk and then both runners advanced on a wild pitch by starter Ryan Smith. Kennedy then stepped up and lined a 2-2 pitch into center field for a two-run single to tie the game 2-2.
Jefferies would finish the day 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Titans.
After walking Timmy Richards on four pitches, Smith was replaced with an apparent hand injury by reliever Austin Stone, who immediately walked Josh Vargas to load the bases. He then spiked a fastball that got behind the catcher and allowed Kennedy to come in with the go-ahead run. Tyler Stieb followed with a walk to load the bases again and bring up Vaught, who hit a short flair to shallow right field that looked like it would drop but Bears second baseman Steven McLean made an outstanding diving catch to rob Vaught of two RBIs and end the threat.
The Bears came right back in the third inning, taking the lead thanks to a two-out, two run home run to right-center by Esthay off Garza. They would add two more runs in the fifth inning on a two-run single by Justin Arrington to take a 6-3 advantage.
Garza ended the day going four innings as he allowed four runs, two earned, on nine hits. He walked one and struck out two.
Notes: The Titans are now 8-4 against Baylor all-time… Tyler Stieb went 1-for-3 with a run scored and extended his hitting streak to five games… Fullerton recorded its first win in a one-run game this season and is now 1-2. They led the nation in one-run games in 2014, going 13-13 in 26 games… The Titans are now 48-39 against Big-12 opponents all-time.
