Titans get to World Series
A homer in the 11th by David Olmedo-Barrera helps lift Cal State Fullerton over Louisville.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — David Olmedo-Barrera led off the 11th inning with a home run and lifted Cal State Fullerton to a 4-3 victory over host Louisville on Monday night and into the College World Series for the first time since 2009.
His second homer of the game was down the left-field line. It was initially ruled a home run by third base umpire Heath Jones, then the call was upheld after a replay review to give Fullerton the win in the deciding game of the Louisville super regional.
The Titans (39-23) will play defending national champion Vanderbilt on Sunday.
“Those last innings were just knock-down, drag-out baseball,” Fullerton Coach Rick Vanderhook said. “That was a great baseball game.”
Fullerton senior Tyler Peitzmeier (4-3) picked up the win in relief. Titans ace Thomas Eshelman picked up the save, with pinch-runner Ryan Summers thrown out trying to steal second to end the game.
The Titans were trailing 3-1 in the eighth inning when Jerrod Bravo hit a two-run single to tie the score. The Cardinals had several chances to win the game, but the Titans got out of jams in the ninth and 10th innings.
Louisville closer Zack Burdi (6-1) took the loss. Zach Lucas had three hits to lead the Cardinals (47-18), the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
If Cal State Fullerton had not won, it would have been the first time since 2005 that California was not represented in the College World Series.