College Baseball : Nichols Paces L.A. State Past UCI, 9-3

Steve Nichols paced a six-run second inning with a grand slam Wednesday as Cal State Los Angeles defeated UC Irvine, 9-3, in a nonconference game at Los Angeles.

Nichols went 3 for 4 with five RBIs.

Steve Polverini was the winning pitcher. Brett Martin was the loser.

Devon Shockley hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to account for the Anteaters’ only scoring. CSLA is 4-7. UCI is 5-6-1.

In other action:

USIU 5, Southern California College 0--Ryan Long pitched the shutout for the Gulls in San Diego. USIU is 3-10. SCC (5-4) plays at Cal State Dominguez Hills today.

In the Cypress Kiwanis Tournament:

Golden West 4, Grossmont 2--Rustlers Coach Fred Hoover posted the 400th career win with a first-round victory at Golden West. The Rustlers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth to win it. A two-run single by Eric Shirley broke a 2-2 tie to put the Rustlers (3-2) into the lead for good. Steve Hunt picked up the win. Hoover’s record at Golden West is 400-240.

Cypress 5, Mira Costa 3--The Chargers’ Tony Mendoza went 2 for 3 and Rey Hernandez had a two-run single. Dave Berry (3-0) pitched 5 innings for the win. Jeff Mooney entered the game in the ninth inning and earned the save. Mira Costa’s Mike Thompson gave up seven hits in going the distance and took the loss. Cypress is 10-1.