Orange County College Roundup : Mannion Gives Fullerton Split in Doubleheader

Greg Mannion hit a two-run home run to tie the score and later walked with the bases loaded to force home the winning run as Cal State Fullerton defeated United States International University, 6-5, in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday at Fullerton.

The Titans lost the first game, 11-10.

Fullerton trailed, 5-1, after four innings in the second game but scored single runs in the fifth and sixth and entered the bottom of the seventh behind 5-3. Mannion sent the scheduled seven-inning game into extra innings with his second home run of the season off Sean Rydell.

Jason Rolish, a freshman from Servite High School, tripled in the eighth inning and USIU pitcher Wally Trice issued intentional walks to the next two Fullerton batters. Trice then struck out Ken Garcia before walking Mannion to bring home the winning run.

Longo Garcia (4-1), a junior from Orange Coast College, had eight strikeouts and went the distance for Fullerton (12-9).

In the first game, Kevin Robinson hit a two-run home run off Paul Johnson for USIU (9-14) in the top of the ninth to erase Fullerton’s 10-9 lead. Fullerton had led, 10-6, after five innings.

Rolish was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and scored two runs; teammate Mark Baca was 3 for 4 with a double.

Late Saturday night:

Christ College Irvine 4-6, West Coast University 1-3--Steve Hantula (2-4) pitched a four-hitter in the first game and Chris Hansen pitched a three-hitter in the second as the Eagles swept a doubleheader at Fresno.

Sean Washington had a two-out two-run double in the top of the sixth in the second game to start a six-run rally for Christ College (5-10).