COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Fullerton Home Runs Upset Rancho Santiago, 9-5

Tom Wilson, Chris Johnson and Sal Mancuso hit home runs as Fullerton upset Rancho Santiago, 9-5, in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Tuesday in Santa Ana.

Wilson hit a two-run home run (his ninth) in the first inning and Johnson followed with his fourth homer as Fullerton (19-11, 6-6 in conference) opened a 4-0 lead. Wilson’s home run was the 20th of his Fullerton career. Mancuso hit a bases-empty home run in the fifth, his second.

Darby Carmichael had two-run double in the fifth and later scored as Fullerton took a 9-0 lead. Carmichael, a catcher, also picked a runner off third to end a Rancho Santiago threat in the fourth.

Jim Burchit (6-3) pitched nine innings for the victory. Rob Reimers had two hits and two RBIs for first-place Rancho Santiago (27-5, 10-2). Jesse Rojas (4-3) started, lasting only 2/3 of an inning, to take the loss.

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Riverside 1, Saddleback 0--Ben Blomdahl (7-2) threw a six-hitter with seven strikeouts and three walks for host Riverside (23-8, 7-5). Blomdahl escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third by getting Buster Nietzke to ground out.

Riverside scored in the sixth on a single by Mike Alto, a sacrifice and a double by Larry Stahlhoefer. Corey Giuliano (1-3) allowed a run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings for Saddleback (11-15, 3-9).

Cypress 5, Golden West 3--Visiting Cypress (19-9, 6-6) scored three runs in the sixth to tie the game, 3-3, and one in each of the the seventh and eighth innings.

Kevin Cook had four hits and two RBIs for Cypress. He hit a bases-empty home run in the eighth. Robert Legendre (4-1) threw a nine-hitter, allowing only four hits in the final six innings, for Cypress’ victory.

Jason White and Brian Mena had three hits each for Golden West (10-13, 5-6). Mena had a pair of RBI singles.

In nonconference softball:

Cypress 1, Chaffey 0--Jackie Boxley had an RBI single in the fifth for host Cypress (23-8), the sixth-ranked team in the state.