COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Mendoza’s Hit Caps Golden West Rally

Ben Mendoza doubled in the tying and winning runs as Golden West defeated Citrus, 8-7, in a third-round game of the Cypress/Golden West Kiwanis baseball tournament Saturday at Golden West College.

Mendoza’s double capped a late-inning rally for Golden West. Citrus scored two runs in the second inning and five unearned runs in the fourth to take a 7-2 lead.

Golden West (3-2-1) scored two runs in the fifth, one each in the sixth and seventh innings before getting two in the ninth.

Freddy Burnall (1-1) pitched the final two innings for the victory. Golden West plays Cypress at 10 a.m. today.

In other tournament games:

Cypress Splits Two--Despite Tony Martinez’s three hits and four runs batted in, the Chargers (5-2) lost to Long Beach City, 11-10, in a semifinal game of the championship bracket.

Ryan Hornbeck hit a two-run double for Long Beach, highlighting a five-run eighth inning.

Chad Troxel (0-1) took the loss for Cypress.

Earlier, Jason Hodges had three RBIs, including a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth, and Kevin Clark went four for five, including hitting his second home run of the season as Cypress defeated Merced, 4-1, in a second-round game.

Todd Blyleven (2-0) did not allow an earned run in 8 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out six.

In the championship semifinals of the Rancho Santiago softball tournament:

Rancho Santiago 2, Chaffey 0 (6 innings, time limit)--Jocelyne Patrick had an RBI single in the fifth and Celeste Gordon threw a two-hitter for Rancho Santiago.

In pool play at the Great Western Shootout softball tournament:

Cypress Splits Two--Nikkani Andrews had a two-run triple in the third inning of Cypress’ 5-0 victory over Eastern Arizona. Cypress is the defending state champion.

Arizona Glendale used three unearned runs to defeat Cypress, 4-3, earlier Saturday in the second game of the round-robin tournament.

In the Southwestern baseball tournament:

Fullerton Splits Two--Aaron Charlton pitched a four-hitter, striking out five as the Hornets defeated San Bernardino Valley, 5-0.

Matt Wilson drove in two runs with a fourth-inning double.

Earlier, Fullerton (5-2-1) tied Grossmont, 5-5, but Grossmont was credited with the victory in the double-elimination tournament on the basis of more hits, 7-6.

Ramon Apodaca was three for five, driving in two runs and Wilson had two hits.