COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Saddleback Wins Slugfest With Single

David Biddinger’s two-run single in the eighth inning broke an 11-11 tie and gave host Saddleback a 13-11 victory over Riverside on Tuesday in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game.

Rich Kleckner’s two-run homer in the seventh tied it, 11-11, for Saddleback (10-5-1, 5-2 in conference). It was the first conference loss for Riverside (16-3, 6-1).

The eighth-inning rally started when Pat Antrim doubled with one out. Wade Jackson was walked intentionally and Ted Wilkes walked to load the bases. Aron Garcia popped up for the second out before Biddinger’s two-out hit.

Wade Jackson had four hits, scored three runs and had three runs batted in for Saddleback. His three-run homer gave Saddleback a 7-1 lead in the second inning.

Biddinger had three hits and four RBIs and Kleckner had three hits and two RBIs for the Gauchos. The teams play at 2 p.m. Thursday at Riverside.

In other Orange Empire Conference baseball games:

Fullerton 11, Golden West 1--Erickson Dumaual was three for five, including a double and a triple, and drove in four runs for host Fullerton (10-8, 4-3), which has won three games in a row. Dumaual is 10 for his last 12. Chad Smith had a home run, a double, a single and four RBIs for Fullerton. Jon Gardikis and Hien Nguyen had three hits each for the Hornets.

Zeke Barrios (3-1) gave up four hits and struck out four in seven innings for the victory. Phil Ruhl had a home run for Golden West (7-11, 1-6).

Rancho Santiago 16, Orange Coast 1--Visiting Rancho Santiago ended its three-game losing streak and extended Orange Coast’s losing streak to nine games. Joe Fraser had a two-run double and Matt Kastelic had a two-run single as Rancho Santiago (16-5, 4-3) scored six runs in the sixth to take a 9-0 lead.

It was the 399th victory for Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon. He has a chance to get No. 400 when the Dons play host to Orange Coast (3-12, 0-7) at 2 p.m. Thursday.

In Orange Empire Conference men’s tennis:

Irvine Valley 5, Orange Coast 3--Bob Nichols defeated John Peng, 7-5, 6-3, and teamed with Jason Pascua to defeat Jason Weaver and Chris Stearns, 6-4, 7-5, in doubles for Irvine Valley (4-3, 3-3).

In Orange Empire Conference women’s tennis:

Fullerton 5, Golden West 4--Debby Springer and Laurie Smude held off Dana Ferdenand and Leia Ryan at No. 1 doubles, 7-6, 6-2, for host Fullerton (7-1, 5-1).