Laird Leads First-Place Cypress in 13-2 Rout of Orange Coast

Gerald Laird hit a three-run home run to cap Cypress’ four-run second inning as Cypress pounded Orange Coast, 13-2, Tuesday in Orange Empire Conference baseball.

Laird also had two doubles and a single. Adam Spiker had a pinch-hit triple in the seventh inning for Cypress and an RBI single in the ninth.

Brandon Thompson hit a two-run double in the sixth for host Orange Coast (25-17, 12-10). Ron Corona (8-4) gave up five hits in eight innings for Cypress (28-12-1, 15-7).

Cypress holds first place by a half game over Saddleback. The Gauchos host Cypress at noon Saturday.

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Saddleback 12, Santa Ana 3--Saddleback’s Josh Arhart was three for four with three doubles and one RBI and teammate Blair Lucas was three for four.

Mike Pazzulla (11-3) struck out five and walked one in a complete game for visiting Saddleback (30-12, 15-8). Santa Ana is 25-16, 11-11.

Fullerton 7, Golden West 4--Fullerton took advantage of five Golden West errors to score four unearned runs.

Jeffrey Cruz (7-5), pitched eight innings and Eddie Romprey went three for four with two doubles and scored two runs to lead the Hornets, who improved to 19-23, 6-16.

The Rustlers were led by Ryan Brown, who hit two doubles and drove in a run. Golden West dropped to 16-25, 6-17.