Community College Baseball : Fullerton’s Big Inning Is a Winner

Fullerton College broke open a one-run game against Long Beach with a seven-hit, seven-run attack in the eighth inning for a 17-6 victory Saturday in a South Coast Conference community college baseball game at Cerritos College.

Fullerton (23-6-1 overall, 6-3 in conference play) had a 7-6 lead after seven innings, but the Hornets sent 11 men to bat in the eighth inning and pulled away from Long Beach (12-13, 4-5). Fullerton added three runs in the ninth inning.

Mike Oziminski had a two-run triple and Scott Einhorn and Greg Gistlinck had RBI triples to key the seventh-inning rally.

Brad Hopper (5-1) picked up the victory for Fullerton and Jeff Petredes got the save. Fullerton pitchers were backed by a 20-hit attack. Ron Veazey (3-2) took the loss for Long Beach.

In other South Coast Conference action:

Golden West 10, Compton 4--Golden West (18-9, 6-3) won at Compton, led by Craig Poquette and Tom Smythe, who were both 3 for 5. James Buccheri was thrown out attempting to steal a Golden West-record 35th base in the eighth inning on a pitchout.

In Orange Empire Conference action:

Rancho Santiago 13, Riverside 10 (11 innings)--Joe Townsend had a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning to break a 10-10 tie for Rancho Santiago (24-5, 6-2) at Riverside. Todd Lloyd walked and went to third on a hit-and-run single to start the 11th. After Townsend’s sacrifice fly, Kraig Washington and Nick Santa Cruz had RBI singles for Rancho Santiago.

Citrus 9, Cypress 6--Tim Churchill of Cypress extended his hitting streak to 29 games, but Cypress (23-6, 6-2) gave up seven walks at Citrus.