College Baseball : UCI Scores Nine in Fourth to Beat Chapman

Chris Gallego hit a three-run home run to highlight a nine-run fourth inning as UC Irvine defeated Chapman College, 9-2, in a non-conference baseball game at Hart Park Tuesday.

The Anteaters sent 14 men to the plate in the fourth with Gallego’s home run and a two-run single by Don Nicholson driving in five of the nine runs.

Gabby Rodriguez (1-1) pitched 6 innings, giving up five hits. He struck out two.

Rob Wolkoys hit a solo home run in the fifth inning for the Panthers. Steve Dunn (3-3) was the loser.

Chapman (6-9) is at USIU Wednesday afternoon while UCI (8-6-1) is at UCLA.

In other non-conference play:

Loyola Marymount 2, Cal State Fullerton 1--Fred Tuttle scored the winning run on a fielder’s choice play in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Lions at Loyola. With Tuttle on third base, Bob DeJardin grounded to Titan first baseman Dann Howitt, who threw to the plate. Catcher Mike Ham could not field the throw cleanly, allowing the winning run to score. Mark Stomp (5-1) pitched seven innings and allowed only six hits. Fullerton had a chance to tie the game in the ninth, but Howitt, whose double in the seventh inning drove in the Titans only run of the game, struck out against relief pitcher Tim Layana with runners on first and second to end the game.

In South Coast Conference play:

Cerritos 8, Cypress 3--Falcon center fielder Greg Mannion hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie and put the Falcons ahead for good at Cypress. Mark Nieto also hit a two-run home run for the Falcons. The Chargers’ Chris Kocman went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Cypress (0-1, 13-2) is at Orange Coast Thursday. Cerritos (1-0, 8-4) plays host to Fullerton.

Rancho Santiago 8, Golden West 6--The Dons built up a 8-3 lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning at Golden West before the Rustlers scored three times and had the tying run on base as the game ended. Pitcher Chris Shiflett retired the final two batters to record the save. Mike Schwabe (3-0) worked the first 6 innings for the Dons, giving up only four hits. Left fielder Frank Appice went 4 for 4 for the Dons. Catcher Keith Caub led the Rustlers with three hits, a run scored and an RBI.

Saddleback 23, Compton 8--Scott Hefner hit for the cycle, including a third-inning home run to lead the Gauchos at Saddleback. Todd Inglehart and Steve Pratt also homered for the Gauchos. Saddleback is 1-0 and 7-2. Compton is 0-1 in conference.

Fullerton 4, Mount San Antonio 1--Jim Bennett, a sophomore transfer from Cypress, pitched a five-hitter to lead the Hornets at Fullerton. Sophomore Jeff Oberdanck homered in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and teammate Morgan Flynn tripled in two more runs in the same inning for the Hornets (1-0, 5-4).

In non-conference play:

Orange Coast 6, Cal Poly Pomona JV 2--Mike Lujan went 2 for 3 with a triple to lead the Pirates to the win at Orange Coast. OCC (8-4) opens its South Coast Conference season by playing host to Cypress Thursday.