BASEBALL: TIMELY WIN

Breaking a three-game losing streak, the Hornets battled Santa Ana College at home Friday knocking off the Dons 7-6 in 13 innings.

The win locks Fullerton in a four-way first place tie in the Orange Empire Conference with Santa Ana, Saddleback, and Orange Coast at 8-5.

FC went up early in the first inning scoring two runs. CF KC Huth doubled to left field scoring 2B Nick Gotta. RF James Smith reached on a Don error allowing catcher Oliver Jackson to cross the plate.

Santa Ana came back in the top of the second tying the game up at two apiece. Catcher Cody Bistline hit into double play that allowed Daniel Martinez to score. 2B Philip Anderson singled to center field scoring RF Nestor Linares.

In the third, the Hornets scored three runs to go up 5-2 on the Dons. 2B Nick Gotta singled through the right side scoring DH Dakota Wix. Jackson grounded out to short stop, but Gotta was able to score the run. Smith grounded out to third scoring Huth.

Santa Ana chipped away grabbing a run in the seventh on a fielding error that enabled Ryan Aguilar to score.

1B Ismael Sanchez hit a solo homerun over the left field wall in the 8th giving Fullerton a 6-3 lead.

The Dons did not pack it up as they dropped three runs on FC in the ninth to tie the game up 6-6. Martinez singled to right field Joshua Vargas, and 3B Troy Baird singled up the middle scoring 3B Dillon Fetty and SS Garrret Brown.

The game did not finish until the 13th inning when Gotta singled to left center allowing LF Vincent Venegas to score the winning run.

Up Next: Fullerton (18-7, 8-5) will host Cypress College on Tuesday, April 1st @ 2:00 pm.

*Photo by Ricardo Zapata