COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Cypress Beats Rancho Santiago on Lythgoe’s Home Run in 12th

Pete Lythgoe, who had 13 strikeouts in 11 innings, hit a two-run home run in the 12th to give host Cypress a 5-3 victory over Rancho Santiago in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Tuesday.

Mario Opipari, normally Cypress’ center fielder, replaced Lythgoe to start the 12th inning and got the victory. Lythgoe stayed in the game in right field.

Cypress’ Israel Gonzalez started the 12th with a walk and Lythgoe, a sophomore who was primarily an outfielder for the Chargers last season, followed with a home run well over the left-center field fence off losing pitcher Keith Cowley.

Brian Martineau had 11 strikeouts in 11 innings for Rancho Santiago.

Ryan Fullerton had an RBI single in the first inning and David Schueller had an RBI single in the second for Rancho Santiago.

Jeff Pickler and Gonzalez had RBI singles as Cypress tied it, 2-2, in the fourth. Rancho Santiago (14-5, 2-2) took a 3-2 lead when Kyle Evans homered in the eighth. Cypress (17-2-1, 4-0) tied it in the ninth when David Trentine singled home Pickler with one out.

Pickler started the inning with an infield single and was sacrificed to second.