Cypress’ Spiker Beats Brother

Cypress’ Adam Spiker got the best of his brother, Chad, in the seventh inning, doubling in the go-ahead run as the Chargers held on to beat visiting Golden West, 4-2, in Orange Empire Conference baseball Wednesday.

With two outs in the inning, Gabe Gerhardt doubled, then scored on Adam Spiker’s double to right-center field. Cypress is 9-5, 2-0.

Chad Spiker falls to 3-1 for Golden West (8-4, 1-1).

Cypress pitcher Steve Smyth got off to a rough start, giving up a two-run homer in the first inning to Kevin Stuart. Smyth settled down, pitching eight shutout innings to improve his record to 4-0.

In other conference games:

Fullerton 12, Orange Coast 9--Mike McCue had three hits and four RBIs as Fullerton amassed a season-high 15 hits. Teammate Brandon Carter had three hits and three RBIs.

The Hornets, leading, 12-4, in the ninth, survived a late rally by Orange Coast (6-6, 0-2). Fullerton reliever David McLean started the ninth inning, but only managed to get two outs, giving up six walks and five earned runs.

Aaron Bush came in and gave up a single that cut the lead to three with the tying run at the plate. Bush struck out Mark Ochoa to end the game for host Fullerton (9-4-1, 1-0).

Santa Ana 9, Saddleback 4--Ryan Blackmun had a home run and three RBIs in a victory for Santa Ana. Albert Rodgers had three hits, one run and one RBI for the Dons (14-1, 2-0).

Denny Seybert had two hits for host Saddleback (9-3, 0-2).

In Orange Empire Conference softball:

Golden West 1, Riverside 0--Freshman left-hander Ami McManus pitched a two-hit shutout, walking one and striking out five for Golden West (5-2, 1-0). The Rustlers scored when Sarah Nunley’s sacrifice fly drove in Kristin Vardiman in the second inning.