Vanguard gains 7-6 triumph

* The Vanguard University baseball team used five runs in the

seventh inning that helped it earn a 7-6 nonconference win over

visiting UC San Diego Tuesday.

The Lions (18-17) were swept by the Tritons (22-14) in a

doubleheader Feb. 1. UCSD won the games, also by one run deficits,

12-11, and 14-13.

But Vanguard, led by sophomore pitcher Jason Searle, was able to

hold off the Tritons. Searle improved his pitching record, to 3-1,

while junior Josh Franco picked up the save.

Pirates upended, 4-0

* Riverside City College ran its win streak to 11 games with a

4-0 victory over visiting Orange Coast College in an Orange Empire

Conference baseball game.

The Tigers, who are 13-0 at home, scored single runs in the first,

fourth, seventh and eighth innings. RCC freshman pitcher Ben Nieto,

who ran his record to 8-1, pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing seven

hits, striking out eight and walking four. Peter Brown picked up his

second save of the season as he got out of a bases loaded jam in the

eighth when he struck out Dustin Hicks on three pitches.

The Pirates (12-14-1, 4-10 in the OEC) matched Riverside with

eight hits, led by freshmen Ben Hanna and Jarrod Carchio, who

collected two hits each.

The win streak is the Tigers’ second longest of the season.

Riverside (26-4, 12-2) opened the season with a 13-game win streak.