Jalen Salazar doubled and scored twice in a 3-for-3 effort, and three Live Oak pitchers combined for a two-hitter to beat Evergreen Valley 9-5 Monday on the opening day of round-robin play in the Santa Teresa Division.
The host Acorns avoided a sweep in the season series and remained tied with Del Mar and Piedmont Hills for third in the division.
Freshman Zach Riveron went 2 for 2 with a double and matched Kyle Quadros with two RBIs, helping Live Oak overcome six errors.
The Acorns (10-10, 7-8) scored five runs in the fourth, four in the sixth and totaled 11 hits.
Acorns starter Mitch Hickey (5-2) pitched five innings of one-hit ball for his fourth straight victory. The sophomore struck out three and was charged with two earned runs.
Jacob Estrada and Quadros combined for two innings of scoreless relief, as Live Oak won for the eighth time in 10 games.
The Cougars (6-13, 6-9) won their previous two meetings March 1-2.
Live Oak will host second-place Oak Grove at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
