Pirates outlast Dons 10-7 in OEC baseball slugfest
COSTA MESA -- In a matchup between the top two teams in Southern California community college baseball, the Orange Coast College Pirates overcame a four-run deficit to top the visiting Santa Ana College Dons, 10-7, on Tuesday at Wendell Pickens Field.
Orange Coast (14-4, 2-1 in the Orange Empire Conference), ranked No. 2 in SoCal, trailed 5-1 early on before answering back with seven straight runs to take the lead for good. The top-ranked Dons (12-3, 1-2) got to within one with a pair of single runs in the sixth and seventh innings before the Pirates pulled away late with a single runs of their own in the seventh and eighth innings.
In a game that featured a combined 17 runs, 31 hits and nine pitchers combined, it was the hard work of the OCC bullpen that stepped up big, holding the high-octane Dons to just three runs (two earned) over the final 6 2/3 innings. Cory Davis (1-0) picked up the win and standout righty David Wilson picked up the well-earned save, allowing one unearned run over the final 3 2/3 innings of work with no walks and three strikeouts.
Leading 5-3 in the top of the fourth, the Dons ripped two doubles and a single, but failed to score in the inning. Tyler Madrid led off with a double to right but he was doubled off when Daniel Martinez lined into a double play back to the pitcher.
Ryan Aguilar (3-for-5, one run, one RBI) stepped and reached on an infield single to first before Cody Bergeson (4-for-5, one run, one RBI) hit a double to center. OCC centerfielder Zach Nehrir slipped on the play, but managed to deflect the ball to rightfielder Austin Saenz, who hit second baseman Ricky Navarro with a relay throw. Navarro then turned and fired a strike to the plate, where catcher Steve Pollokov tagged out Aguilar trying to score to end the threat.
Santa Ana pounded out 10 hits over the first four innings but were held to just three the rest of the way.
Coast carried the momentum to the plate in the bottom of the fourth and grabbed a 6-5 lead. Anthony Virgen and Cody Bruder each singled to lead off the inning. Pollakov laid down a bunt that was misplayed by Dons' reliever James Roll (0-1) which allowed Pollakov to reach and allowed Virgen to score to make it 5-4.
Greg Espinosa brought in Bruder from third on a safety squeeze to tie the game at 5 and Nehrir (4-for-5, two runs, one RBI) delivered a one-out double to right-center to put Coast in front for good.
The Pirates added a pair of runs in the fifth inning to make it 8-5. Bruder came through with an RBI-single to center and later came around to score when a single to right by Pollakov was held on to by the SAC second baseman in shallow right. Using some speed and surprise, Bruder (2-for-5, two runs, one RBI) was able to slide under the high throw to give Coast a three-run lead.
After Santa Ana make it 8-7, the Pirates responded with some two-out offense in the bottom of the seventh when Pollakov (2-for-3, one run) doubled to left, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an infield single by Greg Espinosa (2-for-2, one run, two RBI).
In the eighth, Manny Argomaniz was hit to start the inning, stole second, advanced to third on a single to left by Saenz (3-for-4, two RBI) and scored on a sacrifice fly by Danny Jimenez (1-for-4, one run, one RBI).
Ricky Navarro also had a big day at the plate for Coast witih three hits and an RBI.
SAC's leadoff hitter Blake Walker had one hit and three RBI, while Josh Vargas added a hit, two runs and two RBI.
The Pirates will return to action on Thursday at Fullerton College, beginning at 2 p.m. OCC's next home game will take place on Saturday against Riverside City College, beginning at 12 p.m.
