Boynton's heroics lift Pirates to win in extras

COSTA MESA -- In a game both teams HAD to have, only one ended up having it. In the end, the Orange Coast College baseball team survived a nightmare start, battled back, and earned a 6-5, 12-inning win over visiting Irvine Valley on Thursday inside John Altobelli Park.

After leaving eight runners on base over the first three innings (15 for the game), the Pirates FINALLY picked up the big hit in the bottom of the 12th inning. 

Andrew Chorbagian reached first on a one-out walk and after an Alan Choo bunt attempt moved him to second base, Tyler Covington was intentionally walked to bring up Zach Boynton. The sophomore left-fielder found an opening up the middle and drove in Chorbagian with a single to center to end the comeback win for the Pirates.

Coast (14-12, 2-6 in the Orange Empire Conference) fell behind in the top of the second on an RBI-ground out and a two-run home run by Sam Tucci, putting the Lasers (16-11, 1-7) up 3-0. IVC tacked on another run in the top of the fourth to go up, 4-0, before the Pirates found some answers at the plate.

After five frustrating innings of baseball, the Pirates finally found some runs off of the IVC pitching staff. Choo came through with an RBI-single in the bottom of the sixth to start OCC's comeback. After a Covington hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Boynton ripped a two-run double to right-center to bring Coast to within a run at 4-3. Boyton finished the game going 4-for-7 with a run scored and three RBI.

A sacrifice fly by Jake Wood tied things at 4 and an RBI-single by Kael Corridan capped off OCC's 5-run sixth putting the Pirates up, 5-4.

A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch by the Lasers tied the game up at 5 and from there, it became a battle of the bullpen.

OCC closer Cristian Mares pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless, hitless baseball, walking one and striking out two. IVC lefty Luke Acuna (2-2) did his best to match Mares with 4 1/3 innings of quality relief work before taking the hard-luck loss in the 12th. He allowed one run on just two hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Landon Veirs pitched a scoreless top of the 12th to pick up the win and improve his record to 1-1.

Lucus Scott went 5-for-6 with three runs scored for the Lasers. Liam Stuppy provided some late-inning offense off the bench for Coast with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with a run scored.

Both starters pitched well. For the Lasers, Jackson Chastain allowed three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings, while OCC's Jake Martinez allowed four runs on eight hits over six innings with one walk and three strikeouts.

The series finale takes place on Saturday, at IVC, beginning at 12 p.m. OCC's next home game will be on Tuesday against Golden West, beginning at 2 p.m.