Pirates topple Dons in extras, 7-2

SANTA ANA -- The Orange Coast College softball team needed to put in some overtime on the road on Friday but managed to pull out a 7-2 win in 9 innings over host Santa Ana College.

The Pirates (7-9, 4-2 in the Orange Empire Conference) carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh before the Dons (3-15, 1-5) nearly pulled out the upset win. A bunt single and double put runners on second and third with nobody out. Relief pitcher Laura Episom picked up a big strikeout for the first out before some over-aggressive baserunning cost the Dons. Santa Ana tried to squeeze up the tying run, but the batter missed on the attempt, leaving the runner on third hung out to dry for the second out. 

SAC's Nayelli De Jesus made up for that batting mistake and proceeded to line a double to left-center, which would have won the game, but instead, only tied the game at 2. Episom retired the next batter, sending the game to extra innings.

After a scoreless frame for the Pirates, the Dons again had a chance to win the game after a leadoff double put the winning run in scoring position. A sacrifice bunt moved the baserunner to third, but a pair of shallow fly ball outs left that baserunner stranded at third to end the threat.

Coast then took the game over in the ninth. Back-to-back singles by Rodriguez and Christina Contreras and a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Trivino put runners at second and third with one out. Santa Ana retired the next batter on an infield fly, but Marissa Sardinas came up with the big blow, lining a single up the middle which scored both baserunners, putting Coast up 4-2. Sardinas finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.

Kelsey McNair (2-for-5, one run) followed with a single to right, putting runners on first and second. Jaden Fraser (1-for-5, two runs, one RBI) then drove in Sardinas with an RBI single up the middle, but on the play, Santa Ana picked up two costly errors, which allowed McNair AND Fraser to score, putting Coast up, 7-2.

That would be more than enough run support as Episom held the Dons scoreless in the ninth to earn the win and improve her record to 3-1. In seven innings of relief, she allowed just one run on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. 

Victoria Ruiz gave Coast a 2-1 lead in the top of the third when she delivered a two-run triple down the right-field line. 

Coast returns to action on Wednesday at El Camino College, beginning at 3 p.m. OCC's next home game will be a doubleheader on Saturday, March 21 against Bakersfield, beginning at 1 p.m.