Pirates stung by Hornets, 7-5

COSTA MESA -- It's been a hard-fought, but frustrating three games against the Fullerton College Hornets for the Orange Coast College softball team as the Pirates fell, 7-5, on Friday at the OCC Softball Complex.

In all three games, the Pirates (16-18, 8-11 in Orange Empire Conference) were either tied or leading in the final innings only to see the Hornets (18-18-1, 11-8) pull out all three games down the stretch.

In Friday's matchup, Coast lead, 3-1 after four innings and Pirate starter Lindsay Manhart was keeping the Hornets at bay. But in the fifth, Manhart went down with an injury, turing the complexion of the game to the side of the Hornets, who scored two runs in each of the final three innings to pull out the win. Manhart allowed three runs on four hits with six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

OCC's Taylor Andolsek used a pair of doubles to drive in three runs over the first three innings before Fullerton caught, then passed, the Pirates in the sixth inning, 5-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, Gianna Gozo reached on a single to center before Gillian Gordon ripped a two-run home run to right field, tying the game at 5.

But Fullerton would answer back with two more runs, courtesy of a two-run single off the bat of Casey Dufrene, who finished 3-for-5 with five RBI. Alendy Aguilar added three hits and scored three times as well for the Hornets. Reliever Olivia Nunez picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts over the final 4 2/3 innings.

Coast returns to action on Monday at home against Santa Ana, beginning at 3 p.m.