Pirates complete sweep of Dons with 4-2 win

COSTA MESA -- For the first time since 1971, the Orange Coast College baseball team completed a three-game, regular season sweep over the powerhouse Santa Ana College Dons.

With a 10-7 win on March 5 and a 6-3 win on Thursday, the Pirates made it a clean sweep on Saturday with a 4-2 victory at Wendell Pickens Field, the first regular-season sweep over the Dons in 42 years.

Much like the game on Thursday, the Dons (18-9, 5-8 in OEC) failed to capitalize early and it cost them down the stretch. Santa Ana scored twice in the top of the first and continued to apply pressure to the Pirates (20-8, 8-5) in the second when Blake Walker doubled to right and appeared to score on a two-out, RBI-single by Josh Vargas. However, OCC appealed that Walker missed third base and the umpires agreed, wiping the run off of the scoreboard.

In the third, more two-out magic by the Dons was denied when Tyler Madrid (2-for-4, one run, one RBI) singled, stole second and tried to score on a single by Ryan Aguilar. OCC centerfielder Zach Nehrir came up throwing and gunned down Madrid on the plate, with the help of catcher Tucker Chadd blocking the plate from Madrid, keeping the score 2-0.

With the help of two game-changing plays in the first three innings, the Pirates found some success in the bottom of the fourth. Manny Argomaniz singled and went to third on a hit-and-run single by Austin Saenz. Danny Jimenez followed with an RBI-single to left and advanced to second on a fielding error by J.B. Bryant in left field, putting runners on second and third.

Cristian Salina (2-for-2) lofted a sacrifice fly to right to score Saenz and tie the game at 2. Cody Bruder put the Pirates ahead for good with an RBI-single to right, scoring Jimenez.

In the sixth, Jimenez ripped a one-out double to right-center, advanced to third on a base hit by Salina and scored on a safety squeeze bunt by Bruder.

That would be enough as the OCC bullpen came through once again. Sean Leary (1-0) entered the game in the fourth and retired eight straight batters before back-to-back singles by Aguilar (3-for-4, one RBI) and Geoff Schuller knocked him out of the game. 

David Wilson came in, retired the next batter to end that threat, then, threw the final three innings to pick up his fourth save of the season. 

Bryan Clough (3-1) took the loss for Santa Ana, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts over six innings of work.

Santa Ana outhit the Pirates 10-8, but only collected two hits from the first two batters of each inning (2-for-17, on HBP). Both of the base hits were then wiped out with double plays, ending the threats.

Up next, the Pirates will turn their attention to first-place Fullerton College, 14-6 winners over Irvine Valley on Saturday. Coast trails the Hornets by three games in the OEC standings and the two front-runners will play at OCC on Tuesday (2 p.m.) and at Fullerton College on Thursday (2 p.m.).