Pirates escape Fullerton with 5-3 win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orange Coast | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
|
Fullerton | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 |
FULLERTON -- It probably wasn't how it was drawn up during yesterday's practice, but the Orange Coast College baseball team will still happily take a 5-3 road win over Fullerton College on Tuesday.
Despite OCC's 2-7 hitters going a combined 0-for-24 with nine strikeouts, the Pirates (11-7, 2-1 in Orange Empire Conference) found just enough offense and picked up the victory with the help of five costly errors by the host Hornets (12-4, 2-1).
Coast led 2-0 after the first inning thanks to an inopportune passed ball and an throwing error by the Hornets. In the second, OCC used a more conventional approach to offensive success when James McLellan tripled to center and scored on an RBI-single by Nick Grimes, putting the Pirates in front, 3-0.
A two-run double by Bill Austin cut the deficit to 3-2 and an RBI-single by Marco Rivera tied the game at 3 after three innings.
Coast regained the lead in the fifth when McLellan singled, stole second and scored when a ground ball off the bat of Longtree was thrown away.
Another unearned run in the top of the seventh gave the Pirates a 5-3 lead and the relief combination of Scott Serigstad (2-2) and Dominic Purpura (fourth save) made that advantage hold up. Serigstad gave up no runs on two hits with four strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings, while Purpura closed out the final two innings, allowing no runs on one hit with one strikeout.
McLellan and Grimes each had two hits from the bottom of the order and the duo combined for three runs scored for the Pirates.
Coast will continue OEC play on Thursday at Cypress College, beginning at 2 p.m. OCC's next home game will take place on Tuesday against Golden West, also at 2 p.m.
