Bats come alive for Pirates in 14-5 win over Chargers
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cypress | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
|
Orange Coast | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 14 | 18 | 2 |
COSTA MESA -- After Tuesday's pitcher-dominated game between Orange Coast College and Cypress College, Thursday's matchup was about the bats and for the host Pirates, the hits and runs came early and often in a 14-5 Orange Empire Conference win over the visiting Chargers.
After being held to just one run and nine hits (two doubles), the Pirates (20-3, 7-1 in OEC) flexed their muscles with 18 hits, including seven doubles and a pair of home runs. Jacob White led the way by going 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, while Eric Wagaman added three hits including a two-run home run and drove in three. Coming off the bench, Luke Hussung launched a three-run home run, while hot-hitting Robert Teel went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI.
OCC, the state's top-ranked team, fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first, only to answer back with four in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff double by J.T. Navarro (2-for-5, two runs) and walk by Travis Moniot (2-for-3, two runs, two RBI) was followed up two-batters later with a two-run double off the bat of Teel, who is 12 for his last 25 (.480) with 11 RBI over his past seven games played.
Ramiro Velasco walked and Jake Gozzo (2-for-3, one run, two RBI) ripped a two-run double to center to put Coast ahead, 4-3.
The offense didn't slow down the rest of the afternoon as Coast added single runs in the second and third innings, followed by a three-run fourth and a two-run fifth before capping off the offense with a three-run seventh.
Reliever Austin Moore (1-0) came into the game a bit earlier than expected and overcame some wildness, but allowed just one run over two innings. Blair Lewis allowed three hits and two walks over three scoreless innings before John Balliet worked a scoreless ninth to finish things up.
Evan Flohr (0-2) took the loss for the Chargers after allowing seven runs on nine hits over 3 1/3 innings.
The third and final game of this three-game series takes place on Friday at 2 p.m. over at Cypress College. OCC's next home game is Tuesday against Riverside City College, also at 2 p.m.
