Late HR dooms Pirates in 6-5 loss to Tigers
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Riverside | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 1 |
|
Orange Coast | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College softball team put a major scare into one of the top teams in the state on Friday afternoon, but in the end, a seventh-inning home run proved costly for the Pirates in a 6-5 loss to visiting Riverside City College.
Coast had the lead in the top of the seventh and was just two outs away from victory before the Tigers (18-4, 10-1 in Orange Empire Conference) found new life. Stephanie Gutierrez lined a single to center and the next batter, Bailey Powell, lifted a two-run home run over the center-field fence, putting RCC ahead, 6-5.
The Pirates (6-14, 2-9) didn't quit as Katie Kendrick provided the potential tying run with a two-out single to center, but the next batter sent a soft liner to RCC first baseman Kaylie Garcia to end the game.
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Coast found its first hit of the game at the right time as Briana Magdaleno launched a two-run home run, scoring Hannah Cavalier (who walked to start the frame), making it 3-2.
Powell, who finished 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI, singled home a run in the fifth to make it 4-2. The freshman lefty from Notre Dame HS also pitched and went the distance, allowing just two earned runs with two walks and six strikeouts to improve to 10-3.
Coast loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with a walk, a Tigers' fielding error and a single to right. Magdaleno again came through with a bases-clearing double to right-center, putting the Pirates out in front, 5-4. Magdaleno finished with two hits, a run and all five RBI for OCC.
Kendrick added a pair of hits and Cavalier scored twice for the Pirates, who return to action on Tuesday at Santiago Canyon College on Tuesday, beginning at 3 p.m. OCC's next home game will be on Wednesday, April 2 against Saddleback, also at 3 p.m.
