Green's diving catch helps save the day for Pirates in 5-3 win over Rustlers

COSTA MESA -- With the Orange Coast College softball team clinging to a two-run lead, Tajanae Green's diving catch with one out and two runners on helped start the double play that gave the Pirates a 5-3 comeback win over visiting Golden West on Wednesday afternoon.

In the top of the seventh, GWC used a pair of singles to put runners on first and third with one out, bringing up Kiley Dunn, who promptly send a looping liner to right. Green, fighting off the sun, made an amazing diving catch and doubled off the runner at third, who failed to tag up, ending the game in favor of the Pirates.

Sharp plays were not available early on for Coast as Golden West parlayed three OCC errors into three unearned runs, putting the Rustlers ahead 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning.

Coast made it 3-1 when Kristin Nance singled, advanced to third on a single by Mariah Dominguez and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kellie Tiner.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth. That's when Katie Kendrick (3-for-4) reached on an infield single and Briana Magdaleno (2-for-3) smacked her 10th home run of the season, tying the game at 3. Her 10 HRs lead the Orange Empire Conference and she's tied for fifth in the state in that category.

In the bottom of the sixth, Coast grabbed the lead for the first time in the game. Ariana Lopez (2-for-3) ripped a one-out double to center and two batters later, Hannah Cavalier reached on a bad-hop infield single, putting runners on the corners.

Cavalier stole second and the throw ended up in center field, allowing Lopez to score, putting Coast ahead 4-3.

Kendrick followed with an RBI-double to left, scoring Cavalier to make it 5-3.

Kellie Tiner overcame the sluggish defense by the Pirates and allowed just three runs (all unearned) on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts to pick up the complete-game win.

OCC returns to action on Friday at Cypress College, beginning at 2 p.m. Coast's next home game will be on Monday at 3 p.m. against Fullerton.