Pirates stun Gauchos with 4-2 win

COSTA MESA -- Despite the record, the Orange Coast College softball team is playing some of the best softball this program has seen in quite some time and on Friday, the Pirates showed their improved play to visiting Saddleback and topped the Gauchos, 4-2.

It was the first win over the Gauchos since 2003 and for the Pirates (3-7, 2-2 in Orange Empire Conference) it's just another step in the process of rebuilding this program to where head coach Jodie Legaspi-Kiaha wants it to be.

Starting pitcher Montana Roelvink (3-3) went the distance for the win, allowing just five hits and one earned run along the way.

The Pirate table-setters in the lineup -- leadoff hitter Taylor Gallo and Christina Freeman -- got on base a combined three times and catcher Anna Marin went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and a pair of RBI-singles, accounting for three of OCC's four runs scored. Freeman, usually a slap-type batter in the No. 2 slot, showed that she can provide traditional batting as well, ripping a triple to right and adding an RBI-double to complete OCC's offense.

Coast got things rolling right off the bat and grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Gallo singled, advanced to second on a ground out by Cayla Ezelle and scored on a bloop-single to right off the bat of Marin.

Saddleback (6-6, 2-2) tied the game in the top of the third, but Coast would answer back in the bottom of the third when Freeman tripled down the right-field line and scored on Marin's sacrifice fly.

Marin showed off some defensive skills as well. With runners on first and second, a bunt attempt was popped up and the Fountain Valley HS graduate lunged and made a bare-handed snag of the ball, then, popped up and doubled-off the runner from second base to end the threat.

Again, the Gauchos tied things up in the top of the fifth before Coast would answer back once again. Emma Silvestri, who went 2-for-3 from the No. 9 slot, led off with a single to left. Gallo moved her over with a sacrifice bunt before Freeman's RBI-double made it 3-2, Pirates. On the play, Freeman advanced to third on an error and would score two batters later on an RBI-single by Marin.

That would be enough for Roelvink, who retired seven of the final batters she faced to pick up the win for the Pirates, who return to the OCC Softball Complex on Wednesday against Fullerton College, beginning at 3 p.m.