Pirates roll over Vikings in five innings, 15-3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Long Beach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
|
Orange Coast | 7 | 1 | 7 | 0 | X | 15 | 15 | 0 |
COSTA MESA -- It was only 19 days ago that the Orange Coast College softball team went to Long Beach City College and fell 7-0 in the season opener to the Vikings. Apparently a LOT can change in 19 days.
Still flying high from Friday's impressive 2-0 win over No. 1-ranked Mt. San Antonio, the Pirates kept their foot on the accelerator and returned the favor on the visiting Vikings, winning 15-3 in five innings on Wednesday at the OCC Softball Complex.
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning, Coast responded loudly in the bottom of the frame, scoring seven times. Coast took advantage of a costly LBCC error and early walks, sending 11 batters to the plate and taking a 7-2 lead.
Coast (3-1) made it 8-2 in the second before repeating the first inning with seven more runs, blowing the game open. OCC pounded out 15 hits and took advantage of eight walks in the win.
Isabel McElroy went 3-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI from the top of the order for Coast, but the entire lineup contributed throughout the game. Melissa Hanson went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBI, Lexia Martinez went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI, Natalie Lowthers added two hits, two runs and an RBI and Katie Belmontes reached base three times, scored twice and drove in two.
All of the runs were appreciated by OCC pitcher Ruby Fidge, who went the distance and picked up the win for the Pirates. She allowed three runs on five hits with three walks and three innings over five innings.
The Pirates will take to the road for three games, starting with El Camino on Thursday at 3 p.m. Coast will return to the OCC Softball Complex on Wednesday against L.A. Mission College, beginning at 2 p.m.
