Pirates open conference play with 7-2 win over Hawks
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Santiago Canyon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
|
Orange Coast | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 7 | 8 | 1 |
COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College softball team kicked off Orange Empire Conference play on the right foot with a 7-2 home win over Santiago Canyon on Tuesday at the OCC Softball Complex.
Nathalie Lowers went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Pirates (8-2, 1-0 in the OEC), while McKenzie Koshi and Isabel McElroy each added a hit and scored twice.
Coast scored all seven of its runs over the first three innings, chasing SCC starter Madison Lee from the game. Hawks' reliever Nadeen Kerdiya tossed three scoreless innings of relief on just one hit, but the damage was already done.
OCC starter Angela Whitmer went the distance, holding the Hawks (5-9, 0-1) to two runs (one earned) in five hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
After Santiago Canyon scored a run in the top of the first, the Pirates responded in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs. An error, sacrifice bunt and infield single put OCC runners on first and second with ont out. Lydia Gonzalez ripped a run-scoring single down the right-field line before an RBI-single up the middle by Melissa Hanson to put Coast up, 2-1 after the opening inning.
In the bottom of the second, with McElroy on first and Koshi on second, Lowthers found the left-center gap with a two run double, putting the Pirates up 4-1.
Coast found some two-out magic in the bottom of the third. With the first two batters retired, the Pirates went single-E7-single-double steal-passed ball-BB/wild pitch to score three unearned runs to blow the game open.
From there, Whitmer did her job and her defense made the plays behind her to preserve the win.
The same two teams to continue this three-game series on Thursday at Santiago Canyon College, beginning at 3 p.m. The series finale is set for Friday at 2 p.m. here at OCC.
