Pirates knock out Hornets to complete series sweep

COSTA MESA -- It was worth the wait for the Orange Coast College softball team as the Pirates toppled visiting Fullerton College, 9-3, on Friday in a rainout makeup game at the OCC Softball Stadium.

The win completes the series sweep for the Pirates (14-2, 6-0 in the Orange Empire Conference) over the defending state champion Hornets (7-13, 1-5) and on Friday, it was the entire lineup that set the tone early.

Coast on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. After Reyna Hernandez walked and Jasmyn Morales singled up the middle, Kimora Tuipala launched a three-run home run over the center field fence, putting OCC up, 3-0.

Fullerton answered with a run in the top of the second, but a Morales RBI-double to left-center put the Pirates back in front by three.

The turning point of the game took place in the bottom of the fourth. With OCC up 4-3, the Pirates had runners on first and third with Victoria Ruiz at the plate. Ruiz hit a well-placed infield single between third and short. On the play, the Fullerton shortstop kicked the ball behind her and the ball rolled past the outfield, allowing both baserunners and Ruiz to come around to score, putting OCC ahead, 7-3.

From there, the Pirates turned to starting pitcher Daniella Sanchez (6-0) who overcame a strong Fullerton start and threw a complete game, holding the Hornets to just three runs (two earned) on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts).

A solo home run by Olivia Pedraza and another RBI-hit off the bat of Morales capped off OCC scoring as the Pirates finished the game with 17 hits altogether.

Morales went 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI for Coast, while Tuipala went 2-for-2 with a run and three RBI. Ruiz, Pedraza, Isabel Lopez and Kelsey McNair each had multi-hit games for Coast.

Coast will head up the road for a Saturday doubleheader at College of the Canyons, beginning at 12 p.m. OCC's next home game will be on Thursday against Golden West, beginning at 2 p.m.