Pirate pick up third straight win with 9-6 victory over Olympians

COSTA MESA -- Some timely late-inning offense and shut-down relief pitching was the perfect formula for the Orange Coast College baseball team as the Pirates pulled away late for a 9-6 nonconference win over visiting San Diego Mesa College on Tuesday at John Altobelli Park.

OCC (5-2), winners of three straight, trailed 3-0 before leading 6-3, only to see the Olympians (1-4) claw back even at 6 in the top of the sixth inning. But the Pirates used RBI hits in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to grab the lead for good, while the Coast bullpen held Mesa to just a solo home run over the final four innings to preserve the win.

After falling behind 3-0, Coast turned the game around with a five-running third inning. OCC loaded the bases with one out on a single by Alec Gomez, a walk by Sebastian Moore and a hit-by-pitch by Jaden Lyburtus. Evan Scalley (2-for-4) followed with a run-scoring single to right to cut the deficit to 3-1 before Zach Leite came up with the big hit of the game as he cleared the bases with a three-run triple down the right-field line, putting OCC ahead, 4-3. J.T. Crabbe brought in Leite with a sacrifice fly to put Coast ahead, 5-3.

In the bottom of the fourth, Taylor Takata led off with a walk, advanced to second on a fly out to deep right field and scored on an RBI-single by Sebastian Moore, putting Coast up, 6-3.

But San Diego Mesa chipped away and scored two runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to tie things up at 6.

In the bottom of the frame, Takata again led off with a walk, advanced to second on a ground out and came home on a two-out, RBI-single to right by Koby Williams, putting the Pirates ahead for good.

Walks were the enemy for the Olympians as the SDM pitching staff allowed nine free passes (and two hit batsmen), with six runs scoring from runners who reached without the benefit of a hit.

In the bottom of the seventh, Takata's third walk of the game came with two outs and after a stolen base, he would score on a double to right off the bat of Alec Gomez, who finished 3-for-5 to snap a hitting drought to start the season.

An RBI-double by Lyburtus capped off the scoring in the bottom of the eighth.

The OCC relieving foursome of Trevor Steele (W, 1-0), Chase Rousselo, Dimond Loosli and Jacob Odle (Save No. 2) held the Olympians to one run on two hits over the final four innings.

The Pirates will travel to Long Beach City College on Thursday (2 p.m.) before returning to John Altobelli Park to host Southwestern on Saturday, beginning at 12 p.m.