Huge rally lifts Pirates past Rustlers, 7-6 in eight innings

COSTA MESA -- It's been a tough year for the Orange Coast College softball team, but the Pirates' never-say-die attitude was properly rewarded with a come-from-behind, 7-6, eight-inning win over rival Golden West on Friday at the OCC Softball Complex.

The Pirates trailed the Rustlers 6-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh when the remarkable comeback bid began.

Kellie Tiner led off the seventh with a single to left. Lorraina Gonzalez reached on an error and Chante Arends walked to load the bases with nobody out. Ariel Fernandez singled to right to score Tiner to make it 6-3 and Mariah Dominguez hit a ground ball that went right through GWC shortstop Alexis Vincent's legs to bring in two more runs to make it 6-5.

Bailey Blair then ripped a double to left-center, scoring Fernandez and tying the game at 6. An intentional walk to Natalie Bramlett loaded the bases with still nobody out.

But Kiley Eskridge worked out of the jam and kept the score tied at 6.

Tiner, who battled through a long, hot afternoon, pitched all eight innings and threw a scoreless frame in the eighth, giving the Pirates a shot at victory. She also went 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Gonzalez, who went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, led off the eighth with a single to left and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Arends.

Fernandez, who finished the afternoon 4-for-5 with a run and four RBI, stepped up and ripped a double to right, scoring Gonzalez with the winning run and giving Coast its second win in conference over the Rustlers.

It was an afternoon of wasted opportunities for the Rustlers, who stranded 15 runners on base. Seven different players had multi-hit games, including Vincent, who went 3-for-5 with a run and three RBI.

Coast will play at L.A. Pierce College in a nonconference matchup on Monday, beginning at 3 p.m. The Pirates' next home game will take place on Wednesday, March 25 against Fullerton, also at 3 p.m.