Pirates walk off with another last-inning victory

COSTA MESA -- Sometimes the right contact with a softball doesn't have to come from a softball bat. Just ask Hailey Pichardo, whose hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning propelled the Pirates to a 7-6 Orange Empire Conference win over visiting Saddleback on Wednesday.

It was the second walkoff win in 24 hours for the Pirates, who topped San Bernardino Valley, 8-7, on a game-winning home run. Today's game-winning contact with the ball barely left the batter's box, but it was enough to give the Pirates (11-16, 7-7 in the OEC) their fifth win in their last seven games.

Coast pounded out 13 hits and were led by a trio of three-hit performances. Leila Chavez went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBI, Ariana Williams continued her torrid stretch with three hits and two runs scored, while Isabel McElroy came through with a 3-for-4 game and one RBI.

Mia Calderon went 4-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI for the Bobcats (13-14, 3-9).

With the game tied at 2 in the bottom of the second, Coast had runners on second and third with two outs when OCC came through with softball's version of a "triple-double". Nadia Perez lined a double to left to score two runs to put OCC up, 4-2. Chavez followed with a double down the left-field line to score Perez to put the Pirates up, 5-2. Isabel McElroy capped off the four-run frame with Coast's third straight double which scored Chavez and put the Pirates ahead, 6-2.

Saddleback took advantage of three-hit, four-walk top of the third to tie the game at 6 and that's where it stayed all the way until the bottom of the seventh inning.

Chavez, who won Tuesday's game with a walkoff home run, nearly pulled off the feat two days in a row, but settled for a leadoff double that rang off the top of the left-field fence. Taylor Nguyen pinch-ran for Chavez and she moved to third on a bunt-single by McElroy. Taylor Andolsek walked to load the bases with nobody out. Pichardo stepped up and was plunked in the leg, scoring Nguyen and ending the game. 

The Pirates' nonstop week of softball continues on Thursday at home against Santiago Canyon, beginning at 3 p.m. as the rainout makeup games return to the calendar. Following Thursday's game, Coast will head to Golden West for a doubleheader with the Rustlers, beginning at 1:30 p.m. capping off a five-day, six-game stretch.