Pirates topple Hornets

After his game-winning single dropped in shallow right field, Orange Coast College freshman second baseman JT Navarro circled first base and began a serpentine route into the outfield as his teammates chased him down, took him to the ground and dog piled on top of him to celebrate a 4-3 walk-off victory over the No. 1-ranked team in Southern California.

Just like Navarro at the bottom of that pile, the Pirates had felt a bit submerged in Orange Empire Conference baseball play, in which they lost their first two three-game series, as well as the series opener to the the-rolling Fullerton (19-5, 7-2 in conference).

But, on the heels of a 5-4 triumph at Fullerton on Thursday, the Pirates (13-11, 4-5), ranked No. 12 in SoCal won their first conference series to begin digging themselves out of a minor hole.

“Taking the first series is huge,” said OCC Coach John Altobelli said after his team won its fifth straight game decided by one run. “Especially against the first-place team [the Hornets fell into a tie for first with Saddleback]. This year has been frustrating; so up and down. You can’t blame [OCC players] for celebrating after coming back and winning one.”

OCC’s first two-game winning streak since it capped a six-game six-game streak in late February, was anything but easy.

The Hornets had at least one hit in all but one inning and put at least one runner on base in each frame.

“The last time we had a one-two-three inning was maybe 2015,” Altobelli said jokingly. “It’s like every inning is a grind for us. [Sophomore starting pitcher Jack Pabich] battled and made some good pitches when he needed to [in 6 2/3 innings] to keep us in the game. We thought we had a guy struck out [with one out and runners on second and third in the Fullerton fifth inning], but we didn’t get the call. And then the guy [sophomore left fielder David Miranda] gets a [two-run double to put the visitors up, 3-0.]

“But, we grinded out good at-bats, our [relief] pitchers came in did a good job of holding them and we battled back there in the ninth. Pabich threw more than 100 pitches and we haven’t had a guy go deep into a game in a while.”

The last time an OCC starting pitcher worked into the seventh was March 10, when Pabich worked 6 1/3 to improve to 2-0 in a 7-2 home OEC triumph against Cypress.

“When [Pabich] is on the mound, we know we’re going to get a quality start,” Navarro said. “He’s a bulldog who has been there before and knows what he is doing. He did an excellent job of keeping us in the game.”

Pabich allowed eight hits, walked one and hit a batter. But he struck out eight and stranded four Hornets in scoring position, including three of the four visitors who doubled against him.

OCC freshman Alex Hernandez recorded a strikeout to end the Fullerton seventh, stranding runners at second and third. And freshman Ryan Randel worked two scoreless innings to collect his third win in four decisions.

Offensively, freshman right fielder John Balliet went three for four and scored two runs, including the game-winner, to pace the Pirates’ 10-hit attack.

Navarro was two for five with two RBIs, including a single to plate Balliet for OCC’s first run in the fifth. Navarro, the leadoff man hitting a team-best .400, also shares the team lead with 13 RBIs.

Freshman catcher Robert Teel was two for four and freshman left fielder Daniel Hawkins hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, his second to tie for the team lead.

Before Navarro’s game-winning single, sophomore designated hitter Robert Bultena worked a bases-loaded walk to drive in the tying run in the ninth.

Jaiden France began the winning rally with an infield single behind the second-base bag and Balliet followed by grounding a single off the first baseman’s arm. Pinch-hitter Jake Scott walked to load the bases and the Pirates, who did not have a hit until two outs in the fourth inning, stranded six in the middle three innings and hit into an inning-ending double play in the eighth, finally cashed in.

“There’s nothing better than seeing your teammates chasing after you like that,” Navarro said of the joyous postgame celebration. “It feels good to win. I’ve had a couple of walk-off RBIs before, but none that felt as good as that one. We really needed a win.”

OCC is tied for fourth place with Golden West in the OEC with 12 regular-season games remaining. The Pirates begin a three-game series against last-place Irvine Valley (11-13, 2-7) at home Tuesday at 2 p.m.

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Orange Empire Conference

Orange Coast 4, Fullerton 3

SCORE BY INNINGS

Fullerton 001 020 000 – 3 11 1

OCC 000 011 002 – 4 10 2

Corral, Vega (8), Case (9) and Piraino; Pabich, 11 Giacone (7), Hernandez (7), Randel (8) and Teel, Haysom (9). W – Randel, 3-1. L – Vega, 3-1. 2B – Balbuena (F), Carrier (F), Row (F), Miranda (F). HR – Hawkins (OCC).