Ross, Taylor lead Pirates past Hornets, 6-4

COSTA MESA -- The right arm of Jack Ross and the bat of Jake Taylor were more than enough for the Orange Coast College baseball team to topple visiting Fullerton, 6-4, on Tuesday at John Altobelli Park.

Ross (3-1) pitched seven strong innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on just four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Chase Rousselo pitched 1 2/3 innings to bridge the gap to OCC closer Dimond Loosli, who struck out the lone batter he faced to collect his third save of the season.

While the OCC pitchers delivered another quality performance for the second game in a row, the Pirates (17-10, 4-6 in the Orange Empire Conference) picked up some big hits from the bottom of the order. Jake Taylor, a late pregame addition to the starting lineup, made the most of his opportunity, going 3-for-3, including a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI. Ethan Brand added two hits, a run and an RBI for the Pirates, winners of three straight OEC games after dropping six straight. 

The Hornets (15-14, 3-7) led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, thanks in large part to a strong pitching performance from starter Masen McDonnell, who allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts through five innings.

Coast saw a new arm and the bats came alive as OCC scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth off of a pair of FC relievers, with Jon Sarmiento taking the loss after allowing four runs on two hits and two walks in 2/3 of an inning.

In the sixth, Zach Dickason walked to lead things off and two batters later, he went to second on a single to left off the bat of Koby Williams. A deep fly ball to left moved Dickason to third before some clutch, two-out at-bats turned the game around. Brand tied the game at 3 with an RBI-single to center that scored Dickason and a passed ball and walk by J.T. Crabbe loaded the bases and ended Sarmiento's afternoon. FC reliever Jared Sawyer came in and uncorked a wild pitch which scored Williams to put OCC in front, 4-3. Taylor then stepped up and lined a two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Crabbe and Brand to put the Pirates ahead, 6-3.

It stayed that way all the way to the top of the ninth, when Fullerton mustered up a last-inning rally. A pair of walks and a two-out, RBI single by Tank Espalin scored a run and brought the Hornets to within two at 6-4. But Loosli came in and promptly struck out the next batter to end the rally, and the game. 

Game 2 of this three-game series will take place on Thursday at John Altobelli Park, beginning at 2 p.m. The series finale will be at Fullerton College on Friday, also at 2 p.m.