Pirates somehow find a way to sweep Cuesta, 13-12

COSTA MESA -- In what could have been a crushing early-season loss, the Orange Coast College baseball team simply kept on hitting and pulled off another miracle win on Saturday, 13-12 over Cuesta College, at John Altobelli Park.

The Pirates (5-2), winners of five straight following this weekend's three-game sweep of the Cougars (1-5), jumped out to an 8-0 lead after just three innings. But the Cougars -- much like the Pirates did 24 hours earlier -- picked themselves off of the canvas and scored 12 runs over the next five innings to grab a 12-10 advantage. 

But, unlike Cuesta yesterday, OCC found a way to keep on fighting and scored a run in the eighth and two more in the ninth to pull off the dramatic win, leaving the Cougars with an even longer journey back to San Luis Obispo following three tough losses in a row.

In the nightcap, Cameron Mahaffy led off the eighth by getting hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a base hit by Cary Arbolida. Jake Lappin moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt and Isaiah Moralas drive in Mahaffy with a run-scoring ground out, cutting the Cuesta advantage to 12-11. 

After a rare scoreless frame in the top of the ninth for the Cougars, the fun began for the Pirates. Pinch-hitter Beau Johnson led off the inning with a single to right and pinch-runner Will Ireland moved up to second base on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Alec Gomez. 

No. 9 hitter Tyler Weaver, who finished the afternoon 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI, ripped a single to left that scored Ireland and the off-throw allowed Weaver to advance into scoring position. Pinch-hitter Zach Crandall stepped up and lined a single to left, putting runners on the corners with only one out. 

That brought Mahaffy to the plate, OCC's hottest hitter of the series. After stolen base opened up first, the opportunity for an intentional walk arose, but, with Cary Arbolida and his .464 batting average on deck, Cuesta decided to pitch to Mahaffy. That decision proved costly as he ripped a single to center, scoring Weaver to end one of the craziest games ever seen around these parts. 

Mahaffy went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, Isaiah Morales added two hits, two runs and two RBI, Arbolida finished with two hits, two runs and an RBI and Garrett Bevacqua added a pair of hits and two RBI for the Pirates.

Relief pitcher Chase Rousselo managed to stop the bleeding late in the game and pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout to pick up the win.

Zach Tallerman, Holden Cumiskey and Diego Murillo each had three RBI for the Cougars.

OCC returns to John Altobelli Park on Tuesday against Palomar College, beginning at 1 p.m.