TAKING THE SERIES FROM ORANGE COAST

Playing at home Friday, the No. 14 Hornets took game three from No. 9 Orange Coast College with a 3-2 win taking the OEC series. 

The victory keeps Fullerton as one of the top teams in the Orange Empire Conference at 6-3 along Riverside and Saddleback (also 6-3). The Orange Coast loss puts the Pirates at 4-5 in the OEC. 

It was a pitcher's duel between the starting pitchers Jon Sarmiento and Cameron Mahaffy as the game remained a scoreless 5-hit affair (2 OCC / 3 FC) through the first five frames. 

Fullerton broke the stalemate in the sixth inning in a big way on Garet Crenshaw's 2-run bomb that sailed over the right field ivy. 

Orange Coast got back in the game tying it up at 2 apiece in the seventh inning. Logan Jackson scored on a passed ball, and Cary Arbolida flied out to right field giving Emilio Morales the chance to come home from third. 

The Hornet's game-winning run came in the bottom of the eighth when Niko Santamaria hit his second double of the day to score Kaipo Haloe, who had tripled earlier to right center. 

FC's starting pitcher Jon Sarmiento tossed a fantastic game going 6 innings with only 2 hits against. He walked 3 and struck out 2. Joe Linehan came in for 2 innings of relief earning his second win with 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. Angelo Aguilera got 2 batters in the 9th inning, and Ryan Chavez recorded the final out for his 3rd save.  

Up Next: Fullerton (18-10 overall, 6-3 OEC) will open a new OEC series at home Tuesday, March 29th against Riverside City College. Game time is at 2:00 pm. 

*Photo by Matt Brown