BASEBALL: DOUBLEHEADER FRIDAY VS OCC

Fullerton hosted Orange Coast College for a doubleheader on Friday afternoon and lost both games 9-6 and 11-3.

The losses give FC an overall record of 1-3 with an Orange Empire Conference record of 1-2, while OCC improves to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the OEC.

Orange Coast opened the first inning with a 1-0 lead on Garret Barto's hard-hit single to left field that brought Ricky Teel home.

The Pirates added to their lead in the second with four runs. Teel singled through the left side scoring Garett Bevacqua, then Drew Baltruweit hit a hard shot that got through the left side that brought Tyler Weaver home, and Cameron Mahaffy reached on a fielder's choice bringing in Teel from third.

In the top of the third, OCC went up 5-0 on Bevacqua's home run over the right field ivy.

The Hornet bats came to life in the third scoring three runs to get back in the ball game. Jack Janes came home from third on a balk, Dominic Martinez hit a nice single to right field scoring Hill, and Matt Dorado popped one past the short stop plating Martinez.

Fullerton stayed hot dropping another three runs on OCC in the fourth inning to take a 6-5 lead. Hill came up and reached on a fielder's choice scoring Tristan Twist, Martinez knocked a single to left field scoring Jack Janes, and Julian Tellez reached first on an error allowing Hill to cross home.

Orange Coast was not done as they scored four runs in the fifth to snatch back a 9-6 advantage. Drew Baltruweit reached first on an error scoring Weaver, and Bevacqua. Baltruweit and Teel came in on a Hornet another fielding error.

The game was officially called with OCC winning it 9-6 the 5th to get ready for the second game of the day.

Fullerton's Dominic Martinez had a good day at the plate with 2 hits, 2 RBI, and a run scored. Nick Hill had 2 runs and one RBI.

In game two, OCC grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on Brandon Guy's SAC Fly to center field that brought in Chase Hanson.

The Pirates put three more up on the board in the fifth when Weaver scored on a wild pitch. Baltruweit scored, and Cary Arbolida then hit one to left center scoring David Morgan.

OCC added four more runs in the sixth, but Fullerton refused to be shutout scoring two runs in the seventh inning. Elias Rios got the inning started with a leadoff double to deep left center. Marco Malerba soon scored from third on a wild pitch. Jay Blumberg then cracked one through the left side giving way for Rios to come home.

The Pirates scored another run in the eighth inning and then two more in the ninth to take a 11-2 lead.

The Hornets managed to score a run in the bottom of the ninth on Martinez's ground-out to the pitcher that scored Dean Drake.

Orange Coast pitcher Kelly Austin had the Hornets number at the plate racking up 11 strikeouts in an 8-inning win.

Despite the loss, FC's Jimmy Blumberg had a great day at the plate going 3-4 with a RBI. Elias Rios had 2 hits with a RBI, and  Marco Malerba had a hit and scored a run. Dean Drake also had a hit and scored a run.

Up Next: The Hornets (1-3 overall, 1-2 OEC) will host Santa Ana College this Tuesday at 2:00 pm. Unfortunately, our campus is closed so no spectators will be allowed, however you can watch the game live at sportsnetusa.net.