Orange Coast College

Baseball: Pirates make it two straight over COD, 5-2

Friday, February 20, 2009

COSTA MESA -- It was déjà vu all over again for the Orange Coast College baseball team as an early 2-0 deficit was erased by a big middle inning en route to a 5-2 nonconference win over College of the Desert.

Much like the series opener -- a 9-4 win over COD on Thursday -- the Pirates (7-5) used a four-run fifth inning to take the lead for good. After a Drew Hillman home run in the fourth made it 2-1, OCC batted around in the fifth, turning four hits and a costly error into four runs.

The big hit in the frame came from Hillman, who ripped a two-run single to left, scoring Ryan Sheeks and Mykal Stokes on the play. In the series, Hillman is 6-for-9 with four runs and three RBI.

Also with a hot bat for Coast has been Brett Wallach, who added three hits and an RBI to his collection. After 11 games, the sophomore infielder/pitcher is leading the team with a .439 batting average and 12 RBI.

That was enough offense for freshman hurler Calvin Drummond. The Arizona State transfer threw six strong innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Andy Abrams threw the final three innings, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts for his first save of the season.

Naoya Washiya had two hits and a run scored to lead COD (2-10).

The third and final game of the series between the Pirates and Roadrunners will take place on Saturday at OCC, beginning at noon.