Orange Coast College

Baseball: Pirates finally lull Lasers to sleep, 5-2

Thursday, April 16, 2009

IRVINE -- In a game that nearly died on several occasions due to old age, the Orange Coast College baseball team pulled out a 5-2 Orange Empire Conference win over Irvine Valley on Thursday, completing the contest in just under three-and-half hours.

With long in-between-pitch pauses and several pickoff attempts from both teams, Thursday's nine-inning tooth-puller was played in a pace that Cecil the Turtle would have enjoyed.

When the final out was finally recorded, the Pirates notched their 14th conference win out of their last 15 games and maintained a one-game lead over Cypress and a three-game lead over Santa Ana atop the OEC standings.

Drew Hillman notched the big blow for the Pirates (26-9, 14-3 in OEC), slamming a three-run home run in the top of the third that gave the Pirates the lead for good.

That run support was enough for Calvin Drummond to notch his eighth win of the season. The sophomore righty battled his way through six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking three and striking out four.

Brett Williams threw the final three innings to record his fourth save of the season, holding the Lasers (19-16, 8-9) scoreless on just two hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

Other key contributors to the Coast offense included Ryan Sheeks (2-for-4 with a double a run scored and one RBI), Mykal Stokes (2-for-4, one run), Scott Stidham (2-for-4 with a double and triple and an RBI) and D.J. Arellano (2-for-4, one run scored).

OCC returns to action on Saturday at home against Fullerton College, beginning at noon.