BASEBALL: TOUGH OEC LOSS

After winning on the road at Orange Coast College on Tuesday, the FC baseball team took their first conference loss of the season on Thursday falling to the Pirates 5-4 at home.

The loss gives the #1 in SoCal Hornets an overall record of 19-4 and an OEC record of 7-1. The Orange Coast win now gives them a record of 12-11 overall and 3-5 in the OEC.

The Hornets drew first blood in the first inning taking a 2-0 lead. Austin O'Banion hit one to left center for a double scoring Justin Row. The next batter, Shane Carrier, followed up with a double to left field bringing O'Banion home.

In the top of the third inning, OCC scored two runs to tie the game up. With the bases loaded, John Balliet knocked in two Pirates on a deep double that nearly hit the right field line.

Fullerton took the lead back in the fourth going up 3-2 on a fielder's choice by Joey Parente that brought in David Miranda.

In the fifth, Orange Coast tied it up again in a blooper by Jaiden France to right field scoring Daniel Hawkins. OCC grabbed a 4-3 lead scoring a run in the sixth on a single to right by James McLellan scoring Nolan Powers. The Pirates add to their lead in the seventh when Powers hit a hard shot to the left side bringing Robert Teel home. OCC led 5-3.

The Hornets got within one run of OCC in the seventh on a SAC fly to left field by Row scoring Joey Parente, but it was not enough to take down the Pirates.

Up Next: The Hornets (19-4, 7-1) will go back to Orange Coast College this Saturday, April 2nd to wrap up the three-game season series. Game time is at 12:00 pm.

*Photo by Matt Brown

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