SHUTTING OUT ORANGE COAST

In game one of the three-game OEC series, No. 14 in state Fullerton played host to No. 9 Orange Coast College on Tuesday and pulled off an 11-0 shutout victory. 

FC's win gives the team a 17-9 overall record with an Orange Empire Conference record of 5-2. It is the first time this season that the Pirates were forced to walk the blank scoring zero runs. OCC now stands at 13-10 overall and 3-4 in the OEC. 

Getting the nod for Fullerton on the bump was Joel Martinez (2-1), who locked down his second win going 6 strong innings. He tallied 4 K's, had 6 hits against, with a walk. Finishing out the remaining 3 innings for his first save was reliever Michael Curatolo, who was brilliant in holding the Pirates to one hit. 

The Hornets heated up in the third inning thanks to Jacob Sharp's double that got through the left side scoring Isaiah Marquez Jared Benash. Garet Crenshaw then reached first on a fielding error allowing Marco Malerba and Sharp to come home. 

The fourth inning saw Bryce Gamble crush a solo jack over the left field ivy to Fullerton up 5-0. 

In the fifth inning, Kaipo Haole smacked a three-run homer over left field scoring Garet Crenshaw and Marco Malerba. 

Macro Malerba hit a SAC Fly to left field in the sixth inning giving Isaiah Marquez the chance to score from third. Miguel Ortiz hit a hard-spinning grounder up the middle scoring Dominic Martinez. 

Jared Banesh, Kaipo Haloe and Garet Crewshaw had multi-hit days with 2 hits each. Altogether, the Hornets accumulated 11 hits on the day.  

Up Next: The Hornets (17-9 overall, 5-2 OEC) will continue the series at Orange Coast College on Thursday, March 24th at 2:00 pm, and then wrap it up back at home on Friday, March 25th at 2:00 pm. 

*Photo by Marissa Forte