Saenz slugs Pirates to 6-3 win over Roadrunners

COSTA MESA -- Austin Saenz ripped a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Orange Coast College baseball team a dramatic 6-3 win over College of the Desert on Friday at Wendell Pickens Field.

With the wind blowing in for much of the game, Saenz took advantage of a late change in the breeze and ripped a fastball over the left-field fence with one out in the bottom of the ninth.

The Pirates (8-2), who trailed for most of the game before scoring two runs in the eighth and three in the ninth, have won seven of their last eight games. The loss drops the Roadrunners to 2-7.

Saenz's blast, his first of the season, helped give the win to starter Kyle Dowty, who pitched a complete-game gem for his first win of the year.

Dowty allowed just one earned run over nine innings on eight hits, walking two and striking out five. After some early trouble, the sophomore regrouped and pitched effectively the rest of the way.

The comeback spoiled a solid pitching performance by COD starter Greg Turner, who allowed just one run on three hits over six innings. He walked nobody, struck out three and left the game with a 3-1 lead.

But back came the Pirates in the bottom of the eighth.

Back-to-back walks by Ricky Navarro and Danny Jimenez put the tying runs on base with nobody out. Saenz bunted the runners over and thanks to a throwing error by the COD pitcher, Navarro came all the way around to score to make it 3-2.

Three batters later, an infield single by pinch-hitter Chris Iriart scored Jimenez to tie the game at 3.

COD put two runners on base with two outs in the ninth but centerfielder Zach Nehrir came up with a nice diving catch to end the threat.

In the bottom of the ninth, another leadoff walk and botched bunt play put the Roadrunners in deep trouble.

Roadrunner reliever Oliver Inzunza (0-1) dodged one bullet by getting Jimenez to foul out to third, but Saenz followed and ended the game with one big swing, finishing the game with four RBI to lead the Pirates' comeback.

The Pirates and Roadrunners will wrap up their three-game series on Saturday at OCC, beginning at 12 p.m.