Seven-run sixth propels Pirates past Chargers

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College softball team has been quite the wildcard all season long and Tuesday's 13-8 come-from-behind win over visiting Cypress College on Sophomore Day at the OCC Softball Stadium was excellent proof of that.

Taking on one of the most storied programs in the state, the host Pirates (19-19, 13-7 in Orange Empire Conference) handled everything that the Chargers (26-13, 13-7) threw their way and responded with a 13-run, 16-hit performance at the plate and held the Charger bats to just three runs over the final five innings to allow for the comeback win.

Trailing 4-0 in the first inning, the bat of Kimora Tuipala gave the Pirates some early home against Chargers' workhorse pitcher, Haley Tucker. With two outs and Marissa Sardinas on second with a double, Tuipala found a pitch she could hit and she hit it over the fence in left-center to trim the Charger lead down to 4-2, but also give a jolt of energy to the Pirates' side of the field. 

Cypress' lead grew to three at 7-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth before the Pirate comeback found another gear.

Coast had runners on second and third with nobody out in the fifth before relief pitcher Isabela Guerrero (0-1) came in and retired the next two batters before Victoria Ruiz came through with a clutch, double down the right-field line, scoring both baserunners to bring Coast to within a run at 7-6.

Kelsey McNair (5-3) pitched a scoreless fifth and sixth innings to keep the Pirates within a run before the comeback became complete in the bottom of the sixth.

Josie Zamora (2-for-4, one run) came through with a leadoff double and advanced to third on a single to right from McNair (3-for-4, two runs, one RBI). Jaden Fraser (3-for-5, two runs, one RBI) brought home Zamora with an RBI-single to left and brought the Pirates even with the Chargers, 7-7. Marissa Sardinas (2-for-2, three runs, one RBI) dropped a sacrifice bunt down to move the runners over but the ball got away, allowing McNair to score to put the Pirates in front, 8-7. After a Maiah Rodriguez hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Tuipala (1-2, two runs, three RBI) made it 9-7 with a run-scoring walk. Kayla Vargas (2-for-4, one run, two RBI) continued the barrage with a two-run double to right-center to make it 11-7. Victoria Ruiz (1-for-4, three RBI) brought in a run with an RBI-ground out and McNair contributed her second hit of the frame with an RBI-single to center. Seven runs and six hits later, the Pirates led 13-7 heading into the final inning of play.

Cypress tacked on one run in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough as McNair earned the victory in relief, holding the Chargers to one run on one hit with no walks and a strikeout over the final three innings.

The Pirates and Chargers wrap up the regular season on Thursday at Cypress College, beginning at 2 p.m.