HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – In a high-scoring Orange Empire Conference showdown, the Golden West College Rustlers fell just short against the visiting Orange Coast College Pirates, losing 12-11 on Saturday afternoon.
The Pirates (7-21, 1-8) capitalized on timely hitting and defensive miscues to secure their first conference victory of the season, while the Rustlers (18-10, 6-3) saw their late comeback attempt fall just short.
Both teams wasted no time putting runs on the board. Orange Coast struck first in the top of the first inning when Tyler Covington tripled down the right-field line, scoring Gibson Rath. Devin Rodgers followed with an RBI single, giving the Pirates an early 2-0 advantage.
Golden West responded swiftly, plating three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Jonny Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice fly from Landon Runyan before Dennis Fitzpatrick laced a two-run double down the left-field line, putting the Rustlers ahead 3-2.
The offensive explosion continued in the second, as Rodriguez launched a three-run home run to right field, extending the Rustlers' lead to 6-2. However, Orange Coast stormed back in the third with a four-run frame, highlighted by a three-run double from Flynn Barnes to even the score at 6-6.
Golden West briefly reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third when Rodriguez stole second base, allowing Kevin Villegas to score on the throw. But Orange Coast responded yet again, tying the game in the fourth on a wild pitch before a two-run single from Tyler Arevalos gave the Pirates a 9-7 lead.
The Rustlers answered in the bottom half of the inning with three more runs. Matt Fox doubled home two, and Zack Burrow was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, pushing Golden West ahead 10-9.
However, the Pirates capitalized on a catcher's interference call in the fifth, allowing them to tie the game at 10-10. They then surged ahead in the seventh when Kael Corridan delivered a clutch two-run single to right field, putting Orange Coast up 12-10.
Golden West had one last push in the ninth. Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Fitzpatrick, cutting the deficit to 12-11. With the tying run on third base, Orange Coast closer Keith Aguilar shut the door, securing his first save of the season.
Rodriguez paced the Rustlers' offense, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs, while Fitzpatrick added three RBIs of his own. On the mound, Kameron Lee (0-1) took the loss for Golden West, allowing two runs over two innings.
For Orange Coast, Covington sparked the offense, reaching base four times while scoring four runs. Corridan and Barnes drove in a combined six runs to fuel the Pirates' attack. Reliever Landon Veirs (1-0) picked up the win, tossing two-thirds of an inning, while Aguilar recorded the final two outs for the save.
