Pirates snap skid with comeback win over Monarchs

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College baseball team enter next week's Orange Empire Conference play with a little more pep in the step after rallying for a 10-7 nonconference win over visiting L.A. Valley College on Friday at John Altobelli Ballpark.

With the win, the Pirates (5-11) not only snap a six-game losing streak, they also wrap up their nonconference portion of the schedule on an upswing as they open OEC play on Tuesday at Santa Ana College (2 p.m.) before a home matchup with the Dons on Thursday (2 p.m.).

The top of the order -- Andrew Chorbagian and Zach Boynton -- combined to go 6-for-9 with four runs and five RBI for OCC, while Tyler Arevalos added a pair of hits, a run and an RBI.

Starting pitcher Zach DenDekker threw five effective innings for Coast, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits with nine strikeouts. 

But the drama came down to the bottom of the eighth inning. With the Pirates trailing 7-5, LAVC (4-10) turned to reliever Luke Casarez, who came in and promptly hit the first two batters he faced, putting the tying runs on base. Pinch-hitter Chris Ouellette bunted both runners over and beat out the throw to first, loading the bases with nobody out.

Devin Rogers hit a slow comebacker to the mound, but Casares booted the play, allowing all runners to move up and bringing the Pirates to within a run at 7-6.

Chorbagian then dunked a single to right, scoring pinch-runner Connor Chapa to tie the score. A passed ball brought in Ouellette with the eventual winning run before Boynton delivered a two-run single to center, scoring Chorbagian and Rogers to make it 10-7.

From there, relief pitcher Matt Radogna came in and retired the Monarchs in order to collect his first save of the season.

It was a back-and-forth game that saw the Monarchs and Pirates change leads five different times. Coast trailed 3-2, 6-4 and 7-5, only to rally late for the win.

Boynton finished a triple short of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a single, double and home run with two runs and four RBI.