FC TAKES SERIES AGAINST ORANGE COAST
Jake Starr rips one of his four hits on the day.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
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0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | X | 14 | 13 | 2 |
The No. 17 Hornet baseball team bounced back Saturday afternoon blasting past No. 22 Orange Coast College 14-3 on Hornet Field clinching the three-game Orange Empire Conference series.
After dropping game two of the series on Thursday, the Hornets responded with an offensive explosion scoring 14 runs on 13 hits to improve to 15-7 overall and 2-1 in OEC play, while Orange Coast fell to 11-7 overall and 1-2 in conference.
Fullerton fell behind early when the Pirates struck for two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Hornets quickly answered in the bottom of the second. Jake Starr delivered a clutch two-run double to left field that scored Vinny Hudson and Ryan Villanueva tying the game at 2-2 and igniting the Fullerton offense.
The Hornets grabbed the lead for good in the fourth inning when Nico Lopez reached on a bunt fielder's choice and a throwing error allowed Villanueva to score putting Fullerton ahead 3-2.
Fullerton then broke the game open with a massive five-run fifth inning. Villanueva started the rally with a two-run single up the middle that plated Diego Vazquez and Starr. Hudson followed with an RBI single, and the Hornets added two more runs thanks to a bases-loaded walk by Nate Pone and an Orange Coast throwing error to stretch the lead to 8-2.
The Hornets kept the pressure on in the sixth inning adding six more runs to put the game out of reach. Sean Green drove in a run with a single, Hudson added another RBI base hit, and Malachi Meni delivered a run-scoring single. Pone, Starr, and Vazquez later drew RBI walks to cap the huge inning as Fullerton built a commanding 14-2 lead.
Orange Coast added a run in the seventh inning, but the Hornet's early offensive surge proved too much to overcome.
Hudson and Villanueva powered the Hornet offense. Hudson finished 3-5 with three runs scored and two RBI, while Villanueva scored four runs and drove in two. Starr had a big day at the plate as well going 4-5 with three RBI.
On the mound, Sage Nelson earned the win to improve to 3-1 pitching six strong innings while allowing just two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. The bullpen trio of Nico Rodriguez, Mason Smith, and Murdoch Taylor combined to close out the final three innings.
Up Next: The Hornets will begin a new Orange Empire Conference series against district and OEC rival Cypress College on Tuesday, March 10th when Fullerton travels down the street to take on the Chargers. First pitch goes out at 2:00 pm.
