Pirates’ rally comes up short

COSTA MESA ? Orange Coast College’s baseball team mounted a late rally, but left the tying run at second base in a 4-3 nonconference loss to El Camino College on Thursday

The Pirates (11-3) gave up single runs in the second, sixth, seventh and eighth innings before their bats came alive. Garrett DeGrazio and Danny Gonzalez hit back-to-back singles with one out and Garrett Smith was plunked by El Camino reliever Montel Taylor. Josh Bradbury drove in DeGrazio with a single and Eric Oliver hit a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Stephen Schneider flew out to end the inning.

In the ninth, Taylor Loop hit a run-scoring double with one out, driving in Keith Mastel, and getting OCC within one run. Derrick Duarte came in to pitch for El Camino, striking out DeGrazio swinging and coaxing a fly ball from Gonzalez to end the game.

Ryan Shropshire took the loss for the Pirates, giving up one run in three innings of relief work. Jesse Costa started and allowed two runs over four innings.

Bradbury had three hits, the only OCC player with more than one hit in the game.

The Pirates play host to El Camino (8-7) again Saturday at noon.