Olson’s first grand slam timely

COSTA MESA — Worn out from having few days off since late January, Coach John Altobelli looked at his Orange Coast College baseball team.

Players were in dire need of a boost.

Tuesday marked the eighth game in the last 14 days for the Pirates. So before the eighth inning, with visiting College of the Canyons leading by three runs, Altobelli addressed his team.

“Hey, let’s have a come-from-behind win. We haven’t done that all year,” Altobelli said. “Let’s believe in it and get it done.”

With one swing of the bat, OCC did, as well as preserve its unbeaten streak at home this season.

Cory Olson couldn’t wait to deliver the goods with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth. The sophomore drove a changeup toward left-center field, knowing he hit the eventual game-winner once the ball bounced off the fence’s yellow padding, making it possible for OCC to win, 8-7.

Once Olson came home, overzealous teammates greeted him with open arms and high-fives. His first grand slam in his baseball career, but to Olson the victory accomplished more than an individual feat, the ability to come back and win.

“That was one thing that last year that we had trouble with,” said Olson, a center fielder, who was 3 for 3 with two walks and two runs. “We’d get behind by four runs, and you know it’s like [we couldn’t come back]. It’s good, because later on in the road, we [already] proved that we could come back and win.

“It’s never over. That’s the one thing you want to prove.”

Early on the Pirates (8-2-1) have shown Altobelli in nonconference play that this year’s team is better than last year’s.

More depth than the 26-21 team, with guys able to come off the bench and produce. In a couple of crucial instances against Canyons (2-5), players like catcher D.J. Arellano, shortstop Kyle Muhlsteff, and from the bullpen, Matt Hauser, showed that ability.

Before Olson hit his second home run of the season, it was Arellano leading off the eighth with a bloop single to right. Once reliever Jake Miranda walked leadoff-hitter Chris Fung, one of seven walks allowed by four pitchers, OCC was in business down, 7-4. Wes Kartch reached base on a bunt toward the third-base line, giving Miranda no chance at first. Miranda held the ball.

Three pitches later, Miranda wished he had before throwing to Olson. Facing a 1-1 count, Olson waited before lifting an off-speed pitch between the 380-feet and 400-feet signs that allowed those three baserunners standing near their respective bags to come home.

“I had a good feeling about it,” Olson said of getting OCC’s only extra-base hit as the team collected 13 singles. “Just got enough.”

It was a close call, one of a handful during OCC’s pursuit of improving to 6-0-1 at home.

Defensively, third-baseman Drew Hillman and first baseman Austin Elliott, a Corona del Mar High standout last season, teamed up for a gem, making sure to keep the game close before the seventh. Going to his right, Hillman gloved a tough hop, a do-or-die kind, and fired a throw in which Elliott had to scoop for the third out. The effort prevented the Cougars from adding to their 4-3 lead.

“No errors,” said a happy Altobelli, because his defense made some dazzling plays allowing Hauser to improve to 3-0 in just one inning of relief in the eighth.

In the top of the ninth, Altobelli went to his closer, Brett Wallach. Before the son of Tim Wallach, a former major leaguer, secured his sixth save in six chances, it was Muhlsteff doing his best to fill in for Wallach at shortstop.

Muhlsteff didn’t disappoint. He raced toward foul territory to grab the second out. Two pitches later, Wallach induced a grounder to third resulting in an easy out, a 1-2-3 inning, and more importantly a well-deserved break before playing again.

“They haven’t had a day off in a while,” said Altobelli, whose team will start a three-game series at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert on Friday. “I think the guys are a little tired.”

Nonconference

Orange Coast 8,

College of the Canyons 7

SCORE BY INNINGS

Kurowski, Streit (6), DiGiacomo (6), Miranda (8) and Perez; Rosenhahn, Jarvi (4), Peterson (7), Hauser (8), Wallach (9) and Cota, Arellano (6). W – Hauser, 3-0. L – Miranda. Sv. – Wallach (6). 2B – Contreraz (COC), Hay (COC), Harris (COC). 3B – Perez (COC). HR – Olson (OCC).

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.