Eagles move to first

For a photo gallery of this game, click here.

COSTA MESA — It’s not the Major League Baseball idea of a closer, with a pitcher coming in to “Welcome to the Jungle” before striking out the side with pitches that hit 100 on the radar gun.

Still, Estancia High senior Abby Koff has developed into a sort of a “closer” for the softball team.

Koff may not have wicked stuff or get a ton of strikeouts, but that’s not really the point for the Eagles. She throws strikes, and Estancia desperately needed that ability during its home game against cross-town rival Costa Mesa on Wednesday.

Koff came in during the fifth inning to end a Mustangs rally, as Estancia outlasted Mesa, 15-8, in the Orange Coast League game.

The Eagles (10-6, 3-1 in league) are now in first place in the back-and-forth league, while the Mustangs (7-9, 2-2) dropped to third. Koff, who also went three for three at the plate with an RBI, improved to 3-1.

“When Abby pitches, we kind of let our defense help us,” Estancia Co-Coach Tommy Rausch said. “She’s not going to strike anybody out, but she’ll throw strikes. That’s all we ask her to do. She’s our stopper.”

Estancia needed one after breezing to a 12-3 lead after four innings, highlighted by a two-run double from senior Taylor West in the second. The ball was misplayed in the outfield, allowing West to score. West then hit a two-run home run in the third, extending her school record to 13 home runs for a season.

West also made a diving catch in shallow center field in the third, ending a Mustangs threat.

The rout was on, and the game was close to being stopped due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Instead, Mesa responded with a five-run fifth inning, showing the spirit that had helped the Mustangs earn a 13-12 win in the teams’ first league meeting.

The Mustangs opened the fifth with a single from junior Brook Urmson, then got five consecutive walks to pull within 12-6. Senior Brieanna Ramirez’s RBI single pulled Mesa even closer, and the team added another run when freshman Sami Feinstein’s walk forced in Deanna Byers.

The teams combined for 27 walks in the game, 17 of those issued to Mesa batters.

But the Eagles brought in Koff, who got out of the jam by inducing a fly ball out and a line out. Koff said the team has become more vocal, which helps in those tight situations.

“When a pitcher’s having a hard time, instead of getting all quiet, we’ve started talking more,” Koff said. “I think it helps. I know it helps when I’m up there, especially because when you’re a pitcher, you feel like the whole game’s on your shoulders. You’re just like, ‘Oh, God.’ ”

Estancia sophomore Amy Hartwell, who went four for four with four RBIs, said her team’s good defense was also key. The Eagles committed just one error, compared to four by Mesa.

“Our errors are definitely becoming less and less,” Hartwell said. “That’s definitely helping us, especially with our bats.”

Junior shortstop Courtney Ulrich was two for three with three runs scored for Estancia, the defending league champion which plays host to Calvary Chapel (2-1 in league) Friday in another key league game. Sophomore Jill Beck also scored three times.

Feinstein had two RBIs for Costa Mesa. Byers, who pitched five innings in relief, and fellow freshman Alex Krohnfeldt each scored twice for Mesa.

The two rivals will play their final head-to-head league game on May 2, at Costa Mesa.

“You tip your cap,” Costa Mesa Coach Marcus Franco said. “It’s just frustrating ... We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities, and Estancia did. They deserved to win this game. We’ll see what happens in round three.”

Orange Coast League

Estancia 15, Costa Mesa 8

SCORE BY INNINGS

Pulaski, Byers (2) and Ramirez, Pulaski (2); Marlborough, Koff (3), Hartwell (4), Koff (5) and Whitney. W – Koff, 3-1. L – Pulaski, 2-2. 2B – West (E). HR – West (E).

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.