OCC tumbles on brink of elimination

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Double-double was the theme of the day Friday, to the detriment of the Orange Coast College baseball team.

Hence, a similar theme will be required for the Pirates today and Sunday, if they are to advance from the Southern California Super Regional at Cuesta College.

A 10-5 opening-round loss to Cypress (30-16) Friday put the Pirates (32-14-1) into the loser’s bracket in the four-team double elimination format.

So, OCC will have to win a doubleheader today to advance to Sunday, when it will, once again, be forced to win two straight to advance to the four-team state championship beginning Friday in Fresno.

The Pirates begin their challenging road today at 10 a.m. against Riverside (29-18) at Sinsheimer Park. Riverside lost to Cuesta, 3-2, Friday.

“My first season as coach at Orange Coast College 16 years ago, we lost the first game in both playoff rounds [which were both four-team, double elimination tournaments back then] and we came back and won doubleheaders both times,” OCC Coach John Altobelli said. “It can be done. We just have to believe in it. If guys believe and just trust it and take it one game at a time, you can do it. But, obviously, this isn’t the right recipe to get there.”

Cypress, which evened its record in four games with OCC this season, provided double trouble for the Pirates, lashing eight doubles among its 15 hits.

A pair of doubles factored into a five-run second for the Chargers, while two doubles helped create single runs in the fifth and sixth for the designated visitors.

OCC starter Ryan Rosenhahn, a Cypress transfer, added to OCC’s early futility, committing a two-base throwing error that allowed two unearned runs to score in the aforementioned second inning.

After back-to-back singles, Rosenhahn, who threw nine strong innings in an earlier 10-inning victory over Cypress, fielded a bunt and dropped down to throw sidearm toward first base. But the ball sailed wide of first baseman Brett Wallach and wound up down the right-field line as Eddie Argendano, who produced the bunt, wound up at third base.

One out later, Tyler Marmion drove the first of his two doubles into left-center field to drive in Argendano. Marmion then scored on an RBI single by Mike Nesbitt.

OCC rallied for three runs on four hits in the fourth and used a couple doubles of its own — by Wallach and right fielder Ryan Sheeks — to score another run in the fourth to climb within 6-4.

But Cypress starter Colby Hyatt, who went the distance to improve to 4-2, limited OCC to one run — a pinch-hit home run by former Corona del Mar High star Austin Elliott in the ninth — on four hits over the final five innings.

Rosenhahn, chosen ahead of fellow Cypress transfer Brandon Dixon to get the start against his old team, lasted just 1 1/3 , allowing six runs, four earned, on six hits to absorb the loss.

Freshman Chris Licon, who made 11 starts this season before being sidelined with arm trouble, relieved Rosenhahn and worked 4 1/3 , allowing four runs on eight hits.

Licon struck out five and benefited from inning-ending double plays in the fifth and the seventh.

Justin Peterson, a Costa Mesa High product, and Anthony Moctezuma finished up for OCC, keeping Cypress off the scoreboard in their three combined innings.

Wallach (two for four with one run scored) and Wes Kartch (two for five with an RBI), paced the Pirates’ 10-hit attack.

Drew Hillman and Sheeks drove in runs for OCC,

“We didn’t deserve to win that game,” Altobelli said. “We gave them some unearned runs early. I thought our offense did a good job coming back, but our bullpen just couldn’t keep the damage down.

“[The Chargers] have some guys swinging the bat well and they did a good job.”

Cypres now has 116 doubles on the season, to their opponents’ 79. OCC has 90.

Nesbitt, who was not one of three Chargers to hit two doubles, was four for four to lead Cypress.

Altobelli said Dixon would get the start this morning, but any future pitching plans will be based on how things go.

Southern California

Super Regional

First round

Cypress 10, Orange Coast 5

SCORE BY INNINGS

Hyatt and Berberet; Rosenhahn, Licon (2), Peterson (7), Moctazuma (8) and Watanabe. W – Hyatt, 4-2. L – Rosenhahn, 0-2. 2B – Marmion (C) 2, Burke (C) 2, Olson (OCC), Wallach (OCC), Sheeks (OCC), Garrett (C) 2, Argendano (C), Nesbitt (C). HR – Elliott (OCC).

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.