OCC edges Ventura College, 1-0

COSTA MESA — Scott Hong’s home run in the top of the 10th and Chris Licon’s dominating pitching helped lead the Orange Coast College baseball team to a 1-0 win over Ventura to win the first round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs Saturday.

With the win, second-seeded OCC (31-13) will play host to next week’s Southern California Super Regional playoffs, which begin Friday at noon. The Pirates will play Friday’s second game, which will begin at 4 p.m. against an opponent to be determined.

Licon improved to 8-2, throwing 9 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. The sophomore righty allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out eight.

Licon retired the first two batters in the bottom of the 10th, allowed a single to Collin LaVoie, then turned things over to closer Brett Williams, who retired the next batter to earn his fifth save of the season.

Mykal Stokes and Brett Wallach each went two for four for OCC. The 10-inning game was the first extra-inning contest of the season for Orange Coast.

— From Staff Reports

Southern California

Regional playoffs

Game 2

Orange Coast 1, Ventura 0

Licon, Williams (10) and Arellano; Rau and Yingling. W – Licon, 8-2. L – Rau, 6-4. Sv – Williams (5). HR – Hong (OCC).