Pirates back in swing, top Ruslters

Spring break is over for the Orange Coast College baseball team, which happily returned to Orange Empire Conference play on Tuesday with a 7-2 triumph against district rival Golden West.

The Pirates (28-7, 13-3 in conference), who split four games in Ventura County during spring break last week, have now won five straight OEC contests to remain tied for first place with Riverside.

Spring break was a little too literal for OCC sophomore Robert Teel, who had just one at-bat off the bench last week, due to a knee injury. Teel, who ruptured a bursa sack in his right knee in an April 6 game against Fullerton, returned to the lineup at designated hitter against the Rustlers (17-18, 7-9).

Teel, who displayed a slight limp, picked up where he left off, going two for four with three runs batted in and even stealing a base. In his last 15 games (including the pinch-hit at-bat on Thursday at Santa Barbara), Teel is 21 for 52 (.404) with 16 RBIs. In his first 10 games this season, Teel was five for 18 with one RBI.

“It was tough and it made for a long trip,” Teel said of being injured last week. “But I’m back healthy now, so that’s all that matters. I felt good at the plate today.”

OCC starting pitcher Kyle Robeniol also appeared to be enjoying his return to health. The sophomore left-hander, a bounce-back from Oregon State, allowed just three hits (all singles) and one run in 7 1/3 innings, to improve to 5-0.

For Robeniol, who missed time with a sore elbow, it was his first win since March 14. He struck out eight and walked three. He threw 108 pitches to lower his earned-run average to 2.59.

OCC sophomore first baseman Eric Wagaman was three for four with one RBI and one stolen base, while sophomore second baseman and leadoff man J.T. Navarro was three for four with three runs for the winners.

Wagaman, who recently became the inaugural recipient of the $1,000 Jourdan Watanabe memorial scholarship, named after the late former OCC catcher, is tops in the OEC with 12 home runs. His 38 RBIs rank second among conference players.

After Wagaman walked following singles by Navarro and Travis Moniot in the OCC first inning, Teel was hit by a pitch to plate the first run.

Ramiro Velasco followed with an RBI single and Luke Hussung upped the lead to 3-0 with a sacrifice fly.

“I thought the offense set the tone with that first inning and [Robeniol] gave us another quality start,” OCC Coach John Altobelli said. “It seemed like spring break for our guys last week, with some other guys playing, and our first overnight trip. It was good to get back into conference play.

Teel agreed.

“It’s totally different once you’re back in conference,” Teel said. “OEC conference games just pumps up the level and you can just tell it’s a different atmosphere.”

Jake Hinzo, a sophomore left fielder, had the lone RBI for the Rustlers, who have lost four straight conference games to fall into a tie for fifth.

The series continues Thursday at Golden West at 2 p.m.

Orange Empire Conference

Orange Coast 7, Golden West 2

SCORE BY INNINGS

GWC 000 100 001 – 2 4 2

OCC 300 003 01x – 7 13 2

Franzman, Lether (6) and Moran; Robeniol, Moore (8) and Ceballos. W – Robeniol, 5-0. L – Franzman, 5-6. 2B – Hussung (OCC), Teel (OCC).

barry.faulkner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5