COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Orange Coast’s Top Batters Pound Fullerton

Orange Coast’s first three batters combined for nine hits, six runs and four runs batted in as the Pirates beat Fullerton, 10-3, in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Saturday at Costa Mesa.

With the victory, Orange Coast (21-12, 11-5 in conference) moved into first place, a half-game in front of Rancho Santiago, a 7-6 loser to Saddleback on Saturday.

Rancho Santiago and Orange Coast meet Tuesday at OCC and Thursday at Rancho Santiago. Both games start at 2:30 p.m.

“Rancho Santiago is clearly the team to beat,” said OCC Coach John Altobelli, who is in his first year. “We’ve just been playing a good hard nine innings each time out of late.”

Richard Earnst, who bats lead-off, had three singles, was hit by a pitch and scored three times. Paul McDaniels, the No. 2 hitter, also had three singles, scored three runs and drove in another.

Jason Parsons, the No. 3 batter, had two singles, a double and drove in three runs. Darren Brink, the No. 4 hitter, had no hits but three RBIs.

Earnst, a center fielder, made a key defensive play to help freshman pitcher Ralph Lopez.

Lopez, making his first of the season, pitched seven innings, allowing 10 hits and three runs. He is 3-0.

Earnst’s play came with runners on second and third and one out in the second inning. Fullerton’s Wade Farley hit a sinking liner to center that Earnst made a diving catch on. He then threw to second to double off Ryan Wilson.

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Saddleback 7, Rancho Santiago 6--Justin Drizos’ bases-loaded single in the ninth broke a 6-6 tie for host Saddleback (24-10, 10-8).

Neil Garcia and Wade Jackson opened the ninth with singles against Ethan Wychoff, who took the loss. Steve Thobe replaced Wychoff and walked Nathan Malagon to load the bases before Drizos’ game-winning hit.

Jackson had five hits including a double. He drove in one run and scored two. Rancho Santiago is 26-6, 10-5.

Riverside 5, Golden West 3--Ruben Hernandez hit a three-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 2-2 tie for visiting Riverside (21-11, 9-7). Pitcher Jeff Barker went the distance, walking none and striking out four, to improve his record to 5-2.

Mike Moutrey led Golden West (9-17-1, 3-12-1) with three hits.