COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL : Orange Coast Rallies but Falls to Bakersfield

Orange Coast took the lead with four runs in the ninth inning Friday, only to have Bakersfield score twice in the bottom on the ninth to defeat the Pirates, 12-11. The loss eliminated OCC from the College of the Sequoias baseball tournament in Visalia.

Pinch-hitter Mike Monday’s two-out, two-run double gave Orange Coast (18-12) an 11-10 advantage in the ninth. Greg Folsom and Paul McDaniels had driven in runs earlier in the inning.

Phil Jensen opened the bottom of the ninth by getting No. 9 hitter Jeff Twist to fly out. Lance Tsitakis greeted left-handed reliever Chad Rolish with a single to right. After a walk to Keith Rivera, Rolish struck out Jon Valenti. Ray Arvizu followed with a double to right, bringing home the winning runs as Bakersfield improved to 18-14.

Folsom was two for three and drove in four runs and McDaniels was three for four with two runs batted in.