COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Thobe’s Slam Keys Rancho Santiago’s Big Rally

Steve Thobe had four hits, including a grand slam, and drove in eight runs as Rancho Santiago rallied from a seven-run deficit to beat Orange Coast, 22-17, in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Tuesday at OCC.

Thobe also worked the final two innings for his seventh save as the Dons (26-6, 11-5 in conference) moved into first-place, a half-game in front of Orange Coast (21-13, 11-6). The teams play Thursday at Rancho Santiago at 2:30 p.m.

Thobe’s grand slam came on the first pitch from reliever Phil Jensen in the seventh inning. The hit gave Rancho Santiago an 18-15 lead. Thobe also had two doubles and a single.

Chris Lugo had four hits, including two doubles, and drove in three runs also for Rancho Santiago, which had 25 hits.

Jason Parsons set an OCC record for hits in a game with six. He was six for six with a three-run home run and a pair of two-run doubles. Rich Ernst and Justin Halper had three hits each also for Orange Coast, which had 20.

Orange Coast scored four runs in the fourth to take 15-8 lead before Rancho Santiago rallied with one in the fifth, five in the sixth, four in the seventh, three in the eighth, and one in the ninth.

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Cypress 9, Golden West 4--Keith McDonald had a home run, two RBIs and scored twice to lead Cypress (24-11, 10-7). Host Golden West is 9-18-1, 3-13-1.

Riverside 6, Fullerton 4--Brent Coon had two RBIs for the visiting Hornets (14-20, 4-13). Riverside is 24-11, 10-7.