Rancho Santiago Overpowers OCC

Orange Coast, which started the season with 13 consecutive victories mostly because of strong pitching and solid defense, had neither Tuesday.

The result was a 10-1 loss to Rancho Santiago in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game.

OCC, which had made 13 errors in the first 13 games, made five in Tuesday’s game.

Rancho Santiago (12-3, 1-0) took control with a six-run second, which took place during a steady rain. The first three innings and the final two were played in the rain.

Brandon Hendrikx, Rancho Santiago’s starter, didn’t seem to be bothered by the poor conditions. He retired 11 in a row at one point and allowed three hits and struck out seven in eight innings. He is 2-0.

Things didn’t go nearly so well for OCC starter Jason Liuzzi (2-1). He walked three in the second, all of which scored.

The key hit was a two-out double by David Rojo off reliever Tom Barilla that drove in the final two runs in the second and gave the Dons a 7-0 lead.

Liuzzi (2-1), who had not allowed a run in 13 innings this season before Tuesday, gave up three hits, walked six and allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Tony Zuniga had two hits and scored three runs for Rancho Santiago.

Craig Ritter had an RBI double in the fifth for OCC (13-1, 1-1).