The Orange Coast College baseball team won a non-conference game against Mt. San Jacinto College, led by a strong effort by freshman pitcher Anthony Rasic, in a 9-4 win on Tuesday afternoon at OCC’s John Altobelli field.
OCC improved to 5-5 overall. Mt. San Jacinto dropped to 5-4.
Rasic started his third game of the season and improved to a 2-1 record. He pitched seven innings and only held the Eagles to four runs during his stint.
“I knew what I was supposed to accomplish before the start of the game,” Rasic said. “I’m glad I got the chance to play multiple innings. Our outfielders did their thing as well.”
Pirates head coach Nate Johnson explained how the team remained composed during the game after facing resistance from its opponent early on.
“I tell the boys a few runs shouldn’t affect them,” Johnson said. “Once we start getting frustrated, we lose sight of the game. Slowing down and going at your own pace is important.”
The Pirates’ offense did its part to keep the lead the whole game, scoring three runs in the first inning to give OCC an early start.
OCC sophomore outfielder Tyler Covington went 3-for-5 with an RBI that gave OCC an early 1-0 lead.
“The defense was awesome today,” Covington said. “They kept on giving us chances to increase our lead. Our hitters did a good job taking advantage of that.”
OCC came out swinging in the first inning, scoring three runs to take an early lead 3-0.
Both Mt. San Jacinto and OCC scored two runs each in the third inning and OCC maintained its three-run lead 5-2.
In the fifth inning, Mt. San Jacinto sophomore designated hitter Matt Rezkalah hit a 2-run home run into left field.
The Pirates retaliated by scoring a run in the fifth inning, as well as the sixth and the seventh, shutting the door with a 9-4 win against the Eagles.
The Pirates play their next game at Southwestern College on Friday at 1 p.m.