By Robert Nilsen
CYPRESS, CA – The Cypress College baseball team (17-6, 3-2 OEC) handed the Orange Coast College Pirates (19-3, 6-1) their first Orange Empire Conference loss of the season with a 2-1 victory at home on a wet Tuesday afternoon. Brandon Alamo hit a walk-off single to snatch game 1 of the 3-game series. The Chargers entered the game ranked No. 4 in Southern California, while the Pirates entered the day ranked No. 1.
Andrew Quezada (6-1) picked up his sixth win as he threw his fourth complete game of the season. Quezada shut down the Pirates as he allowed just 1 run on 9 hits over 9 innings pitched while striking out 6. Pierson Loska (1-for-4, RBI) and Brandon Alamo (1-for-4, RBI) led the Cypress offense.
Kyle Robeniol (4-1) got the start for the Pirates and shut down the Chargers as he allowed just 4 hits over 8 innings pitched while striking out 8. Ryan Randel (3-1) received the loss for the Pirates after allowing the walk-off hit.
The game was scoreless until the sixth inning as Quezada and Robeniol were locked in a tight pitcher's battle. The Pirates got on the board first after Robert Teel hit a 2-out RBI single up the middle in the top of the sixth inning to give Orange Coast a 1-0 lead.
The Chargers were unable to break through against Robeniol, but found an opening in the bottom of the ninth as the Pirates brought in Randel to close the game. Tyler Smith (1-for-1) came in to pinch hit and led off the inning with a base hit. Cory Wildhagen (1-for-4) followed by hitting a double down the left field line to give the Chargers 2 on and nobody out. The Pirates then decided to intentionally walk Willie Aguilar (2-for-3) so they could face Pierson Loska (1-for-4, RBI) with the bases loaded. Loska responded by driving an RBI single to right field to tie the game at 1-1 as everybody moved up a base. Alamo then stepped to the plate and delivered a walk off base hit to center field as the Chargers won 2-1.
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