Pirates sink Dons

Baseball game date: March 6, 2012.

Sophomore left fielder Chris Carlson laced a two-strike fastball off the right-center field fence for a seventh inning RBI double that gave Orange Coast College the lead for good.

After scoring seven runs in the first two innings, the Dons allowed the lead to desintigrate, losing 11-8 against its conference rivals.

“When ever there is two strikes I shorten up and look for something out over the plate to put in play,” Carlson said. “It was a fastball over the plate and I don’t like missing those.”

Carlson picked up more than one two strike extra base hit.

In the top of the fifth inning, Carlson stepped to the plate with two outs and a runner in scoring position. He battled freshman righty Richard Diaz into a full count. Diaz served up a straight fastball and Carlson unloaded for a two-run homerun that nearly landed on the softball field behind the right field fence of Don Sneddon Field.

“I lucked out, it happened to be a fastball in and I turned on it,” Carlson said.

At the end of the first two innings, a Pirate seemed out of the question.

The Dons (12-4 overall, 1-2 OEC) held a commanding 7-1 lead following a five-run first inning and a two-run second. The Dons built its lead around three Pirate errors and timely hitting.

Sophomore first baseman Konnor Armijo crushed a three-run, bases clearing double over the head of Pirates center fielder Boog Powell.

“I was expecting something off speed because the pitch before he threw me a hanging slider,” Armijo said. “The next pitch was a change up and I got my foot down early, saw it long and hit it right back up the middle.”

Sophomore righty Bruce Tolliver battled control problems, and lasted four innings, allowing four runs on two hits and four walks.

“[Tolliver] kept us in it for three innings and then the walks killed us,” said Head Coach Don Sneddon. “Same thing with our relief pitching, they’d walk a guy then give up the big hit.”

The two teams combined for 19 runs on 19 hits, four errors and nine different pitchers toed the mound.

The Dons continue OEC play Thursday, as the team travels to Irvine Valley College.

Other Dons’ Baseball games coverage for Spring 2012:
Dons stings Hornets 12-3 (Mar. 3, 2012)
Tigers pounce early in conference opener (Mar. 1, 2012)
Seven pitchers combine on three-hitter for Dons’ win (Feb. 25, 2012)
Dons beat Huskies to mush (Feb. 24, 2012)
Dons avenge loss in hit parade (Feb. 23, 2012)
Dons capitalize on Falcon errors (Feb. 16, 2012)
Diamond Kings of Santa Ana (Preview)
Doubles allow Dons to tie up Brahmas (Feb 11, 2012)