el Don News
By Jorge Campos
Santa Ana College used five relief pitchers in a 8-6 road victory Saturday against the Orange Coast College Pirates.
“Most of them have certain situations that they are prepared to come in for,” Dons Head Coach Bryan Harris said.
The SAC bullpen struck out five Pirates and did not allow a walk in six and one third innings, combining to give up seven hits, while allowing four earned runs.
“We tell them, if they are not doing what they are supposed to be doing they won’t be in there longer than one batter,” Harris said.
Dons righty Evanne Wilkes started the game but didn’t make it out of the third inning after surrendering an RBI single to Pirates first baseman Chris Iriart. Wilkes pitched a total of two and two-thirds innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and a walk.
SAC center fielder Ryan Aguilar had three hits with two RBIs including one on a single that broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh inning. He scored the final run of the game when Dons shortstop Garret Brown laced a triple to right center field in the ninth inning.
“My game plan today was to basically hit the ball on the ground hard, because I know my speed will get me on base,” Aguilar said.
Aguilar overcame a minor shoulder injury in the top of the seventh inning after diving back into the first base bag. After a short visit from the trainers, he popped back up and finished the game.
“When I was diving back to the base all my air got knocked out of me,” Aguilar said. “When I landed my arm wasn’t moving. The trainer told me to roll over and my shoulder slipped back in.”
OCC kept it close all game, trailing by two runs or less at the end of every inning.
Right fielder Tommy Bell went three-for-three for the Pirates, with a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
“I was looking for something I could drive, a fastball. When I got it, I jumped on it,” Bell said.
The Dons (16-7) play Orange Coast College (18-6) Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Don Sneddon Field.
