Randel helps OCC even Super Regional series

The chatter among the Pirates players began percolating before the morning coffee. It set the tone for a 5-1 Orange Coast College baseball victory over Santa Ana that staved off elimination and forced a deciding game three on Sunday in the Southern California Super Regional series at OCC.

It began with a question from Orange Coast College shortstop Travis Moniot to Saturday starting pitcher Ryan Randel, inquiring of the 6 feet 7 right-hander: “Are you worried?”

Randel replied: “I ain’t worried,” to which Moniot replied: “Good, because I ain’t worried either.”

“After that, we had a group text going [among players],” said Randel, who threw his first career complete game to notch the victory and extend the season for the top-seeded Pirates (34-10). “Everyone started [texting] ‘I ain’t worried. I ain’t worried.’”

With Randel allowing just four hits to notch his 10^th career win and win his third straight start, there was little to worry about for the Pirates, who need a win on Sunday (a noon start) to advance and make it five wins in six meetings with the No. 14-seeded Dons (29-16) this season.

“I didn’t feel any pressure,” said Randel, a Houston commit who began the season as the Pirates’ closer. “I knew what our team was capable of, and that if I kept the ball low, good things would happen.”

Nothing much happened for the Dons, who managed their first hit with one out in the fifth and had just one runner advance past second base. A one-out triple by Justin Mellano, followed by a single by second-baseman Juan Gonzalez produced the lone run for the designated hosts, who were largely silent after a spirited 3-1 upset triumph to open the best-of-three series on Friday.

“We were talking last night that we didn’t want [the season] to end and it shouldn’t end,” said Randel, who has struck out 17 in 21 2/3 innings over those last three starts, during which he has posted a 2.08 ERA. “We came out with some fire under us today and did the job.”

Defense helped Randel, whose 10 wins rank tied for No. 11 in OCC career annals, preserve the bullpen. Third baseman Nolan Powers, Moniot, first baseman Eric Wagaman and left-fielder Luke Hussung all made sterling plays.

“We needed a huge performance and Randel did that for us,” OCC coach John Altobelli said. “And I thought the defense was spectacular.”

Defense hurt the Dons, who allowed an unearned run on a throwing error and a passed ball in the second inning, then committed a second error that led to another unearned run in the fourth.

Powers’ infield single, after a two-out error, plated Wagaman, who had singled and stole second to start the fourth-inning rally.

After Moniot singled in a run in the seventh to put OCC up 3-0, Wagaman launched a majestic home run to left field that created a five-run cushion.

It was the 14^th dinger of the season for the Houston-bound Wagaman, who also leads the Pirates with 46 RBIs. He was three for four to pace OCC’s nine-hit attack and lift his average to .331.

Randel, who made his first start on March 30 after posting four saves and three wins in 10 relief appearances, said his transition to the starting rotation, dictated by injuries, has allowed him to perform his preferred role.

“I had an arm injury to start the season, then I filled the closer spot,” Randel said. “But coming back as a starter has been pretty cool. I felt like the baseball gods were with me today and my whole team was there, too, rooting me on.”

Sunday’s winner will advance to the best-of-three sectional series that begins Friday.

Southern California Super Regional

Game 2

Orange Coast 5, Santa Ana 1

SCORE BY INNINGS

OCC 010 100 300 – 5 9 2

SAC 000 000 100 – 1 4 2

Randel and Teel; Ward, Hoskins (8), Lundeman (9) and Vasquez. W – Randel, 7-3. L – Ward, 7-6. 3B – Mellano (SAC). HR – Wagaman (OCC).

[email protected]

Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5