OCC wins seventh straight

COSTA MESA — It might be more like the 1988 Dodgers than the 1927 Yankees, but the Orange Coast College baseball team continued to display championship form Thursday against Orange Empire Conference visitor Fullerton.

The Pirates (24-7-1, 8-1 in conference) earned their seventh straight win and their 11th triumph in their last 12 games by topping the Hornets, 7-5.

The go-ahead blow, in the sixth inning, was a solo home run off the bat of 170-pound second baseman Wes Kartch, who began the at-bat by squaring to attempt a sacrifice bunt. It was the first homer of the year for Kartch, who entered the week with just four extra-base hits in 101 at-bats this season. It was the second dinger of Kartch’s collegiate career, the second of his baseball career period, dating back to his Little League days.

“Obviously having a hurricane blowing [out to right-center field, where Kartch’s drive just cleared the fence at about the 290-foot mark] helped him,” OCC Coach John Altobelli said of the game-winning blow, which broke a 5-5 tie.

“I kind of gave him a little grief for hitting a home run with the hurricane blowing, but we’ll take it,” Altobelli said. “His home run last year was a three-run shot to help win a game in the [Southern California regional] playoffs. He doesn’t hit many, but when he does, they’re meaningful, which is good.”

Sophomore left-hander Justin Peterson made an equally meaningful contribution out of the bullpen, allowing just three hits and one run in 4 2/3 innings to earn his third win in as many decisions this season.

Peterson, a Costa Mesa High product, relieved starter Matt Hauser, out of Corona del Mar High, with one out in the fourth and the score tied, 2-2.

Peterson allowed his two inherited runners to score, before retiring the side, and gave up a solo homer to Michael Stephens in the fifth that gave Fullerton (21-10, 2-7), a 5-4 advantage. But he retired the side in order in the sixth and used a pair of double plays to face the minimum in the seventh and eighth, before giving way to closer Brett Wallach.

Wallach, the son of former Major Leaguer Tim Wallach, worked a scoreless ninth to earn his eighth save in nine chances, his first save since Feb. 15.

Offensively, seven of the Pirates starters had at least one hit and all nine spots in the order reached base, eight of those spots at least twice.

Sophomore designated hitter Kyle Muhlsteff went three for four and scored two runs to lead an 11-hit attack for the hosts, who have averaged nearly 13 hits in their last 12 games.

Freshman right fielder Ryan Sheeks, OCC’s No. 9 hitter, had a two-out, two-run single in the fourth to pull the Pirates even at 4-4, while freshman shortstop Ryan Dunn and Wallach, who began the game at first base, each had two hits and one RBI for the winners.

Freshman catcher Jourdan Watanabe drove in the hosts’ final run with a single in the sixth, while sophomore center fielder Cory Olson and freshman third baseman Drew Hillman, who had eight RBIs in Tuesday’s 14-1 blowout win at Fullerton, both scored a run.

Leadoff man Chris Fung, a sophomore left fielder who opened the week leading the team with a .398 batting average, was one for four with a walk and he reached base three times.

The seven straight wins matches the team’s longest winning streak this season and, though there are 12 conference games remaining, the Pirates, tied for first place with Santa Ana and one game ahead of Irvine Valley, believe this team may be something special.

“There’s a long way to go, but the guys are working hard and I like our situation,” Altobelli said. “It seems to be a different guy every game who is stepping up for this team, whether it’s Hillman, our big hitter, who gets paid to do that, to Sheeks, our No. 9 hitter, or Dunn. It’s just a different guy every game.”

Hauser surrendered just two hits in his 3 1/3 innings, but walked two, hit a batter and was charged with four runs.

Orange Empire Conference

Orange Coast 7, Fullerton 5

SCORE BY INNINGS

Naslund, Brown (6), Chantland (7) and Robinson; Hauser, Peterson (4), Wallach (9) and Watanabe, Arellano (9). W – Peterson, 3-0. L – Brown. Sv – Wallach (8). 2B – Stephens (F). HR – Stephens (F), Kartch (OCC).

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.