The Pirates, 4-0 in the postseason with two straight shutouts and no earned runs allowed in the last 27 innings, need only win one of two potential contests against Glendale in Sunday's super regional championship game(s).
Glendale (29-11 and ranked No. 5 in Southern California), which won two elimination games Saturday, will need to defeat OCC twice on Sunday to advance in the double-elimination format.
Brennan, who has not allowed a run in 16 postseason innings, surrendered just six hits in eight innings Saturday. The University of Oregon bounce-back, who has committed to play next season at the University of Houston, improved to 11-1 and lowered his earned-run average from 1.30 to 1.19. He struck out five Sunday, including the side in the opening inning, while walking one. He has now fanned nine with one walk in the postseason.
Rademacher, who started in right field and drove in a run, pitched the ninth for his fifth save, the third in the last three games and the second in as many days. He has yet to allow a run in seven innings on the mound this season.
OCC pitchers, including sophomore starter Keegan Yuhl who is also 11-1 after his part in Friday's 3-0 victory over Cypress, have combined to allow four earned runs in 36 postseason innings (a 1.00 ERA). The staff's season ERA is now 1.82.
"It's exciting when you have two No. 1s who can go in back-to-back games," said OCC Coach John Altobelli, who plans to put the ball in the hands of No. 3 starter Dallas Dravickzi (2-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 29 innings) in the win-and-advance game Sunday at 11 a.m. Should OCC lose the morning game, an elimination game would follow at 3 p.m.
Brennan said he approached Saturday like any other game.
