Granillo, Long Come Up Clutch as Warriors Edge Cerritos in Extras

TORRANCE, Calif. – Down to its last out in the bottom of the ninth, El Camino College found a way to scratch across the game-tying run and then Spencer Long's single through the left side in the 11th inning propelled the Warriors to a 2-1 South Coast Conference victory over Cerritos Tuesday afternoon at Warrior Field.

WALK OFF! @elcobaseball rallies to win in extras over Cerritos! Big time South Coast Conference win! @ECCWarriors @CCCAASports @breezepreps pic.twitter.com/PRxnDIFZP4

— Colin Preston (@ColinP_Preston) March 20, 2018

The Warriors (14-10, 6-3) trailed for eight and 2/3 innings on Tuesday after the Falcons (17-6, 4-4) scored in the opening frame without the benefit of a hit.

Warriors starter Kenneth Haus issued a pair of walks to Jorge Rodriguez and Rollie Nichols to lead off the game and the Falcons manufactured one run on a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. Haus limited the damage to one in the frame, getting Michael Gonzalez to ground out.

From that point on, Haus was lights out as he scattered six hits in nine innings of work. He walked four and struck out seven and would eventually pick up a no-decision.

The problem for the Warriors for much of the game was figuring out Cerritos starter Gilbert Romero. The left-hander was stellar on the mound for the Falcons as he stifled the Warriors offense, allowing three hits in seven innings of work. He walked three and struck out eight before giving way to reliever Carlos Valle in the eighth.

The right-hander retired the Warriors in the eighth inning but Cody Wissler gave ECC life with a one-out single to left. Sean Whorley was called in to pinch-run and Falcons closer Edgar Velasquez was summoned to secure the win for Cerritos.

He got the second out of the frame by striking out Jose Ruiz Jr. but Whorley managed to sneak into second base for a stolen base to put the tying run in scoring position.

That set the stage for Jerry Granillo and he wasted no time, looping the first pitch he saw from Velasquez into center for his only hit of the game to drive in Whorley and send the game into extras.

TIE GAME!!!! @j_granillo2 singles up the middle to score a run and the game is now TIED 1-1! @spencer_long8 now up with 2 outs! pic.twitter.com/72JT8vPOpF

— ECCbaseball (@elcobaseball) March 20, 2018

Both teams had their chance to take the lead in the 10th inning but came up empty. The Falcons welcomed Warriors reliever Tommy Stropky into the game with a leadoff double from Nichols. A sacrifice bunt moved him over to third and then Jesus Mercado drew a one-out walk to put runners at the corners.

The Warriors right-hander responded by striking out Gonzalez and Andre Alvarez to end the frame and strand the go-ahead run at third base.

In the bottom of the inning, the Warriors loaded the bases with one out but Velasquez induced a double play from Matthew Beserra to escape the jam and keep the game tied.

After an uneventful top half of the 11th, the Warriors got a one-out double from Ruiz Jr. to put the game-winning run in scoring position. The Falcons elected to intentionally walk Granillo to face Long, who then proceeded to hit a looping single past the shortstop and into left field. Ruiz Jr. beat the throw to home plate easily to give the Warriors the win in dramatic fashion.

Long finished the game 2-for-5 with one RBI.

The two teams are set to square off again in game two of the three-game set on Thursday at Kincaid Field at 2:30 p.m., weather permitting.