Galicia Wins Debut as Offense Finishes Strong in Home Opener

TORRANCE, Calif. – Freshman Jimmy Galicia picked up his first career victory and the El Camino College offense surged in the final four innings to complete a two-game sweep against College of the Canyons with a 7-2 win Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field.

Galicia was excellent on the mound for the Warriors (2-0) in his collegiate debut as he allowed just one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out five while also going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI. Spencer Long went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Spencer Palmer was 3-for-4 with two doubles. Matt Beserra also drove in two runs as the Warriors pounded out 11 hits in the home opener.

Brendan Henry took the loss for the Cougars as he went 6 and 1/3 innings. He was touched up for six runs, five earned, on nine hits. He walked two and struck out four. Nick Henry provided the offense for the Cougars, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.

Much like game one, the Cougars struck first as Nick Henry doubled to right field to score Tyler Erne all the way from first base in the second inning.

The Cougars had a chance to break things open in the fourth inning as they loaded the bases with one out but Galicia struck out Tyler Grodell and then got Nate Duarte to ground out to second to escape the jam and keep it a one-run deficit.

In the fifth, the Warriors offense finally solved the Cougars starter, scoring a pair of runs on back-to-back RBI doubles from Long and Palmer to put ECC up 2-1.

After adding a run in the sixth, the Warriors broke things open in the seventh as they loaded the bases with one out. Beserra then hit a long single off the right field wall to score the first run of the inning, putting an end to Henry's day on the mound.

Reliever Rane Pfeifer entered and got a ground out from Galicia, scoring another run and making it 4-1 in favor of ECC. Logan Young then capped the inning with an RBI single to score Palmer and make it 5-1 and the Warriors would not look back.

Garrett Spicuzza wrapped the game up, pitching the final two innings. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out two.

The Warriors return to action Tuesday afternoon with a road game at Antelope Valley. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.