Warriors Fall in Ninth Inning to Mounties

WALNUT, Calif. - El Camino College opened up South Coast Conference play with a 3-2 loss on the road at Mt. Sac on Thursday evening.

The Mounties (7-9, 1-0) loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 9th inning before Alex Gonzalez hit a pinch hit infield single off Julian Diaz's glove to bring home the winning run.  

The Warriors (12-2, 0-1) loaded the bases three different times in tonight's game but were only able to show two runs for their effort.  The Warriors also committed a season high in errors (3). 

Jimmy Galicia drew the start for the Warriors and tossed a solid 8 innings giving up just two runs (one earned) off five hits, one walk, and struck out five batters.  Wyatt Regis got the start for the Mounties and gave up two runs (one earned) off four hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. Matt Garcia was outstanding in relief for the Mounties striking out seven Warriors in 4.2 innings.

The Warriors were outhit 8 hits to 4 hits for the evening.  Joseph Borges led El Camino with two hits. Spencer Long and Sladen Mohl were the only other Warriors with a hit.

The Warriors struck early in the first inning with one run.  Borges singled with one out and Matt Beserra and Spencer Palmer reached the bases on a hit by pitch and a walk.  Aaron Orozco hit into a fielder's choice that scored one run, but both Palmer and Beserra were out on the play.

Mt. Sac tied the game up in the second inning.  Albert Luevano and Kyle Koontz singled with two outs to put runners on the corners.  Luevano scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 1-1.

The Mounties took the lead in the 3rd inning.  A lead-off walk and two consecutive fielder's choice balls gave the Mounties a runner on second.  Michael Sandoval hit a base hit to drive in the runner to make it a 2-1 game for the hosts.

The Warriors tied the ball game up back in the 5th inning.  The Warriors loaded the bases with no outs to start the inning.  Jerry Granillo was hit by a pitch, Mohl doubled to right, and Taishi Nakawake was hit by a pitch. Ty Conrad grounded into a double play to score Granillo to tie the ball game up 2-2. That ended up being all the Warriors would do in that situation.  

The Warriors once again loaded the bases in the 9th inning.  Spencer Palmer led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Beserra bunted him over to second base for the first out.  Aaron Orozco walked and Logan Young walked with two outs to load the bases. Mohl made nice contact with the ball but it was an easy flyout to left field to end the frame for the Warriors.

The Mounties ended up walking it off in the bottom of the 9th inning.  Julian Diaz got the first batter out of the inning before giving up back to back singles and a walk to load the bases.  Alex Gonzalez hit a ground ball up the middle that Diaz tried to field but it bounced off his glove and that was the ballgame for the Warriors.  

The Warriors will look to exact their revenge on the Mounties on Friday at Warrior Field.  The game originally scheduled for Saturday has been changed to Friday at 2:00 PM due to expected inclement weather on Saturday.