Warriors Can't Cash In On Opportunities in Loss Vs Saddleback

TORRANCE, Calif. - No.2 El Camino College dropped their first midweek game of the season in a 5-2 loss at Warrior Field against Saddleback College.  

The Warriors outhit the Gauchos 9-8 however, ECC couldn't string together hits and make the most of their opportunities like their opponents did.  The Warriors left nine men on base compared to the Gauchos' six.  

Ricky Ramos got the start for the Warriors in what was scheduled to be an staff start day.  Ramos allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits with one strikeout.  ECC (1-2) was held by the Gauchos (3-0) starter Daniel Harris to two runs and Alex Kent came in and shut the door for the Gauchos by tossing four scoreless innings and striking out six batters.  

The Warriors opened up the scoring first in the bottom of the 2nd inning.  Diego Alarcon doubled to left center and tagged up to third base on a flyout by Joseph Borges.  Spencer Palmer hit a single to centerfield to score the first run of the game.  

Saddleback came right back in the Top of the 3rd to score two runs.  Jordan Fitzgerald walked with one out and advanced to third after a wild pitch and a flyout to right field.  Mike Jarvis would hit a ball to right field to knock in the run, and Jarvis advanced to second base on the same play due to a fielding error by the right fielder.  He advanced to third on a wild pitch and would eventually score on an infield base hit by Brett Auerbach.

El Camino responded right back in the bottom half of the third inning.  Cody Wissler and Jordan Folgers opened the bottom of the inning with back to back singles.  Wissler would advance to third on a flyout to right field.  Wissler scored on a errant pickoff attempt by the Gauchos pitcher to tie the game for the Warriors.

Tyler Bonsky pitched a solid two innings for the Warriors giving up no hits and one walk and one strikeout.  

Spencer Long came into pitch for the Warriors in the 6th inning.  Long would give up the go-ahead run in the Top of the 6th when the Gauchos put the first two batters on base.  Willie Lajoie hit an RBI single to RF to give the Gauchos the 3-2 lead and they would never look back again.  The Gauchos had runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs when Long threw a wild pitch that gave Saddleback the 4-2 lead in the Top of the Sixth.  

The Gauchos would add one more run in the Top of the Seventh as Brett Auerbach singled then stole second base.  The next batter, Brett O'Toole would drive him in to give Saddleback a 5-2 lead.  

Long eventually settled down to throw two 1-2-3 innings in the 8th and 9th for the Warriors.  

Spencer Palmer led off the bottom of the ninth with a single looking to kickstart a rally for the Warriors.  But he would only get as far as second base after an infield hit by Ty Conrad.  Wissler grounded out to 2B to end the threat for the Warriors.

ECC will return to action on Thursday, February 1st with a road game at San Diego Mesa.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM.