Warriors Rally From Behind to Defeat Taft College

TORRANCE, CALIF. -  After taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning,  El Camino College had to rally from a 4-3 deficit to come back and defeat Taft College 7-4.  

Spencer Palmer led the offense for the Warriors (17-12) by slugging his fifth home run of the season with a 3-run blast in the first inning.  Diego Alarcon, Matthew Beserra, Cody Wissler, and Jose Ruiz Jr. were the only other Warriors to pick up a hit in today's contest.

Kaivon Kealoha turned in a quality start for the Wildcats (12-15) despite giving up a 3-run home run in the Bottom of the 1st inning.  Kealoha gave up only three hits and all were in the first inning. After allowing Joseph Borges to reach first base via an error, Kealoha went on to retire thirteen straight Warriors while serving up ten strikeouts to the Warriors.

Daniel Alvarez suffered a no decision after giving up four runs on seven hits, three balls, and three strikeouts.  Max Pappas picked up his first win of the season after delivering a solid eighth inning only allowing one Wildcat to reach the bases via a walk.   Tommy Stropky picked up his second save of the season after throwing an efficient 1-2-3 inning in the Top of the 9th to close out the game.

El Camino College's offense started the 1st inning with four consecutive Warriors not making an out.  Alarcon led the inning off with a deep double to center field. Jordan Folgers would walk to put two men on base before Spencer Palmer blasted a ball over the right centerfield wall to give the Warriors a three-spot early in the game.  Beserra would single in the next at-bat before a double play and a strikeout ended the frame for the Warriors in the first inning.

Daniel Alvarez allowed the first two Wildcats to reaches the bases in the Top of the 2nd.  The Wildcats scored their first two runs of the game on a wild pitch and a passed ball to make a 3-2 game after two innings.  

The Wildcats tied the game up in the 4th inning before taking a 4-3 lead in the Top of the Fifth inning.  

The Warriors would tie the game up in the sixth inning.  Spencer Palmer walked with one out and would eventually advance to second base and third base via two wild pitches.  Cody Wissler hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Palmer from third base.

El Camino College finally put the game away in the Bottom of the Eighth inning.  After the Wildcats took out their starting pitcher, Palmer greeted the new pitcher with an infield single to second base.  Matthew Beserra would walk in the next at-bat to put runners on 1st and 2nd base. Cody Wissler then singled through the left side in the next at-bat to score Palmer from 2nd and put the Warriors on top 5-4.  The Wildcats would change to their third pitcher of the inning and Jose Ruiz Jr. singled to load the bases for the Warriors.

After striking out Joseph Borges for the second out of the inning, the Wildcats pitcher lost control on the mound.  He proceeded to walk Jerry Granillo and Spencer Long in consecutive at-bats to score two runs for the Warriors. After the Wildcats changed to their fourth pitcher of the inning, the Warriors inning finally ended with Alarcon flying out to left field.

The Warriors will return to action on Tuesday, April 3rd for a conference game against LA Harbor.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 PM.