Baseball Falls against Santa Ana

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College suffered a 4-2 non-conference loss to visiting Santa Ana on Friday afternoon at Warrior Field.

The Warriors (21-10) brought the game-winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth but Ethan Felix, who homered earlier in the game, struck out to end the game and secure the win for the Dons (21-10).

In the ninth, the Warriors trailed 4-2 as the Dons brought in James Showalter to close the game out. Connor Meidroth struck out and Julio Camarena grounded out to first to leave ECC with just one out left. Brendan McAndrews drew a walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dylan Knowles would then draw another walk to bring Felix to the plate with the potential game-winning run.

The Warriors first baseman hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to bring the Warriors within two runs but Showalter got the better of Felix in the ninth to end the game

As a team, the Warriors managed just five hits on the day and the offense left 11 runners on base while the pitch staff issued nine walks. Despite the free passes, the Warriors bullpen was solid, holding the Dons to just one run and four hits in the final five and 1/3 innings of the game.

The Warriors trailed from the get-go as Troy Kent hit a three-run home run in the first inning for the Dons to take a 3-0 lead before the Warriors even had a chance to bat.

Daniel Murillo would get one run back in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout to score Julio Camarena. But the Warriors were held without a hit from the second inning until the sixth with Santa Ana adding a run in their half of the sixth to extend their lead to 4-1, a lead they would not relinquish.

The Warriors will return to South Coast Conference play on Tuesday when they host Cerritos for the first of a three-game series. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.