Warriors Drop First Game of Super Regionals against Saddleback 

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. - No. 11 El Camino College dropped its first game of the 3C2A Baseball Southern California Playoffs on Friday afternoon with a 8-1 loss to No. 2 Saddleback at Doug Fritz Field in Mission Viejo, Calif. 

The Warriors (31-13) had difficulties on offense all day against the Bobcats (33-10) pitching as they mustered only three hits and struck out nine times in the loss. 

Connor Meidroth, Ethan Felix and Julio Camarena accounted for the Warriors offense with a hit apiece while Daniel Murillo and Brendan McAndrews reached on walks.  

Jack Snyder took his first loss on the mound this season as he surrendered five runs, three earned, on seven hits. He walked four and struck out four. 

The Bobcats led throughout starting with a sacrifice fly in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. 

In the third, they added two more thanks to a Warriors error, a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead. 

The Warriors best chance to respond came in the fifth when they loaded the bases with one out against Bobcats starter Trevor Eby. But they could only muster one run on an RBI fielder's choice by Meidroth before Eby struck out Dylan Knowles to end the threat.  

Felix would double to lead off the sixth but then reliever Tyler Burns entered and proceeded to retire the next three batters in order and 12 of the 14 batters he faced to lock down the save.  The Warriors would only get two base runners on against Burns and only one in scoring position in the ninth when they were down 8-1.  

The teams will meet again on Saturday at noon with the Warriors' season on the line. A loss would end ECC's season, but a win would force a winner-take-all game later in the day.