Hiestand Tosses Gem as Warriors Drop Game Late Against the Vikings

TORRANCE, Calif. - The El Camino College Warriors were three outs away from taking the series win over the Long Beach City Vikings but ultimately lost 7-4 in the rubber game at home at Warrior Field on Saturday.  

After AJ Hiestand tossed 8 innings allowing just one unearned run on two hits, two walks, and three strikes, the Warriors led 3-1 heading into the ninth inning.  Aaron Ragatt served up back-to-back homers to the Viking's 4th and 5th hitters Luke Davis and Ryan Geck to start the 9th inning which tied the game at 3-3. 

The Warriors eventually gave up four runs in the 11th inning as they fell to 0-3 in extra innings games this season.  

The Vikings outhit the Warriors 9-to-7 however seven of their hits came in the final three frames.  Matt Hammond led the Warriors offense by going 4-for-5 at the dish with 1 run.

The Vikings scored first in the second inning after taking advantage of a Warrior error in the inning.  The Warriors responded right away in the bottom half.  Christian Miranda and Matt Hammond had base hits in the inning and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball.  Miranda scored on an Eric Perez sac fly to make it a 1-1 game.

The Warriors added two runs in the fifth inning.  Matt Hammond and Eric Perez led the inning off with knocks.  Ryan Matsukawa brought in Hammond after hitting a flare down the right field line.  Connor Meidroth brought in Perez on a sac fly to give the Warriors a 3-1 lead.

After the Vikings tied the game in the top of the 9th inning.  The Warriors loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth.  However, a strikeout and a groundout to the pitcher ended the frame for the Warriors in the ninth.

The Vikings tagged the Warriors bullpen for four runs in the 11th inning off five hits to take a 7-3 lead.

In the bottom half of the 11th, Miranda walked to start the inning and Hammond doubled over the center fielder to put runners on second and third.  Eric Perez brought in one run on an RBI grounder to short.  The Warriors had runners on second and third with two outs before Matsukawa flew out to left field for the final out. 

The Warriors will take a break from conference play next week and head to Santa Maria for the Allan Hancock Spring Baseball Classic.  They will take on Fresno City College on Wednesday, Merced on Thursday, and Allan Hancock on Friday.