Rough Start Sends Warriors to Elimination Game

WALNUT, Calif. – El Camino College took a gut punch in the first inning and it was too much to overcome in a 10-3 loss at the hands of Mount San Antonio College Friday morning in game nine of the California Community College Softball State Championships hosted at Mt. SAC.

The Mounties (39-7) got a first-inning grand slam from Michelle Santiago to put the hosts up 4-0 and they never looked back, countering every bit of offense the Warriors (36-11) could muster.

The Warriors did not go quietly, mounting some offense in the fourth inning thanks to a two-run double from Ashley Machado, her only hit of the day.

But the Mounties had an answer in their half of the fourth, scoring twice including an unearned run to build the lead back up to four.

The Warriors scratched back in the fifth with an RBI single from Karla Calderon to make it 6-3 but again the Mounties answered with a run in the fifth to keep ECC at arm's length.

In the sixth, the Mounties delivered the knockout blow, plating three runs to take a 10-3 lead and they would hold on to advance to the semifinals on Saturday.

The Warriors will now play an elimination game today against Cypress, who defeated San Joaquin Delta over at Citrus College in the first elimination game of the tournament. The Warriors and Chargers went 1-1 in head-to-head meetings this season with each team winning on the other's home field.

First pitch is set to 4:30 p.m.