Softball Begins Season with Doubleheader Sweep

El Camino College began its 2019 campaign in style with a pair of victories over Southwestern and Citrus in a Triangular date at Citrus College.

EL CAMINO COLLEGE 10, SOUTHWESTERN 2 (6 INN)

The Warriors opened the day with a run-rule victory over Southwestern despite a slow start. The Jaguars actually jumped out to a 1-0 lead on ECC in the first inning thanks to an Alyssa Bubar solo home run to right field off Warriors starter Emily Piera.

It stayed that way until the third inning when the Warriors ripped off one of their patented spurts, scoring four times in the frame. Redshirt-freshman Kylee Perryman got the scoring started with a two-run single to left, scoring sophomore Alena De La Torre and Diamond Lewis.

Newcomer Marissa Garza then picked up her first RBI of her ECC career on a single to left field to plate Belle Estrada. Sophomore Kassidy Robinson then cashed in Garza with a double to right-center field to put ECC up 4-1.

In the fifth, freshman Mina Nakawake picked up her first career RBI as she ripped a double down the left-field line to score Kate Cunningham. An error by the shortstop then helped the Warriors score two more runs to make it a 7-1 lead.

The Jaguars got a run back in the sixth on an RBI single from Jackie Kamery to make it 7-2.

But the Warriors offense was too much for Southwestern as ECC scored three more times in the sixth to seal the victory.

EL CAMINO COLLEGE 7, CITRUS 5

Once again, the Warriors fell behind in the first inning thanks to a solo home run, this time a leadoff shot by Giavanna Muenz off starter Elizabeth Cortez.

The Warriors again picked themselves up and erased the deficit in the third inning with two runs scored off Citrus errors.

The big blow came in the fourth as Garza unloaded her first home run of the season, a three-run shot that plated De La Torre and Lewis to make it 5-1.

In the fifth, Lewis came through with what proved to be the deciding run with an RBI double through the left side to score freshman Brooklyn Araujo and put ECC up 6-1.

The run proved critical as the Owls nearly erased the entire deficit with help from the long ball. Alex Valenzuela started it off with a solo shot and then the Owls caught a break as a Warriors error on an attempted sacrifice bunt allowed the Owls to have two runners on base.

After Emily Piera got the next two outs in the circle, which would have ended the inning. But the error allowed Brooke Fuss to step to the plate and she made ECC pay with a three-run homer to make it 6-5.

The Owls had a chance to tie things up in the sixth inning as they got the potential tying run to third base but reliever Jocelyn Hernandez struck out Katie Kempton to strand the runner.

The Warriors added an insurance run in the top of the seventh but, despite allowing a baserunner, Hernandez retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to slam the door and collect the save, wrapping up an undefeated day for the Warriors at Citrus in the process.

The Warriors will return to action on Wednesday afternoon with a non-conference road game at Fullerton. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.