Reels’ Clutch Hit Pushes Warriors Past Top-Ranked Mounties

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College stunned top-ranked Mount San Antonio, 3-2, in a South Coast Conference matchup Thursday afternoon at the ECC Softball Field.

The Warriors (12-9, 6-5) edged the Mounties (17-3, 10-2), who entered the game ranked No. 1 in the latest California Community College Fastpitch Coaches' Association rankings. It was only the Mounties' third loss of the year and second in conference play.

Leesa Parral, Sarah Reels and Jamelah Lewis all had a hit and an RBI for the Warriors in the victory and Noemi Sandoval picked up the win after tossing six innings in the circle. She allowed two runs on seven hits. Clarissa Lockett picked up her first save of the year after pitching a scoreless seventh, walking two batters but also striking out two in the frame.

The Warriors jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first as Kayla Inzunza led off with a double and then stole third with one out. She'd score on a sacrifice fly from Parral to put the Warriors on the board.

Alyssa Lujan then tripled with two outs and Lewis reached on an infield single to score Lujan for a 2-0 lead after one inning.

The Mounties got one back in the second inning and then tied the score in the third on an RBI triple from Brianna Goris.

But the Warriors would take the lead for good in the fourth as Reels came through with a clutch RBI single up the middle off pitcher Grace Pieson, scoring Lujan from third base and giving ECC the one-run lead.

Sandoval would handle the rest in the circle, allowing one hit in the fifth and sixth inning but nothing more to keep the Warriors on top. Lockett closed the door in the seventh as she struck out two batters after a leadoff walk. Lockett would walk Ariana Coronado to put the go-ahead run on base but she would get Goris to fly out to left field to end the game and give the Warriors a big win.

The Warriors will return to action on Saturday for two games. They will face Cypress at 11 a.m. and then take on College of the Canyons at approximately 3 p.m. Cypress and Canyons will face each in the middle game of the day at approximately 1 p.m.