Late Rally Spurs Warriors Past L.A. Mission in Home Opener

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College rallied to score a 4-3 non-conference victory over visiting L.A. Mission on Tuesday afternoon at the ECC Softball Field.

The Warriors overcame a two-run deficit to score the win despite just recording two hits on the day. Kat Gutierrez got the victory in the circle after tossing three innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two. Emma Figueroa started the game and went four innings, allowing three runs on three hits with three strikeouts.

The game turned in the sixth inning as the Warriors turned a one-run deficit into a one-run advantage thanks to some heads-up base running and defensive miscues by the Eagles. Ashley Salas led off the frame by reaching after getting hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Lilly Lewis then followed with a line-drive single up the middle to put runners on second and third.

A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third and then Emily Esparza hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring pinch-runner Aaliyah Aguirre. But the throw from left-fielder got away and Lewis made it home to score the go-ahead run.

The Warriors still needed to close it out though and it took a great defensive play to seal the win. With the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, Sevannah Miller lined a ball off Gutierrez's glove and toward the hole up the middle. Cheyenne Navarro made a great adjustment and fielded the ball and then dove onto second base to beat Jasmine Villegas to the bag and record the final out of the game.

The Warriors will return to action on Wednesday to face Santa Ana in a road game scheduled for 2:30 p.m.