Radeke Tosses Gem as Warriors Defeat Reigning State Champs

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College knocked off reigning 3C2A State Champions and previously undefeated Cypress, 4-2, on Friday afternoon at the ECC Softball Field.

The Warriors (6-3) got an outstanding start from sophomore Madilyn Radeke, who tossed a complete game en route to her third win of the year in the circle. She allowed just two runs, one earned, on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

In four appearances and 23 innings pitched, Radeke has now allowed just one earned run and surrendered 16 hits while posting a miniscule 0.30 ERA along with a 0.87 WHIP.

For the Chargers, pitcher Kaitlyn Reynolds suffered her first loss of the season in eight outings after allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. She was 7-0 prior to the Warriors handing the right-hander her first loss of the season.

The Chargers struck first on Friday as Kimberly MacPherson smacked an RBI single to left-center with two outs, scoring Mikala Jacobsen for a 1-0 Cypress lead.

After two quiet innings in which they were retired in order, the Warriors offense woke up in the third as Anahi Pintado led off with a four-pitch walk. Radeke laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Pintado to second and then Aaliyah Aguirre traded places with her, smoking a double over the center fielder to tie things up at 1-1. Aguirre then stole third and would come around to score after the catcher's throw sailed into left field to give ECC a 2-1 lead.

The Chargers would tie it in the fourth with a run but the Warriors went ahead for good in the fifth. Pintado again got things started, reaching on an error at short. She was again moved over to second by a Radeke bunt and then Aguirre hit a bloop double to shallow left, putting runners on second and third with one out. Emma Garcia then walked to load the bases but Reynolds struck out Cheyenne Navarro for the second out in the frame.

That's when Malia Martin came through in the clutch, stroking a single to center on a low line drive to plate two runs and put ECC up 4-2.

The Chargers would mount one last rally in the seventh as they got a pair of runners on base with one out but Radeke induced a foul out and a fly out to end the game and secure the win.

The Warriors will wrap up their four-game homestand on Tuesday against Citrus with a first pitch set for 2:30 p.m., weather permitting.