Softball Opens Conference Play with Win at Pasadena

PASADENA, Calif. --- Anahi Pintado's clutch hit late in the game proved to be the difference for El Camino College in a wild 10-9 South Coast Conference win over Pasadena on Thursday afternoon at Robinson Park.

Pintado smashed a two-out double to left-center with the bases loaded in the sixth inning to clear the bases and turn a one-run deficit into a 10-8 lead for the Warriors and it was just enough to claim the victory in a wild game that featured 22 combined hits and seven combined pitchers.

It was Pintado's only hit of the game in two at-bats but she drove in four RBI and had two walks including one with the bases loaded in the fifth inning.

Kat Gutierrez got the win in the circle for the Warriors after completing the fifth inning but it was Madilyn Radeke who shut the door on Pasadena for her first save of the season. The sophomore right-hander entered the game in the sixth inning and got the final six outs despite giving up a run in the sixth. In that inning, Radeke was greeted with a leadoff triple by Alyssa Hernandez and then an RBI double by Leiana Rodriguez to make it a 10-9 game with the tying run in scoring position and nobody out.

But Radeke stranded the runner at second as she induced two groundouts and a lineout to escape with the lead. She then retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the win.

The Lancers actually took a 3-0 lead after two innings but the Warriors responded with seven unanswered runs beginning in the third inning and culminating in the fifth as they scored three times with the bases loaded on a pair of walks and a hit batter.

The Lancers would answer back in their half of the fifth, scoring three times to reclaim the lead before Pintado's clutch hit in the sixth put ECC up for good.

The Warriors will return to action on Friday afternoon at Long Beach City with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.