Softball Edged by Moorpark on Controversial Ending

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College suffered a 3-2 non-conference loss to Moorpark on Saturday afternoon at the ECC Softball Field but not without controversy.

The Warriors officially filed a protest following the last play of the game that resulted in a game-ending double play.

Trailing 3-2 with runners on second and third and one out in the seventh, Lilly Lewis stepped up for the Warriors and hit a chopper to third baseman Isabella Velasquez, who fielded it cleanly and looked baserunner Cheyenne Navarro back to third base. Velasquez then threw to first base to apparently get Lewis out.

Navarro broke for home on the throw but got hung up halfway as Kylie Kolkowski ran at Navarro to prevent her from scoring. On the throw to third, Navarro was safe at the base but Emma Garcia, who was on second to start the play, was now halfway between second and third. The Raiders ran her back toward second and then on a throw to second base, Navarro again bolted for home and was tagged out by catcher Maddy Mekari for what appeared to be the third and final out of the game.

But Garcia and Lewis remained on the bases and, as the Raiders celebrated and cleared the field, both runners ran home and touched home plate under the assumption that no out was ever recorded at first base. Amidst the confusion with two teams celebrating victory, the umpires met and eventually ruled that both outs were recorded and the game was over with a 3-2 win going to Moorpark.

Warriors head coach Jessica Rapoza officially protested the result after the game.

For the game, Garcia went 3-for-4 with a double with Malia Martin going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI to lead the Warriors offense.

Emma Figueroa tossed a complete game for ECC, her second of the week as she allowed just one earned run and struck out two.

For the Raiders, Taytem Reyes and Leah Cowans each had two hits to lead the offense and pitcher Amanda Smith earned the complete-game victory as she allowed two runs on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

The Warriors will return to action on Tuesday with a road game against East Los Angeles. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.