Ramirez Stellar in the Circle but Warriors blanked by Long Beach

TORRANCE, Calif. --- No. 2 El Camino College struggled offensively in a 1-0 South Coast Conference loss to No. 9 Long Beach on Friday afternoon at the ECC Softball Field.

The Warriors managed just three hits on the day against Vikings' starter Hailey Harris en route to their second loss of the season and first in SCC play.

The pitching was the story on Friday as both starters went the distance. Lexi Ramirez allowed just one run on seven hits. She walked one and struck out three.

But her counterpart pulled out the win in the circle as Harris allowed just three hits and struck out three, retiring 14 of the last 15 Warriors hitters she faced including the the final nine in a row.

The Warriors biggest chance to get on the board came in the third inning as they loaded the bases with one out. Emma Garcia reached base on an error and then Savanna Kastigar singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. After a passed ball advanced the runners, Lilly Lewis walked to load the bases for Ramirez.

The Warriors' pitcher hit a soft liner in the infield that required a diving catch from second baseman Haleigh Jacobs. Kastigar was able to get back to second to avoid the double play and give Emily Gamboa a chance to drive in a run with two outs. But Harris got the Warriors' shortstop to hit a groundout to second to end the threat and the Warriors never got another runner into scoring position for the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, the Vikings scratched out a run in the fifth inning despite having a runner on first with two outs. Sienna Rievley singled through the drawn-in left side of the infield to put runners on first and second and then pinch-hitter Itzel Diaz smacked an infield single up the middle.

Lewis was able to get to the ball but Jaela Ruiz never stopped running from second base and just beat the throw to the plate with a head-first slide, getting her left hand on the plate before catcher Bryanna Morales could apply the tag.

The Warriors will return to action on Tuesday, March 4 with another SCC game, this time on the road at Rio Hondo. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.