Espino Shines, Offense Erupts as Warriors Down Rio Hondo

TORRANCE, Calif. --- Freshman pitcher Mahlia Espino was stellar in the circle as No. 5 El Camino College defeated Rio Hondo 8-0 in five innings in a South Coast Conference tilt at the ECC Softball Field.

Espino tossed her third five-inning complete-game of the season and logged her first shutout of the season to stay unbeaten in the circle. She allowed a hit to the first batter of the game and then did not allow another until there were two outs in the fifth inning. She walked two and struck out three in the victory.

Offensively, the Warriors pounded out 10 hits and used two big innings to secure the run-rule victory. They sent eight batters to the plate in the first innings and benefitted from a throwing error on an Emma Garcia bunt-single to score the first two runs of the game. Lexi Ramirez also had an RBI single in the frame to put ECC up 3-0 after one.

In the third, the Warriors sent eight more batters to the plate and got an RBI single from Jackie Ordonez, two-run double from Cami Garcia, an RBI triple from Kastigar and a sacrifice fly from Garcia to plate five runs and take the 8-0 lead.

Kastigar finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored while Ramirez went 2-for-2 with a triple, a run scored and RBI.

The Warriors will return to action on Wednesday afternoon against L.A. Harbor at the ECC Softball Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.