Warriors Unbeaten Start Continues Against Cypress

TORRANCE, Calif. - The El Camino College Warriors baseball team continued their perfect start to the season as they defeated Cypress College 7-3 at home at Warrior Field on Tuesday afternoon.

The Warriors improved to 6-0 to start the season.  The last time they had a better start to the season was in 2019 (7 wins to start the season) and 2017 (8 wins to start the season). 

Both sides had seven hits a piece but it was the Warriors who got the two big hits when it mattered. Nathan Rivera hit a 3-run shot and Phelan Bucknor also hit a two run bomb late in the game for the knockout punch.  

Cameron O'Neil picked up the win after tossing a quality start going six innings and allowing just three runs on seven hits, zero walks, and fanning four batters. Gavin Sanchez picked up the save after tossing the final three frames and allowing just one walk, zero hits, and striking out three.  This was the Warrior's fourth save of the season and the fourth individual save from a different reliever.  

Cypress took a 1-0 lead in the first inning before the Warriors responded back. Slater Nunez hit a one out triple to the left center gap and Gil Solis brought him in on a sac fly.

The Chargers took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning after two hits in the inning. However, the Warriors took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. Gil Solis led the inning after being hit by a pitch and Dylan Mares hit a flare to right field to put two runners on. Nathan Rivera slugged his first carer home run over the LF fence to give the Warriors a 4-2 lead.

The Chargers got one run back in the top of the 5th after two doubles in the inning. Once again, the Warriors responded in the bottom half of the inning. They loaded the bases to start the inning after a Dane Rhodes single and Nunez and Solis were hit by pitches. Dylan Mares brought one run in on a sac fly to restore the 2-run lead and make it a 5-3 game.  The Chargers were able to escape the jam without further damage. 

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Phelen Bucknor hit his first career bomb on a 2-run towering shot over the right field wall to make it 7-3.

Gavin Sanchez slammed the door on the Chargers in order over the final three innings after walking the first batter he faced.

The Warriors will take on Golden West College in a two game set over the weekend beginning Friday at Golden West before returning home on Saturday.