Softball Drops Third Straight Game in Extra Innings

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College suffered its third straight loss on Wednesday afternoon with a 6-5 defeat against Orange Coast College in eight innings at the ECC Softball Field.

The Warriors allowed five unearned runs in the game including the eventual game-winning run in the eighth inning. The team has now lost three consecutive games for the first time since 2023 when the Warriors lost five in a row from March 16-28.

During their current skid, the Warriors have committed 11 errors on defense which have resulted in 18 unearned runs. Warriors' pitchers have allowed 25 total runs in the last three games with only seven of them being earned.

On Wednesday, Mahlia Espino and Raquel Alonso combined to allow six runs on 10 hits with only one earned run. Alonso took the loss after tossing five innings of relief and scattering three hits while striking out six.

The Pirates jumped on top of the Warriors in the first, scoring three times after leadoff hitter Kelsey McNair reached on a throwing error. After a sacrifice bunt and a lineout, Espino hit Kimora Tuipala with a pitch and then allowed the runners to advance to second and third on a wild pitch.

Kayla Vargas would triple to the gap in right to score the runs and then a pop-fly single by Victoria Ruiz allowed Vargas to score to make it 3-0.

In the second inning, both teams benefited from shaky defense as the Pirates added two runs in the frame including the only earned run charged to ECC pitching on an RBI single.

The Warriors would score twice in their half after a Pirates defensive miscue. Melissa Terrazas drew a leadoff walk and then, with one out, Sophia Munguia hit a soft grounder to first. Tuipala attempted to get the lead runner at second and threw the ball past the shortstop and into the left-field gap, allowing both Terrazas and Munguia to score on the play to make it 5-2 OCC.

The game stayed that way until the sixth when the Warriors mounted a rally. Terrazas and Abigale Dedech each drew walks to start the inning and then Munguia singled to drive in Terrazas. Dedech and Munguia would advance an extra base on a throwing error by the OCC left fielder to put runners on second and third.

Gabby Merced came in to pinch hit and singled to right, scoring Dedech to make it 5-4. Jazmin McHenry would tie the game on a single to center and then Emily Gamboa drew a one-out walk to load the bases for Emma Padilla.

The freshman got ahead in the count but hit a weak flyout to shallow left, forcing the runners to hold. Miranda Morelos then hit a hard fly ball to left-center that was nabbed by Vargas with a jumping catch to end the threat and send the game into the seventh.

After neither team scored in the seventh, a one-out error allowed the potential go-ahead run to reach for the Pirates. A bunt single to the circle allowed the runner to advance all the way to third base putting runners at the corners with one out. Marissa Sardinas then hit a weak grounder to short but was able to beat out the throw to first to avoid a double play and allow Lauren Trivino to score the go-ahead run.

The Warriors would be retired in order in their half of the eighth to seal the decision for OCC.

The Warriors will return to conference play on Friday when they travel to Cerritos for a 1 p.m. first pitch.