It was a hard-fought battle and even though the Warriors almost scored on two occasions to get back in the game, it wasn’t good enough for the win in the third game Thursday of the Hornet Classic.
In the seventh and the eighth innings, both times with less than two outs, EC (18-8, 7-4) had runners on in the corners, but the batters failed to deliver the tying runs, resulting in a 4-3 non-conference loss to Southern California top-ranked Santa Ana.
“It was a pretty good match up, and we had our chance to score,” Nate Fernley, coach, said. “We had a chance to score both times but we couldn’t get the hit when we needed it. Now we have to come back and get ready for conference.”
The Dons got on the scoreboard early on in the game, scoring two runs in the first inning.
Later in the fourth, the Warriors’ lineup came alive and delivered five consecutive hits: a solo home run by Aaron Deguire, a single from Kyle Petter, a double by Drew Rodela, a single by Garrett Cooper, which scored Petter in, and a single by Chris Vopinek which scored Rodela in and gave EC a 3-2 lead.
“They are definitely a good team the pitcher was a good lefty and threw a good game,” Rodela said. “We didn’t execute as well as we could have but hopefully we meet them again in the playoffs and we can execute better and beat them.”
Nick Turner, freshman pitcher, threw a complete game, giving up seven hits, four runs and three earned, while walking two, and striking out four in eight innings.
“I missed some spots on 0-2 and the guy hit the ball 500 feet because I pitched a slider right down the middle and coach was upset because that’s not exactly what we are supposed to do,” Turner said. “We talk all year about that, and I kind of made a mistake. But we learn from that and move on to the next start.”
Every year during the spring breaks, colleges participate in different tournaments and even though there is no award or championship game, the games EC played in the Hornet Classic do count, Fernley said.
El Camino won the first two games in the tournament at Fullerton and Riverside.
“It’s usually good competition. Fullerton, Riverside, and Santa Ana are really good teams, so it’s a good break for us to go out and play games from other conferences,” Fernley said.
Up next, the Warriors will host Pasadena today at home at 2:30 p.m. and will play them again for the last time during this regular season on Saturday in Pasadena at noon.
“We are tied with Mt. San Antonio and Long Beach for first place, with ten games to go so every game is important now. We have to try and do the best we can,” Fernley said.
“Last time we lost at their place. The guy pitched a really good game and we ended losing 4-2, so I expect them to be ready to play and give us a good game.”