Calm, cool, and collected, freshman Samantha Lauro threw pitch after pitch without conceding a hit. Her concentration did not falter for seven innings as she led the Warriors’ softball team to a rampant 4-1 win against L.A. Harbor College last Tuesday.

“[Lauro] had a beautiful game and hit her spots very well,” coach Elaine Martinez said. “It’s the best performance I’ve seen from her and its the best performance I’ve seen from our pitching staff this year.”

Lauro pitched the full seven innings and got six strikeouts. Freshman infielder Reina Trejo added her fourth home run of the season in the sixth inning as well putting the game out of reach for L.A. Harbor.

Defensively, freshman infielder Danielle Bonsky earned four
putouts. Two of those were in the first inning when she caught a pop-up
ball and got to first base before the returning runner could.

“Its
just reaction thats all it is,” said Bonsky. “I heard the [opponent’s]
coach saying ‘get back get back’ and I turned around and saw that she
wasn’t on the base.”

The game started slow offensively but after two dry innings, the Warriors picked up the pace scoring twice after a Garcia double.

With her teammates on base she knew she needed a good hit to help the Warriors Garcia said. ” I knew I needed to get them in somehow whether it
was a base hit, a sac fly, something.”

Another scoreless inning followed as EC pushed for a third run. Then, freshman outfielder Marissa Padilla stole second and third base before getting on the score sheet in the fifth inning.

“[Padilla] is just a smart player. She just makes really good decisions both defensively and offensively,” coach Martinez said. “She read the ball really well and saw the opportunity to get the extra base. Sometimes that’s the difference in close games.”

Trejo went into the sixth inning after she shared a laugh with the coach. The relaxation she felt at that moment helped her get the homerun Trejo said.

The run not only eased the pressure on the Warriors but pumped the team up for the close of the game Garcia added.

LA Harbor rallied at the end but it was not enough as the Warriors wrapped up the game at 4-1. EC will face Pasadena at home on April 8 at 3 p.m.