Win or go home. That was the situation the EC men’s baseball team found itself in Tuesday night against Mt. San Antonio College as both teams battled for the final playoff spot.

The Warriors clinched the No. 16 seed in the playoffs by defeating the Mounties 2-1 at Mt. SAC in a game that was hard-fought and evenly matched to the very end.

“We’re excited to be able to play after the regular season,” coach Nate Fernley said. “It was nice to prove to ourselves that we can finish games.”

Despite having dropped the final three games of the season, the Warriors were given the opportunity to make the playoffs by competing in a play-in game and they took full advantage of the situation.

“We were not going to lose. If we get a chance like that then we are going to take advantage of it right off the bat,” sophomore third baseman Jack Canady said. “We’re making a playoff run.”

Sophomore starting pitcher Andy Burschinger had perhaps his best start of the season when it mattered most. Pitching a complete game while striking out 6 batters and only allowing 4 hits. Burschinger finished the regular season with a team best 2.31 ERA in 66 innings pitched.

“For about five seconds I closed my eyes on the mound just thought about how far we’d come, how far I’ve come and what’s important right now,” Burschinger said. “I came to the conclusion that was the next pitch. It’s always been the next pitch.”

Everyone was making contact as the team racked up 12 hits but had little to show for it as they left 10 runners on base. Luckily, the Warriors were able to get timely hits when they needed it most.

Sophomore second baseman Joseph Cortez started off the top of the 3rd with a lead off single followed by a sacrifice bunt by freshman center fielder Keyon Allen and a single by freshman left fielder Alex Turner.

Freshman shortstop Fred Smith brought Cortez home with an RBI single down the right field line that gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead.

“It was a must-win today,” Smith said. “Win or go home. We needed this one and it was huge for us, Bursch[inger] pitched a great game.”

The Mounties would strike back in the bottom of 6th with a single into left field that would tie the game at one run apiece.

Although the Warriors would quickly respond in the top of the 7th.

Cortez once again led the inning off with a bunt single and a stolen base to get into scoring position. Hatch would bring home the go-ahead-run with an RBI single into right field. This gave the Warriors a 2-1 lead that they would hold onto the rest of the game.

“You don’t really get second chances very often,” sophomore first baseman Dylan Hatch said. “We were going to make sure that we give it our all, 110 percent.”

The Warriors will certainly have their work cut out for them as they have earned a date with the No. 1 seeded team in the playoffs, Orange Coast College.

The two teams will open up the first round of the playoffs with a best of three series this Friday and Saturday, May 2-3, at Orange Coast College.

“We can compete against anyone,” Fernley said. “It’s just dependent on how we execute so that’s what we’ll have to focus on.”