Momentum swung in favor of El Camino College as the Warriors extended their three-game winning streak and overpowered the Rio Hondo College Roadrunners in a dominant 8-0 shutout Tuesday, March 25
The pre-game unfolded with an electric atmosphere; the crack of the bats and the quick sounds of pitches meeting gloves and cleats connecting with the sandy field echoed across the softball field.
Despite cooling temperatures, the intensity on the ECC Softball Field stayed ignited
.
Rio Hondo started the first inning with pitcher and outfielder Alexia Mayorga hitting a single to the left of the field but soon was left on base as the Roadrunners failed to score.
Warriors utility player Savanna Kastigar singled to center field and scored when infielder Emma Garcia laid a bunt toward third base.
Garcia successfully reached second as Rio Hondo’s pitcher, Denise Sanchez, threw an off pitch during ECC’s bottom of the first inning.
Chants and cheers echoed from both teams throughout the game, continuing to build the competitive energy on the field.
“Momentum’s all up to the team and what type of fire they bring every day and making sure they have really good joy for the game and kind of get the energy going right away,” Warriors coach Jessica Rapoza said.
ECC’s momentum in the first inning kept a strong lead as infielder Cheyenne Navarro reached first base and later stole second.
While infielder Lilly Lewis singled left but was later thrown out, allowing Navarro to continue to third and soon brought it home with a batted-in run.
ECC’s offense made the most of the rocky start from Rio Hondo and took the lead 3-0.
“What kept me motivated was to not do bad and have a great performance; we build off of momentum,” Warriors pitcher Mahlia Espino said.
Espino completed the game with three five-inning tosses.
Rio Hondo struggled to score offensively, with pitcher and infielder Sanchez grounded into a force out by pitcher Espino.
ECC’s offense also came up short towards the bottom of the inning.
Center fielder Anahi Pintado walked and advanced to third with a sacrifice bunt following a walk from Navarro.
Shortly after, the Warriors left two runners stranded, shaping a tense moment, but the team kept positive attitudes with and for each other as the game continued to unfold.
“Wanting to do good for myself and my teammates kept me motivated, having them in mind and knowing I have to have their back in order for them to have my back,” said center fielder Anahi Pintado after the game.
Both teams remained scoreless during the second inning.
Rio Hondo continued to generate offense in the third inning but failed to score, leaving a runner on base, unable to capitalize on the walk made by infielder Gisselle Ramirez-Huerta.
With motivation levels at an all-time high, ECC’s offense rallied five runs during the bottom of the third inning.
Pitcher Lexi Ramirez led the inning off with a triple, advancing to home.
She was later accompanied by utility player Emily Gamboa, outfielder Jackie Ordonez, center fielder Maite Owens, lastly Kastigar, who scored from the sacrifice fly from infielder Garcia.
The inning came to a close with the Warriors taking a commanding 5-0 lead.
In the final two innings, Rio Hondo finished with no hits and ECC pushed in the bottom but failed to acquire any hits as well,
“We have losses and we come back from them better, I would say … hungrier,” Espino said.
The Warriors will face off against the Los Angeles Harbor College Seahawks at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 26 on the ECC Softball Field.
