A rally from two runs down seemed attainable for the Warriors going into the sixth inning of the softball game.
El Camino needed key stops from their defense to pull some runs back in the last two innings.
Mt. San Antonio had other ideas however, as the hitting never seemed to cease. Six runs were scored before the Warriors finally got the third out.
The potential comeback disappeared.
“We had really low energy at the beginning of the game and then we tried to muster up heroics late at the end of the game,” coach Jessica Rapoza said.
The softball team lost to the Mounties 9-3 on Friday in a grudge match for sole possession of the South Coast Conference title. The victory kept alive the slim hope of Mt. SAC sharing the title with El Camino.
“It kind of puts in perspective how aggressive we need to be and how aggressive we need to stay,” sophomore utility player Reina Trejo said.
Up 1-0, the visitors piled on the pressure in the fifth inning. A Mountie hit to left field was missed by sophomore third baseman Danielle Bonsky and loaded up second and third base with zero outs. Consecutive hits to right field brought in two runners and made it 3-0 for Mt. SAC.
“We can’t come out thinking that we have this game won when we haven’t even started yet,” Gabriel said. “We just need to come out strong and on top of our game.”
The Mounties pummeled the home side in the sixth inning. Multiple errors brought in six runners and stolen bases became a commodity for the visitors. The Warriors finally earned the third out but the damage was done and Mt. SAC led 9-1.
“That brought us closer and we knew we had each others back no matter how good Mt. SAC was hitting,” freshman pitcher Sierra Gabriel said
Two late Warrior runs weren’t enough to spark a comeback as the home side lost 9-3.
“It’s just a learning game we knew what we did wrong in the beginning so next game we just (have to) come out strong,” sophomore catcher Gabby Fordiani said.
Trejo contributed EC’s first RBI and sophomore Kristen Romero’s double in the sixth inning brought in two players.
The Warriors are currently ranked eighth in the latest CCCAA Southern California poll. They will travel to L.A. Harbor College on Tuesday to wrap up the regular season.
