No. 9 Warriors Take Down No. 16 Saddleback In Game One

TORRANCE, Calif. --- The No. 9 El Camino College Warriors defeated the visiting No. 16 Saddleback Bobcats 11-6 in the first game in the 3C2A Southern California Regional series.

The Warriors took and early lead in the second inning and held onto the rest of game. 

The Warriors were outhit 14-to-9 for the game but took advantage of the Bobcats defense and pitching that allowed two errors, 5 walks, and 9 hit batsmen.  Ryan Matsukawa set the table for the Warriors by going 3-for-4 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs in the leadoff spot.  Matt Hammond went 1-for-3 with 1 run and 4 RBIs. 

Cameron O'Neil picked up the win after going seven innings and allowing four runs on nine hits, 3 walks, and striking out five batters.  Tyler Tellenbach and Kona Agena each pitched an inning of relief and both were able to escape their innings with just one run after facing the bases loaded. 

The Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  Dylan Mares led the inning off with a a walk. Aden Laureano hit a ball to the left center gap that should've put runners on 3rd and 2nd.  However, on the relay throw the Saddleback shortstop overthrew the ball to the second base which allowed Mares to score and Laureano to get to third.  Ryan Matsukawa brought in Laureano on a sac fly to make it a 2-0 game.

Saddleback made it a 2-1 game to start the fourth inning after a solo blast from Jacob Beauchaine.  The Warriors responded with a four spot in the bottom half of the inning.  Mares walked, Laureano walked, and Jack Nammack was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  The new relief pitcher for Saddleback should've gotten out of the inning with the bases loaded but the Bobcat shortstop made his second error of the game after bouncing a ball to first on a grounder hit by Lucas Bonham which scored a run.  Matt Hammond took advantage of the situation in the next at-bat with a bases clearing double down the right line to make it a 6-1 game.

The Warriors made it 8-1 in the sixth inning after taking advantage of bases loaded on two walks and a hit batter.  Slater Nunez brought in a run on a base hit and Dylan Mares brought in another run on a sac fly to make it 8-1.

The Bobcats cut the lead to 8-4 after scoring three times on 3 hits and two walks in the top of the seventh. 

However, the Warriors got those two runs back in the bottom of the seventh inning.  They once again loaded the bases with one out on a hit by pitch, single, and a walk.  Matt Hammond brought in one run on a sac fly and Gil Solis doubled down the left field line to make it a 10-4 game. 

The Bobcats loaded the bases in the 8th inning with no outs to start the inning on two hits and a walk.  They got one run on a single to make it 10-5.  However, Tyler Tellenbach struck out the next batter and got a line out double play to Slater Nunez to escape the jam.  The Warriors were able to respond yet again after Ryan Matsukawa singled in a run after the Warriors had two base runners on via two hit by pitches.

In the ninth inning the Bobcats once again loaded the bases with no outs to start the inning on two hits and a hit batter.  Kona Agena induced a shallow fly out to center for the first out.  The Bobcats scored one run on a sac fly to left field for the second out to make it an 11-6 game.  Agena was able to strike out a pinch hitter for the final out of the game to preserve the win for the Warriors. 

The series wraps up tomorrow at Warrior Field with the first game being 11:00 a.m. and a third game if necessary at 2 PM after that.