No. 7 Softball Rallies Late to Walk-Off No. 15 Mounties

TORRANCE, Calif. --- For five innings, the No. 7 El Camino College offense was stagnant against No. 15 Mount San Antonio. But the bats came alive in the last two frames to help the Warriors score a 2-1 walk-off South Coast Conference victory over the Mounties on Thursday at the ECC Softball Field.

Lexi Ramirez starred for the Warriors as she overcame early struggles in the circle to log a complete-game victory with just one run allowed on four hits. She walked four and struck out eight to win her 19th game of the season. But she also performed with the bat as she went 2-for-3 with the game-tying RBI single in the sixth inning.

Jackie Ordonez went 1-for-2 with a leadoff single in the seventh inning. She would come around to score the game-winning run on Emma Garcia's sacrifice fly to right field.

Things started off a bit rough for the Warriors as Ramirez struggled a bit with her control. After giving up a leadoff single, Ramirez walked Sarai Raygoza to put the first two runners on. Ramirez bounced back with a strikeout and a fielder's choice groundout to short, leaving the Mounties with runners on first and second with two outs.

But Ramirez would hit consecutive batters to force in a run and leave ECC trailing 1-0 after one.

That run was enough for Mounties starter Kayden Connaty as she made it hold up for five innings, keeping the Warriors' offense off balance and allowing just three hits in the first five innings.

The Warriors did have an early chance to tie things up in the third inning when Cheyenne Navarro singled to center field with a runner on second. Pinch-runner Katie Michaels tried to score the game-tying run but center-fielder Mia Martin threw a strike to the plate to get the out and keep ECC off the scoreboard.

But in the sixth, the Warriors' offense finally broke through against Connaty as Garcia led off with a single. She was erased at second on a fielder's choice groundout by Lilly Lewis, but Lewis would steal second base to put the tying run in scoring position with one out. Ramirez then smoked a single to center field in a near identical situation to the third inning but Lewis beat the throw to the plate easily to make it a 1-1 game.

Ramirez took second on the throw and then Morgan Knight drew a walk to put an end to Connaty's day. The Mounties turned to reliever Samantha Vizcarra who got the final two outs of the inning to keep the game tied.

In the seventh, Ramirez gave up a one-out single to the Mounties but that was all, giving the Warriors offense a chance to win the game.

Ordonez came through with a leadoff single to center and then Vizcarra walked both Savanna Kastigar and Navarro to load the bases with nobody out.

Garcia stepped in and came through in the clutch, hitting a deep fly ball to right field to allow Ordonez to score easily and complete the comeback for the Warriors.

The Warriors have now won nine straight conference games and currently second in the SCC standings based on percentage points. They are tied with Long Beach with two losses but the Vikings have two extra wins in conference play.

The team will conclude the week on Saturday with a non-conference game on the road against No. 9 Cypress. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.