No. 9 Warriors Upend No. 7 Cypress

TORRANCE, Calif. --- No. 9 El Camino College scored a big non-conference win on Wednesday with an 8-0 decision over No. 7 Cypress in six innings at the ECC Softball Field.

The Warriors recorded their second straight run-rule win this week and their 12th of the season after getting big days from their 2-3-4 hitters. Emma Garcia, Cheyenne Navarro and Lilly Lewis combined to go 7-for-10 with six runs scored and four RBIs. Lewis was perfect at the plate as she went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

In the circle, Lexi Ramirez was dominant as she held the No. 7 Chargers to just four hits and two walks while striking out nine batters in six innings of work. It was the most batters she's struck out in a game since she fanned 10 in the second game of the season at Citrus on Jan. 24.

Ramirez improved her record to 16-4 on the season as she allowed just one runner to reach third base in Wednesday's win.

The Warriors jumped on Cypress starter Haley Tucker right away as Savanna Kastigar led off with a walk and then stole second. Garcia then singled through the right side to score Kastigar with the first run of the inning. Garcia would advance to third on the play as the throw home from right field went to the backstop. Lewis would cash Garcia in on an infield single and then, after she stole second with two outs, Lewis would score the third run of the frame on an RBI single by Emily Gamboa.

In the fourth, the Warriors' trio stuck again as Garcia singled up the middle with Jackie Ordonez advancing to third on the play. Garcia and Ordonez would then pull off a double steal as Garcia drew the initial throw to second and then evaded the defense to slide into second base safely with Ordonez stealing home without a throw.

Navarro then hammered a double to left-center to score Garcia and Lewis singled to center to plate Navarro to give the Warriors a 6-0 lead.

The team would close it out in the sixth as Garcia led off with a walk and then Navarro laid down a perfect bunt down the third-base line for a hit. The duo would come around to score as Garcia went to take third and the throw from third-baseman Mickayla Galaviz spiked the throw and sent it into foul territory, allowing both Warriors to score and end the game.

The Warriors will return to conference action on Thursday afternoon with a trip to L.A. Harbor. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.