Warriors Blanked by Huskies, Winning Streak Snapped

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College saw its eight-game winning streak come to an end on Friday afternoon in a 5-0 South Coast Conference loss to East Los Angeles at Warrior Field.

The loss marked the Warriors' (17-9, 10-4) first loss since March 3 and was also the first time the team has been shutout by an opponent this season. The Warriors managed just five hits off Huskies (10-14, 7-4) pitching which tied for the second fewest in a game for ECC this year.

Mike Mulkey suffered the loss as he surrendered four runs on just three hits but he also walked six while striking out two.

Robert Baneulos was stellar for the Huskies, going eight scoreless innings and allowing five hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He induced two double plays from the Warriors and allowed just one baserunner into scoring position through the first five innings.

Both pitchers were nearly unhittable through five frames as Mulkey allowed just two hits in that period while Baneulos surrendered three.

But the sixth inning turned the tide of the afternoon for the Warriors as Mulkey walked the first two batters of the frame and then Alex Mendez bunt-singled to third to load the bases with no outs for the Huskies. Mulkey then issued his third walk of the inning to force in a run to open the scoring and that was the end of his day as Pierce Kingston entered in relief.

The Huskies would scored three times off the Warriors' reliever on a hit, a hit batter and a fielder's choice line drive to right field and that's all Baneulos would need.

The Warriors had a chance to respond in their half of the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs but Patrick Stark struck out looking to end the threat.

That would be the last major threat for the Warriors as Baneulos and reliever Justin Rios retired 10 of the final 11 Warriors hitters to secure the win.

The teams will meet in the rubber match on Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m. at Warrior Field.