Clutch Ninth Lifts Warriors Past Compton to Clinch Series

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College found two runs in the top of the ninth inning and escaped with a 3-1 South Coast Conference victory over Compton on Thursday afternoon at Warrior Field.

The game was played at ECC due to field issues at Compton, making the Tartars (8-13, 1-7) the home team at Warrior Field. With the Warriors (15-8, 8-3) hitting first, the team had to hold off one last threat from the Tartars in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win and the series.

With the game tied 1-1 in the ninth, the Warriors were in business early as Juan Carlos Camarena led off with a single to center. After a sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position, Brendan McAndrews singled to center to put runners on the corners with one away.

The Warriors then got some luck on their side as Tartars reliever Adrian Lopez spiked a slider that got past catcher Zaid Humphrey and to the back stop. McAndrews broke immediately and was never in danger of being thrown out at second, but Camarena broke for the plate very late and Humphrey's throw got to the covering Lopez in plenty of time. But the Tartars pitcher slipped as he caught the ball, giving Camarena to show off his dexterity as he avoided Lopez's tag attempt and then got his hand onto the plate before Lopez could recover for another tag attempt, giving the Warriors the 2-1 lead.

Dylan Knowles then promptly laced a single to right to bring in McAndrews with some insurance and the Warriors held a 3-1 lead as they headed to the bottom of the ninth.

Camarena and Knowles each recorded two hits on the day as did Patrick Stark as the trio accounted for six of the Warriors' 10 hits on the day.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Tartars would not go quietly as the first two men reached base on a single and a walk.

A sacrifice bunt from Sevon Battle advanced the runners into scoring position, putting reliever Jason Davis in a predicament. But the right-hander steadied the ship as he struck out Johnathon Enriquez and Tervell Johnson to end the game and lock down his first win of the season on the mound.

Davis went three innings of relief and allowed two hits and one walk while striking out three.

He relieved starter Mike Mulkey who had a solid outing, going six innings and allowing one run on four hits. He walked four and struck out five en route to the no-decision.

For the Tartars, Joseph Giunta drew the start and went six and 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and two walks. He struck out five. Lopez suffered the defeat after going two and 1/3 and allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout.

The Warriors will look to complete the sweep on Saturday afternoon as the two squads return to Warrior Field for a 12 p.m. first pitch.