Softball Drops Conference Opener to Long Beach

TORRANCE, Calif. – El Camino College dropped its first game of the season, an 8-1 loss to visiting Long Beach in the South Coast Conference opener at the ECC Softball Field.

The Warriors' (3-1, 0-1) offense struggled to get the key hits on Thursday, leaving 10 runners on base against Vikings' (1-0, 1-0) starter Daisy Torres. The offense managed just four hits on the day and the defense committed three errors resulting in four unearned runs.

Torres tossed a complete game for the Vikings, allowing just one run on four hits and four walks. She struck out four.

Jamie Garvey went four innings and allowed three runs, only one earned, on five hits for the Warriors. She walked one and struck out three. Garvey also provided the bulk of the offense, going 2-for-2 with a double. Kaela Little pinch-ran for Garvey and scored the Warriors only run of the game in the fourth inning.

The Warriors best chance to do damage offensively came in the second inning as they loaded the bases with nobody out. Torres hit McKenna Zayas, walked Alani Gasca and gave up an infield single to Garvey to load the bases. But Elizabeth Cortez, Clarissa Chiquete and Mina Nakawake all struck out to leave the bases loaded and squander an opportunity to break the game open.

The loss is ECC's first home loss to Long Beach since April 22, 2014 and it is the first home loss to the Vikings under head coach Jessica Rapoza. It is just the second time the Warriors have lost a game to Long Beach under Rapoza, the last coming on the road on  March 22, 2016.

The Warriors will look to regroup on Tuesday afternoon as they head to Cerritos for another SCC matchup. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.