Rough Inning Sinks Baseball against Orange Coast

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College gave up one huge inning to visiting Orange Coast and it proved to be the difference in a 5-3 loss on Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field.

With the win, the Pirates (2-0) claim the Memorial Cup Series and trophy after the Warriors won the inaugural series last season. The Memorial Cup Series between the Warriors and Pirates started in 2022 to honor the memories of Warriors catcher Sladen Mohl and legendary OCC coach John Altobelli.

On Saturday, the Warriors held a 2-0 lead through four innings but the Pirates batted around in the fifth inning and plated five runs to take the lead. It was the only inning in which the Pirates managed to score but it proved to be enough as the Warriors left 12 men on base and struck out 11 times on the day.

In the fifth, the Pirates got the first two men on and then a fielder's choice by Jake Taylor scored one run but erased a runner at third base. After an Alec Gomez flyout, Warriors pitcher Casey Kitagawa was on the verge of getting out of the frame with minimal damage.

But the Pirates mounted a two-out rally, poking four straight singles through the infield to score four more times and take a 5-2 advantage.

Kitagawa would get the final out on a grounder to third and his day came to an end with five earned runs in five innings of work with one walk and one strikeout.

Pierce Kingston would finish out the game on the mound for ECC and was flawless, pitching four hitless frames with six strikeouts.

It would be up to the Warriors offense to answer but they'd leave six runners on base in the last five innings including three in scoring position.

Their best chance came in the ninth inning as Daniel Murillo got aboard on a leadoff single. Ethan Felix then drew a one-out walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Patrick Stark struck out but then reliever Sawyer Spivey tossed two wild pitches, allowing a run to score to make it 5-3 with a runner on third.

The Warriors would not get closer though as Spivey struck out Jaedeyn Edwards to end the game and clinch the series for the Pirates.

The Warriors will return to action on Tuesday at OCC for the final game of the Memorial Cup Series with first pitch set for 1 p.m.