ELAC Baseball Wins 5-4 in the Bottom of the Ninth Inning
MONTEREY PARK, CA. — East Los Angeles College earned a 5-4 victory over Long Beach City College when sophomore Damian Lomeli (St. Paul High School) smashed a game winning double in the ninth.
It was an important victory for ELAC, who jumped into the SoCal poll last week at No. 11, because the Huskies were riding a five-game losing streak.
After three lead changes and two ties, ELAC built a 4-2 lead through seven innings. In the top of the eighth, however, Long Beach scored two runs from three hits and took back the momentum.
With the score tied 4-4, ELAC sent its third pitcher to the mound in the inning to get out of the jam. Freshman Luis Ramos (Venice HS), who had a save under his belt, did just that. He recorded a strike out with a runner in scoring position and ended the Long Beach threat.
Ramos continued his stellar performance and retired the side in the top of the ninth with three straight strikeouts.
In the bottom of the ninth with the home crowd noisily involved, sophomore right fielder Elias Maldonado (Northview High School) walked. After an out, Lomeli calmly walked up to his first appearance at the plate tonight and blasted the winning run home with his double.
Stat Sheet
Eight Huskies filled the gaps with 10 hits. Two freshmen each singled twice with a run batted in, second baseman Grant Victor (St. Francis HS) and first baseman Bryan Duenas (Warren HS).
Five Husky sophomores each singled. Maldonado, short stop Matthew Sosa (Whittier HS), third baseman Oscar Osorio (Charter Oak HS), left fielder Steven Nuno (Warren HS) and catcher Matthew Shults (South Pasadena HS) whom Lomeli replaced in the bottom of the ninth.
Ramos recorded his first win of the season. He has struck out nine in nine innings of work. Pitcher Zech Jarrard (Temple City HS) struck out four in 7.2 innings of work for the Huskies.
Sophomore third baseman Reese Berberet (Fallbrook HS) led Long Beach with a home run and a double. Freshman first baseman Mark Stanford (Los Alamitos HS) singled twice for the Vikings.
On Tuesday, Long Beach won 5-4 over the Huskies. The Vikings ran up a 5-1 lead after seven innings. ELAC came back with three runs in the top of the eighth and pulled within one, down 5-4. With the bases loaded, Long Beach got out of the jam and ended the ELAC scoring burst.
ELAC pitcher Paul Kosanovich (Temple City HS) who struck out four in 4.1 innings, took the loss and falls to 1-2 on the season. Freshman pitcher Josh Jorgensen (Lakewood HS) struck out three in 2.2 innings for the Huskies.
Duenas led the Husky bats with two of ELAC’s nine hits. He singled twice with a run batted in. Osorio muscled out two singles, Sosa tripled (RBI), Victor doubled (RBI) and freshman center fielder Ruben Hernandez (Walnut HS) doubled (RBI). Maldonado singled as did freshman designated hitter Elija Martinez (La Serna HS).
The Huskies continue play with four games in the next week that includes two home-and-home series. ELAC, 10-9 overall, plays at Compton College (6-12) on Sunday and on Tuesday at ELAC.
The Huskies play at Los Angeles Harbor Seahawks (11-10) on Thursday and host them on Saturday.
Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).
story submitted by Tadzio Garcia