By Damien Guzman
The East Los Angeles College softball team dominated Long Beach City College on Tuesday at home, forcing the mercy rule to win 8-0.
Both offense and defense came together for ELAC’s win which was stopped by the umpires in the fifth inning.
The game was cut short because the umpires agreed that the score was out of hand and LBCC was too far away for a comeback.
ELAC showed off pitching and defending for its 14th shutout of the season improving its record to 23-7 overall and 12-3 in the South Coast Conference.
The Huskies blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning imposing their bats on LBCC’s pitcher and defense, scoring five runs.
To start off the onslaught, ELAC’s first basemen Larae Gonzales hit a solo home run deep to the left center field reaching the F9 buildings. Gonzales ran the bases in excitement while the whole team waited for her at home plate to congratulate her on the big hit.
“(I am) excited, but yet calm because even though it was a solo home run its like they all had my back” Gonzales said.
Larissa Munoz, an ELAC utility player (meaning she can play several positions), was intentionally walked in her first two at bats in the game.
In the fourth inning she stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded forcing the Vikings’ pitcher to try and strike her out. Munoz then proved why she was being walked throughout the game by hitting a double, deep off of the left field wall earning her two RBI’s.
ELAC’s pitcher Alashanee Medina and other first basemen Nicole Guzman batted in the other two runs scored in the fourth inning, adding to ELAC’s big lead.
Medina then had a chance to bat in the fifth inning with runners on second and third base. With two RBI’s to her stat sheet at that point in the game, she walked up to the plate with the chance to add some more runs and end the game.
Proving to be clutch in key situations, Medina smacked a grounder into the outfield, scoring both runners and ending the game.
“It felt good because it gives me a break to not have to pitch a full seven innings and be able to end a game early like that,” Medina said.
Aside from the offensive display, Medina threw eight strikeouts and allowed no runs with the help of a superb defense.
The Huskies are showing great team work and camaraderie as the season is reaching the final stretch.
“Everyone seems to have accepted their roles and understand that it’s going to take all 19 of us,” Gonzales said.
The Huskies defeated Los Angeles Harbor College with a score of 8-3 yesterday on the road.
With this result, ELAC is now tied in second place with Mt. San Antonio College in the SCC standings.
The Huskies, who currently have a five-game winning streak, will face Mt. SAC on Tuesday as hosts at 3 p.m. ELAC will be looking for a six-game winning streak.