By Edgar Lopez
The Husky softball team broke a two-game losing streak last Thursday with a win against the El Camino College Compton Center Tartars, 11-2, taking the team’s overall record to 10-17 overall and 5-8 in South Coast Conference play.
Coach Erika Blanco said it felt good to come back from the losses and that the game allowed them to work on key components of their game. In the first inning, the Huskies managed to put one on the board.
Tartar pitcher LaNita Leary went through the entire Husky rotation and two others in the bottom of the second inning, as Leary’s footwork caused Husky runners on base to advance numerous times.
The umpires penalized Leary for comitting a crow hop/leap, lifting both feet off the mound. All runners advanced one base and the batter was awarded one ball count. The Tartars switched pitchers after allowing six runs on errors and hits.
Tartar Melina Rubio took over the mound duties, struggling to get the ball in the strike zone. Rubio managed to save herself however, with an out to left field and a force out at home, after East Los Angeles College loaded the bases.
At the top of the second, Husky catcher Samantha Martinez obstructed Rubio’s bat, allowing Rubio the walk to first. The next Tartar struck out with Leary on deck. With Rubio on first, Leary took Husky pitcher Janessa Martinez deep to left-center field for a two-run homer. Compton had a, 2-1, lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Huskies added three runs on infield hits, a bunt, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly. Husky Michelle Contreras started the inning with a single past the pitcher followed by a bunt single from Elsie Ramirez.
During Husky Jesy Wrtaza’s at bat, Rubio threw a wild pitch, allowing the runners to advance to third and second. On an infield hit by the Huskies, the Tartars tried to tag Contreras at home but were unsuccessful allowing the other runners to advance while increasing the score, 8-2.
With Husky runners at second and third, Natalie Gutierrez hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Ramirez, for a 9-2 lead, while advancing a runner to third. Lauren Herman also belted a long double to center-right field. Brittanie Garcia hustled for a triple as the ball traveled to the wall, bringing in Herman.
In the bottom of the fourth, Wrtaza singled in Ramirez after a three bagger. The Huskies had an 11-2 lead. The game was finished at the fifth inning after Garcia made a diving grab in left field for the final out. Martinez struck out four and went five innings. Contreras went 2-3 with a walk and three runs.
The Husky softball team will face off against two SCC rivals next week. Long Beach City College visits ELAC on Tuesday while Mt. San Antonio Colleges will play the the ELAC softball field on Thursday. Both games are at 3 pm.