By Carlos Alvarez
East Los Angeles College starting pitcher Frankie Wright, 3-1 overall took the win after pitching eight dominant innings as the Huskies rallied to beat EL Camino College Compton Center, 7-2.
ELAC lost the opener of the three game series, 4-0 last Tuesday. The series ends tomorrow on the Compton baseball field at noon.
“We will approach Saturday’s game like any other game, but the third game is always more tough,” Head Coach James Hines said.
Starting for the Huskies will be Elias Novelo who was effective in his last start against Pierce College. “It’s an important game. It’s better to win the series. Winning the series puts us in a good position when it comes to the conference standings. (We) will be ready,” Hines said.
The game was a pitching duel as both pitchers kept both offenses quiet for the first four innings of the game, allowing one hit each. The Tartars were the first to strike scoring two runs in the fifth inning taking a 2-0 lead.
Wright allowed two runs off of four hits while striking out eight Tartar batters. “His performance was good. He kept us in the game. He gave (us) a chance to win,” Hines said.
After being shut out the first five innings and 14 consecutive innings going back to Tuesday’s game, the Husky offense finally awoke.
“Maybe I’m expecting too much regarding energy. Guys are into the game, but I feel we are not reaching our full potential,” Hines said.
The Huskies rallied and tied the game, two-all after scoring a run each in the sixth and seventh innings.
Compton Head Coach Shannon Williams relieved his starting pitcher who allowed a leadoff double to Husky Joseph Tellez to start the eighth inning. Tellez was two for five collecting a double and triple, while driving in two runs and scoring two of his own.
Albert Flores stranded Tellez at third to get out of the eight with the score still tied. The Huskies rally continued in the ninth inning.
Flores only lasted an inning as the Huskies pounded two of their 12 hits against him. After Flores loaded the bases in the ninth inning, Flores walked-in the go ahead run for the Huksies. He left the game after one inning.
The Huskies added four more runs to head into the bottom of the ninth with a 7-2 lead.
“We had some clutch hits in the ninth. Having a four run lead going into the ninth is always better than a one run lead,” Hines said.
Wright was then replaced by Leonard De La Rosa, who pitched a scoreless inning to give the Huskies their eighth win of the season, and first in South Coast Conference play.