Hernandez, Araujo Lead Warriors to Home Win over Palomar

TORRANCE, Calif. – Jocelyn Hernandez and Brooklyn Araujo were outstanding for El Camino College in a critical 5-3 non-conference victory over visiting Palomar Saturday afternoon at the ECC Softball Field.

Hernandez did it all for the Warriors (12-5) on Saturday, tossing a complete game in the circle while helping her own cause in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Araujo chipped in with the bat as well, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI to supply the offense for ECC.

The victory snapped a short two-game skid for the Warriors as the team heads to College of the Canyons on Sunday for a pair of tough games against the Cougars and Cypress.

On Saturday, the Warriors jumped out in front early as Diamond Lewis led off the first inning with a triple. Araujo then stepped in and singled on a line drive off the glove of Comets second baseman Jillian Zamora to score Lewis and make it 1-0.

Araujo would steal second and then come in to score on a two-out RBI single by Hernandez to put ECC up 2-0 after one.

Hernandez made that lead hold up until the fifth inning when the Warriors defense had a pair of hiccups that led to two Comets runs.

The inning began with an error at first base that allowed Mary Nejo to reach for the Comets to start things off.

Pinch runner Jenny Lafayette then stole second base. Rylee Penrod then singled up the middle to move Lafayette to third base, but she would come in to score after Mina Nakawake's thrown to the plate got past Marissa Garza behind the plate and bounced off the backstop toward the Warriors dugout.

Penrod used the opportunity to advance all the way to third base and she would score the tying run on a single by pinch-hitter Taylor Riley.

Hernandez would settle down and limit the damage to the two unearned runs by getting a pair of groundouts to end the frame.

Despite the defensive lapses, the Warriors responded with their bats in the bottom of the fifth. Alena De La Torre led off with a single to center field and then Diamond Lewis drew a one-out walk.

Araujo once again stepped in and came up with a clutch base hit up the middle to plate De La Torre and put the Warriors back in front, 3-2.

With runners on second and third and two out, Hernandez gave herself some insurance with another two-run single up the middle to give the Warriors a three-run cushion.

Hernandez would handle the rest, retiring the Comets in order in the sixth and holding Palomar to one more unearned run in the seventh to clinch the win.