Sanchez Stars as Warriors Blank Chaffey in Six

TORRANCE, Calif. --- Sophomore Skylar Sanchez stole the show for El Camino College in Friday afternoon's 8-0 non-conference victory over visiting Chaffey in six innings at the ECC Softball Field.

Sanchez went 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and tossed six scoreless innings in the circle to record her fourth win of the year for the Warriors (8-2). She held the Panthers (5-4) to just three hits and struck out one en route to the win. She also finished a home run short of hitting for the cycle.

At the dish, seven Warriors recorded a RBI and Destiny Ostorga also recorded a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-3 with a RBI.

For the Panthers, Alexya Naranjo was credited with the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in three innings of work.

The game was scoreless through two innings and, after Sanchez escaped a jam with a runners on second and third with one out in the top of the third, the Warriors offense woke up in the bottom of the inning.

Haile Torres started things off with a one-out walk and then Kayla Inzunza laid down a perfect bunt in front of the catcher for a single to put two runners on. Sanchez then helped her own cause, clearing the bases and coming up a few feet short of a home run as she tripled off the wall in right-center. Viviana Tamayo then singled Sanchez in to put ECC up 3-0 after three innings.

In the fifth, the Warriors essentially put the game away as they sent nine batters to the plate and scored four times to take a 7-0 lead. They were one hit away from ending it in that inning but Marisol De La Torre hit into a fielder's choice and Inzunza grounded out to the pitcher, both with the bases loaded, to end the frame.

It only delayed the inevitable though as pinch-hitter Gabriela Ortega walked the game off with a single up the middle to score pinch-runner Emily Esparza from third base to invoke the run-rule and give the Warriors the victory.

It was the Warriors' third run-rule win of the season with two of them coming in their only two home games of the season.

The team will return to action on Thursday when they open South Coast Conference play as they host Pasadena at the ECC Softball Field with first pitch set for 3 p.m.