Torrance, Calif. – After dropping the final game of the Rio Hondo series, the Mt. SAC Men's Baseball Team opened a new three-game set in a big way, defeating El Camino 8–5 on Tuesday, March 3.
With the win, the Mounties improve to 9–10 overall and 6–1 in South Coast Conference play. The Warriors fall to 14–3 overall and now sit tied with Mt. SAC atop the SCC standings at 6–1 — which makes the next two games of this series even more important.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Ryan Castro opened the game with a bang, launching a solo home run to left field in the top of the first to give the Mounties an early spark.
El Camino answered quickly in the bottom half of the inning when Caden Lewis singled through the left side to score Slater Nunez and even the score at 1–1.
The Mounties broke things open in the fifth. Castro came through again with a double to right center that scored Tyler Primanto to retake the lead. He later scored on a Froilan Serna pop fly before Hudson Karczynski stepped up with a three-RBI double, bringing home Jackson Giacone, Nick Mejia, and Andrew Alva to stretch the lead to 6–1.
The Warriors kept things interesting in the bottom of the fifth, using hits from Nunez and Dylan Mares to cut the deficit to 6–4.
Mt. SAC added some breathing room in the seventh. Karczynski delivered again with an RBI double to score Mejia, then came home himself on a single from Mario Cuadros to push the advantage to 8–4.
El Camino added one final run in the eighth on a solo homer from Nathan Rivera, but the Mounties walked away with the 8–5 win.
Tomas Bilvado earned the start and the win, facing 23 batters over five innings. He threw 63 strikes on 106 pitches, allowing six hits and four runs while walking one and striking out six. Noah Tanphanich followed with three innings of relief, striking out two, and Juan Verduzco closed out the ninth to earn the save.
KEY PLAYERS:
- Hudson Karczynski: 3-for-5, 4 RBI, 2 doubles
- Ryan Castro: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 double, 1 homerun
- Dylan Mares (El Camino): 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 double
NEXT UP:
The Mounties will host the Warriors for game two of the series on Thursday, March 5, at 2:00 PM. Come on out to support the team as this important matchup continues!
STAY CONNECTED:
Follow Mt. SAC Baseball on Twitter @mtsac_baseball or Instagram mtsac_baseball
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.