In a 11-2 losing effort, the Lady Roadrunners went head to head with the No.2 team in the state, El Camino College.
“It doesn’t matter to us what the team’s ranking is, we go into every game with the mentality that if they’re in our league we should be able to compete with them,” infielder Natalie Sosa said.

The first inning of the game seemed promising when Roadrunners’ pitcher Denise Sanchez started off strong, with 0 runs and 0 hits, retiring the side of El Camino.

In the bottom of the first, Rio Hondo scored its first run due to an RBI by Sosa. Dual-player Alexia Mayorga who plays both pitcher and outfielder, doubled to left field. Due to a pitching error by El Camino, Mayorga successfully stole third base. Sosa then singled to right-field and Mayorga scored, giving the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.

“When I go up to bat, unless it’s a ball I don’t want, it’s always go, go, go in my mind,” Sosa said.
The Roadrunners quickly lost their lead when they allowed 2 runs in the top of the 2nd inning.
RHC had an opportunity to catch up when El Camino pitcher Mahlio Espino walked both infielder Giselle Ramirez-Huerta, and Mayorga back to back. However, El Camino then switched Espino for pitcher Lexi Ramirez who has an extremely strong, fast pitch. Ultimately the Roadrunners couldn’t compete and the score at the end of the second inning remained 2-1.

In the top of the third, an RBI gave El Camino their third and only run of the inning. The Roadrunners quickly recovered by gaining an RBI themselves. Infielder Abby Ramirez doubled to left center field. Sayuri Marquez also doubled to left center field and Ramirez scored. Unfortunately, these were the only two runs the Roadrunners scored the entire game. El Camino scored three more runs in the fourth inning, two runs in the fifth and another three in the sixth and final inning to close out the game.

Lack of hits and runs, pitching errors and lack of communication between the outfield all contributed to RHC’s demise.
“Going into the next game our team plans to work on our confidence and on completing routine plays to the point where we make it look easy,” Mayorga said.

Although it was a tough loss head coach Bianca Urquidi is proud of her team.
“I think every time we make an outing we improve by 1%, and that’s exactly what we’re working on. My team makes progress every single time we step onto the field,” Urquidi said.

The Lady Roadrunners next game is tomorrow at home, against Cerritos College at 3:00 p.m.

*UPDATE* Thursday’s game was rescheduled due to the rain.