Seven of the Dons nine runs came with two outs in their 9-3 win over El Camino College in game one of the California Community College Athletic Assocation Southern Super Regional Championships at Rio Hondo College.
The Dons will face host Rio Hondo College in the winner's bracket tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. while El Camino will take on Riverside in the loser's bracket tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at Citrus College.
After Garrett Wilson pitched out of a first-inning jam, the Dons (3-7) first two batters were retired in order in the bottom of the first inning. Dylan Jones then hit a single to centerfield before Tyler Madrid drew a walk.
That set up Konnor Armijo who cleared the bases with a double down the left field line. Both Jones and Madrid came around to score, putting the Dons up 2-0.
The Dons third run also came with two outs, this time in the third inning when Jones hit a leadoff single before Madrid singled up the middle. After a double play advanced Jones to third while taking Madrid off the base paths, JB Bryant hit a RBI-single up the middle to put the Dons up 3-0.
That lead, however, was quickly erased in the fifth inning when El Camino (29-10) sent all nine of its batters to the plate. The Warriors turned three singles, two walks and an error into three runs to tie the Dons 3-3.
Much like their first game in last weekend's Regional Championships, the Dons responded as soon as they could. Madrid led the bottom of the fifth off with a walk before advancing to third on a wild pitch and an Armijo groundout.
Madrid came around to score on another wild pitch to put the Dons back on top 4-3 before Bryant drew a walk. Kyle Kuck and Daniel Miranda then hit back-to-back singles before Geoff Schuller plated Bryant on a fielder's choice to put the Dons up 5-3.
Armijo scored the Dons sixth run in the seventh inning when he led the frame off with a single before eventually scoring on Kuck's RBI-single through the left side.
The Dons final three runs came in the eighth inning with Armijo doubling in Jones and Madrid before Bryant scored Armijo on a single to left-centerfield.
Wilson improved to 10-1 on the season, and 2-0 in the playoffs, as held the Warriors to three runs on five hits with five strikeouts in five innings pitched.
Drew Freeman (5-5) took the loss for El Camino as he allowed six runs on 12 hits over seven innings of work.
