By Regan Estes
Sports Editor
Putting an end to a three-game losing streak, the Mira Costa baseball team has won four games in a row, sweeping El Segundo in a double-header on Wednesday on the road at Stevenson Park. Costa’s record improved to 7-5.
The Mustangs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first game, and they went on to win 2-1. Costa faced off against El Segundo’s top pitcher, senior Josh Bornstein, who is committed to Division I UC Irvine.
Senior shortstop Ryan Erickson led off the first inning with a double to right field, followed by a bunt single by senior Turner Conrad, advancing Erickson to third base.
“It was very important to get runners in scoring position early on in the first inning, especially in a game where we knew runs would be limited,” Conrad said.
A balk from Bornstein allowed Erickson to score the Mustangs’ first run of the game. Senior Ryan Franklin was walked on four pitches and junior Trent Hammond drove in a run with a fielder’s choice to second base.
“This was the best team chemistry we’ve had all year, and we had a great attitude. It was a great team effort, and everybody did their part,” senior Anthony Lombardo said.
Junior Chris Alcala pitched a complete game and only allowed one earned run from an RBI double in the third inning.
“Going up against a good Division I college pitcher like that, I just needed to keep my team in the game. I knew their wouldn’t be a ton of runs scored today, so it was my job to keep us competitive,” Alcala said.
Key defensive plays kept the Mustangs ahead for the entire game thanks to Conrad, Erickson, and Hammond.
“The defensive plays gave us momentum and helped out our pitcher Chris. It feels great to win against our rivals, especially when they threw their ace,” Conrad said.
Costa sent Lombardo to the mound to pitch the second game, and the Mustangs again jumped out to an early lead with an RBI single by junior Jack Hadley.
The Mustangs later scored off of an RBI single by Hammond in the fifth. Neither of the teams scored until the top of the seventh inning, when Costa scored seven runs. The runs came from walks, hits, and hit batters, while the Eagles had no answer.
“I was really excited to get my first varsity start, and I was just focused on putting it in play,” Hadley said. “I felt like we were really able to get the job done as a team.”
The Eagles, now down by nine runs at the bottom of the seventh inning, had no answer for the Mustangs. The Mustangs finished the second game, 9-0, sweeping the double-header.
The Mustangs’ next game is Saturday at 11 a.m. against Santa Monica at home.
“We’ve had a great attitude. The balls started bouncing our way and we worked well together as a team which led us in both wins today,” coach Cassidy Olson said.
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