Reports From LBCC

Freshman center fielder Joe Lent lined a walk-off, two-run single in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Long Beach City College baseball team a 10-9 South Coast Conference win over visiting Mt. San Antonio College on Tuesday at LBCC.

 

The win improved Long Beach to 14-18 overall and 10-7 in the SCC, while Mt. SAC dropped to 16-15 and 10-7 in conference play.

 

The Vikings needed some late-game heroics to even send the game to extra innings. Trailing 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth, freshman left fielder Chris Jacobs smashed a solo home run to left field that tied the game.

 

In the top of the 10th, Mt. SAC threatened to take the lead after freshman relief pitcher Michael Kerman allowed a leadoff walk and a base hit to open the inning.

 

But freshman reliever J.T. Mazalewski came in to pitch his way out of the jam. Mazalewski struck out Mt. SAC’s Taylor Jimenez, got JacobAlmaraz to fly out to center, and ended the inning on a ground out by J.C. Torres to keep the game tied 9-9.

 

Mt. SAC eventually regained the lead in the top of the 11th. A two-out LBCC throwing error by freshman second baseman Justin Moore allowed Cameron McVey to score the go-ahead run as the Mounties took the 10-9 advantage.

 

Bu the Vikings didn’t quit. Freshman first baseman Kenny Uyetake led off the bottom of the 11th with a single off McVey. He advanced to second after Moore was hit by a pitch before sophomore right fielder Randy Guite’s sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third.

 

Sophomore shortstop Cory Buchheim was intentionally walked to load the bases. Sophomore third baseman David Compton couldn’t come through, as he fouled out to the catcher for the second out of the inning to bring up Lent.

 

With the count 0-2, Lent sent a sharp base hit to drive in pinch runner Edgar Mijares and Moore for the win.

 

Mazalewski earned the win in relief for Long Beach to improve to 2-0. He allowed one unearned run and no hits over two innings.

 

Lent (2 for 3), Guite (2 for 5), and Brian Compton (2 for 6) all had two hits and drove in two runs each for the Vikings.

 

McVey took the loss for Mt. SAC to fall to 1-5. He allowed two runs and two hits over two innings.

 

Mike Newell went 4 for 5 to lead the Mounties at the plate, while Jimenez was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI.

 

Long Beach returns to action on Thursday (Apr. 22) when it travels to El Camino College Compton Center for a 2:30 p.m. SCC game.