The Long Beach City College baseball team suffered a 10-6 non-conference loss to visiting Southwestern College on Wednesday at Joe Hicks Memorial Field.

 

The loss dropped Long Beach to 3-8 overall, while Southwestern of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference improved to 7-3.

 

The Vikings committed a season-high eight errors that proved costly and led to seven unearned runs.

 

Trailing 4-1 after the top of the fifth inning, Long Beach rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 4-4. Center fielder Joe Lent smacked a RBI double, first baseman Brian Compton executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to bring in a run, and right fielder Chris Jacobs lined a run-scoring single.

 

But Southwestern rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth. A pair of LBCC errors extended the inning, which allowed Southwestern’s designated hitter Jimmy Maxwell the chance to smash a two-out, bases-clearing double that gave the Jaguars the lead for good.

 

Down 7-5 in the seventh, the Vikings had their best chance to get back in the game. Compton, catcher Jonathan Keener, and Jacobs led off the frame with consecutive singles. But reliever Tim Perreira came in to strike out pinch hitter Stephon Brown and got pinch hitter Tyler Godoy to line into an inning-ending double play to end the Vikings’ threat.

 

Southwestern blew the game open with three more runs in the top of the ninth, once again capitalizing on a pair of two-out errors.

 

LBCC left fielder Randy Guite opened the bottom of the ninth with a double and came in to score on double from Compton to cut Southwestern’sadvantage to 10-6, but the Vikings would get no closer.

 

Sophomore Jared Smith allowed four runs (two earned) and six hits in five innings in the no-decision. Freshman Zachary Ketcher (1-0) picked up the loss after allowing three runs (none earned) and two hits in 2/3 innings.

 

Jacobs led the Vikings’ offense. He was 4 for 5 with a triple, two stolen bases, a run, and a RBI. Lent (2 for 5, 1 run, 1 RBI), Compton (2 for 4, 2 RBI), and shortstop Justin Moore (2 for 4, 1 run, 1 RBI) all had two hits for LBCC.

 

For Southwestern, Nathan Saquilon picked up the win in relief. He allowed one runs and four hits in 1 1/3 innings. Perreira was credited with a save after tossing three innings, allowing one run and two hits. Center fielder Eduardo Arroyo went 3 for 6 to lead SWC at the plate.

 

The Vikings return to action on Thursday when they travel to L.A. Pierce College for a 2 p.m. non-conference game.

Reports From LBCC