3:00pm | Softball: Vikings drop third straight, fall to Antelope Valley 6-5
Three Long Beach City College errors led to all six Antelope Valley College runs as the Vikings fell to the visiting Marauders 6-5 in a non-conference game at LBCC. The loss was the Vikings third straight and evened their overall record to 5-5.
Long Beach led early, posting three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Liz Melendrez (Banning HS) led off with a walk and moved to second after she beat out a fielder’s choice attempt. Freshman Melyssa Rivas (Santa Fe HS) advanced Melendrez and sophomore Danielle Hannan (El Segundo HS) with a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, sophomore Cassie Garcia delivered with a clutch two-out single to drive in two runs. Sophomore Melisa Sponholz followed with single to a gap in right-center field to bring in Garcia.
Antelope Valley came back to take the lead in the top of the second thanks to a pair of LBCC errors. With the bases loaded and one out, Autumn Bedford hit a soft grounder to Long Beach starting pitcher Frances Campoy. He throw to home sailed wide, allowing two runs to come in. One batter later, Breanne Farinas delivered a two-out, two-run double to cap the rally.
A two-out double by Rivas scored Hannan in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 4-4.
Antelope Valley took the lead for good with two more runs in the top of the fourth. Long Beach got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth when Rivas delivered a RBI single to center to drive in Melendrez. But the Vikings would get no closer.
Campoy (3-2) was the hard-luck loser for the Vikings. She allowed eight hits and all six unearned runs over 3 1/3 innings. She struck out two and walked none. Freshman Nancy Montanez closed out the game giving up just one hit over the final 3 2/3 innings.
Rivas led LBCC at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI.
Jessica Saldana picked up the win for Antelope Valley (4-2) in relief. She tossed the final five innings, allowing one unearned run and one hit. Farinas was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI to lead the Marauders’ offense.
Long Beach returns to action on Tuesday (Feb 14) when it travels to East Los Angeles College for both teams’ South Coast Conference opener at 2 pm.
Women’s Basketball: Vikings close home schedule with 74-46 win over Trade Tech
The No. 18 state-ranked Long Beach City College women’s basketball team closed out its home schedule with an easy 74-46 South Coast Conference win over visiting Los Angeles Trade-Tech College on Friday night at the LBCC Hall of Champions Gym.
The Vikings, now 18-6 overall and 10-5 in the SCC, close out the regular-season on Wednesday (Feb 15) when it travels to El Camino College for a 5 pm game.
Long Beach overwhelmed Trade Tech early, as the Vikings opened the game with a 13-0 lead and never looked back. Sophomore Keshonda Moore (Lawndale HS) scored eight of her game-high 16 points on the opening run.
The Vikings led 22-3 after a jumper by sophomore Tamica Cheatham with 11:05 to go in the first before taking a 33-19 advantage into the break.
Freshman Luna Amico (Whittier HS) had a good all-around night, posting 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Freshman Charmaine Nelson (Lawndale HS) chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds. Freshman Kaaron King (Jordan HS) totaled nine pints and six rebounds, while sophomore Kala Amico (Whitter HS) added five points, six rebounds, and nine assists.
Trade Tech (5-18, 2-12 SCC) was led by Toni McLin with 12 points and seven rebounds.