The loss dropped the Vikings to 22-15-1 overall and 11-9 in the SCC,  while Cerritos remains atop the conference standings at 19-1 and 30-8 overall.

Sophomore third baseman Melissa McDougall (Millikan High School) smashed a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 5-5, but shaky defense by the Vikings and an impressive play by Cerritos second baseman Alexxa Sanabria helped propel the Falcons to the win.

Cerritos seemed to be on its way to an easy victory over the Vikings after scoring four runs in the top of the second off LBCC freshman starting pitcher Justine Meddings (Kennedy High School). Sanabria lined a two-run double and Jackie Flores followed with a two-run homerun to put the Falcons on top.

Long Beach answered with a run in the bottom of the second. The Vikings loaded the bases with one out and forced in a run with freshman center fielder Danielle Hannan’s fielder’s-choice grounder.

The Falcons came right back to score another run in the third. Gabby Villareal’s RBI double drove in Jessica Roper to give Cerritos a 5-1 lead.

The Vikings put together the big inning it needed in the fourth. Sophomore left-fielder Karina Veit (Newport Harbor High School) was hit by Cerritos starter Jessica Lozano to lead off the inning. Sophomore second baseman Desiree Villegas (El Rancho High School) laid down a bunt for a single, and sophomore catcher Brittney Holden (Big Bear High School) walked to load the bases.

After a strikeout by freshman designated player Cassie Garcia (Banning High School), McDougall came to the plate with two outs. She then lifted a 2-2 pitch from Lozano over the left-center field fence for her first homerun of the season, setting off the crowd and the LBCC bench. This tied the game at 5-5.

But Cerritos went ahead for good in the top of the sixth. Shawnee Kirk led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Flores followed with an RBI single to left field, putting the Falcons up 6-5 and driving Meddings from the pitcher’s circle.

Freshman reliever Angela Arias (Western High School) came in and promptly struck out Courtney Priddie for the second out. Natalie Garcia extended the inning with a single to load the bases. Arias appeared to be on her way out of the inning, but McDougall couldn’t handle Briana Quintana’s grounder, which allowed Flores to score.

The Vikings made one final push in the bottom of the sixth. Singles by Garcia and sophomore shortstop Melissa Schaefer (El Segundo High School), and a walk freshman pinch hitter Melisa Sponholz loaded the bases. Villareal, in the circle in relief of Lozano, nearly escaped the inning, but a two-out error by Flores at first base allowed Garcia to come in and put Long Beach down by one at 7-6.

The play of the game was turned in by Sanabria in the following at-bat. Villegas smacked a line drive that looked like it would reach the outfield for a base hit, but Sanabria leaped at the edge of the infield to snag the liner and save a pair of runs, and the game, for the Falcons.

Meddings picked up the loss for Long Beach to fall to 12-7 overall. She allowed six earned runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. She struck out four and walked four.

McDougall was one for two with the grand slam and 4 RBIs. Garcia was two for four at the plate and scored a pair of runs 

Villareal (3-3) earned the win in relief. She allowed one unearned run and two hits over the final four innings. Flores went two for two with 3 RBIs to lead the Falcons’ offense.

Long Beach closes out the regular season next Tuesday, April 26, when it travels to El Camino College Compton Center for a 3 p.m. SCC contest.