The Long Beach City College baseball team continued its push for the playoffs as they traveled to Cerritos College to take on the Falcons in the second game of a three-game series in South Coast Conference (SCC) – South action. After struggling on the offensive end in the early stages of the game, the Vikings scored a combined seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings en route to a 7-2 victory over Cerritos.
Freshman hurler Josh Agnew (Long Beach, CA) took to the mound in search for his sixth win of the season. He got off to a strong start in his first two frames by forcing an inning-ending double play in the first frame and a scoreless second frame where he picked off a runner at first base.
However, the Falcons tacked on a run each in the second and third innings to put the Vikings in a 2-0 rut.
Agnew continued to throw effectively despite his mild woes in the early stages of his outing by blanking the Falcons the following two frames.
The Viking bats began to awake in the top of the seventh inning as a four-run outburst handed them the lead.
Freshman center fielder Zach Martinez (Lakewood, CA) came around to score the first run for Long Beach after sophomore shortstop Antonio Monroy (Maywood, CA) sent him home via single. Freshman right fielder Val Stammler (Long Beach, CA) came around to score on a wild pitch after being issued a free pass, backed by Monroy crossing the dish on another wild pitch shortly after. Freshman second baseman Tyler Wilber (Los Alamitos, CA) capped off the scoring by barreling a single to right-center field, plating sophomore third baseman Reese Berberet (Fallbrook, CA) leading to a 4-2 advantage after seven full.
Stammler continued his hot hitting in the top of the eighth inning by adding two insurance runs by blasting a two-run homerun to left field, scoring freshman pinch hitter Jacob Gotta (San Diego, CA) who reach base via walk. Berberet put the final nail in the coffin by lofting a sacrifice fly out to left field, plating Monroy and leading to a 7-2 victory.
Agnew (6-3) continues his dominance on the bump after scattering nine hits and two runs. He utilized his defense after only recording a pair of punch outs.
Stammler launched his second round-tripper of the season to highlight a 2-for-4 effort, while Monroy pushed his batting average to .378 after clocking in a 3-for-5 day at the dish.
The Vikings return home on Saturday, April 1st and look to bring out the brooms for a series-sweep against the Falcons at 12 p.m.