Despite a six-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Long Beach City College baseball team fell to the Grossmont College Griffins 7-6 in a non-conference game on Saturday afternoon at the Viking Baseball Field. With the loss, the Vikings drop to 17-14 overall, but remain 8-5 in the South Coast Conference.
Freshman pitcher Bryan Sandoval (1-2) took his second loss on the mound with three runs, only one earned, on six hits, while striking out four in six innings.
Grossmont College took control over the field as they scored seven runs by the top of the seventh inning. It wasn't until the bottom of the eighth inning that the Vikings turned up the volume.
It started with freshman shortstop David Rivera coming in with double to right field to bring in freshman designated hitter Michael Kunipo for the Vikings' first run. Freshman second baseman Raul Gonzalez was next at-bat with a single to center field to bring in Rivera.
Sophomore third baseman Reese Berberet reached first from a Griffin error, then freshman catcher David Balboa slammed a double that brought in Berberet and Gonzalez to close in on the Griffin lead 7-4.
Sophomore center fielder Robert Funk earned an RBI that brought in Balboa, and then sophomore right fielder Aaron Fawcett doubled to bring in freshman outfielder Collin Perez for the Vikings last run of the rally.
The Vikings couldn't close the gap and lost 7-6, but will return to conference action on Tuesday, April, 10 against El Camino College.
