Softball: Long Beach drops third straight, falls 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 (Bannings HS) delivered with a clutch two-out single to drive in two runs. Sophomore Melisa Sponholz (Millikan HS) 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 (Santa Fe HS). Her 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 (Gahr HS) 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.

Photo by Chris Ruiz