Three Long Beach City College errors led to three unearned runs as the LBCC softball team suffered a 4-1 South Coast Conference loss to visiting No. 8 state-ranked Cerritos College on Tuesday.
The loss dropped Long Beach to 13-14 overall and 7-5 in the SCC while conference-leading Cerritos moved to 21-7 and 12-1.
The Vikings outhit the Falcons 6-5 but stranded six runners on base.
Cerritos took advantage of a LBCC error in the top of the third inning to score the game's first run. Ally Catania reached base to lead off the frame after freshman shortstop Reanna Guzman (Artesia HS) misplayed her ground ball. Two batters later, Lauren Castrellon lined a RBI triple off LBCC starting pitcher Frances Campoy (Santa Fe HS) to drive in Catania.
The Falcons added to their lead in the fourth when Briana Quintana smacked a solo homerun.
Long Beach finally responded in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Shanise Compton (North Torrance HS, pictured) smashed a solo homerun off Cerritos starter Lily Cornejo to left field. The Vikings were back in the game, trailing 2-1.
The Vikings had their best chance to tie the game up in the sixth. With one out, sophomore Cassie Garcia (Banning HS) and freshman Melyssa Rivas (Santa Fe HS) hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. But Cornejo ended the threat when she got sophomore Melisa Sponholz (Millikan HS) to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Cerritos added two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Alexxa Sanabria and Catania reached base after one-out errors by Guzman and Rivas. Two batters later, Castrellon delivered again with a clutch two-out triple to drive in both runs and give the Falcons the commanding 4-1 lead.
Garcia and sophomore Danielle Hannan (El Segundo HS) both had two hits to lead LBCC at the plate. Campoy took the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) and five hits in the complete-game effort.
Cornejo also went the distance in the win. She allowed one run and scattered six hits. Castrellon had the big day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with two triples and three RBI.
Long Beach returns to action on Thursday (Mar 29) when it travels to Pasadena City College for a 2 pm SCC game.
Photo by Chris Ruiz