Softball: Vikings close SCC schedule with 6-2 loss to No. 3 Mt. SAC

Long Beach City College freshman Jezeree Misaalefua (pictured) smacked her fourth homerun of the season, but it wasn't enough as the Vikings suffered a 6-2 South Coast Conference loss to No. 3 state-ranked Mt. San Antonio College on Tuesday at LBCC.

With the loss, Long Beach closed out the conference schedule in third place in the final SCC standings at 14-7 and is 24-14 overall heading into its regular-season finale on Wednesday (Apr. 24) at Palomar College.

Long Beach jumped out to an early first-inning lead after Misaalefua smashed an impressive solo shot over the centerfield fence off Mt. SAC starting pitcher Denise Gonzales.

But the Mounties came right back in the top of the second to score a pair of runs and jump ahead of Long Beach 2-1.

In the fourth, the Vikings tied up the game thanks to back-to-back hits off Mt. SAC relief pitcher Emily Seidel. Sophomore Shanise Compton lined a triple to right field which was followed by a RBI single down the right-field line by sophomore Lauren Alferos to drive in Compton with the tying run.

 The Vikings were looking for their first win over Mt. SAC since 2009, but a four-run, seventh-inning rally by the Mounties lifted them to the victory.

A one-out throwing error by LBCC third baseman Eileen Rivera allowed Devynne Butler to score the go-ahead run for the Mounties. Mt. SAC then got a two-run single by Stefania Aradillas and a RBI single by Holly Moorin to bring in three unearned runs.

Freshman Candice Shadwell (19-12) took the loss for Long Beach. She allowed six runs (three earned) and seven hits in the complete-game effort. Shadwell struck out four and walked five.

For Mt. SAC (35-4, 21-0 SCC), Seidel earned the win in relief to improve to 22-3 overall. She allowed one run and four hits over the final four innings. Aradillas went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI to lead the Mounties at the plate.

Photo by Chris Ruiz