Softball: Long Beach record falls to 4-4 after 6-3 non-conference loss to Santa Ana

Long Beach City College totaled just one hit, but still nearly pulled off a non-conference win over visiting Santa Ana College. Instead, it was the Dons that scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to hand the Vikings a 6-3 defeat on Wednesday at LBCC.

The loss evened Long Beach's record to 4-4 overall while Santa Ana also moved to 4-4.

For the third time over their last five games, the Vikings couldn't hold onto a lead. Long Beach got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore Mariah Jacobo (La Serna HS) lined a one-out single to left field. After a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Sarah Maldonado (Port of Los Angeles HS) moved her to second, Jacobo came in to score on a two-out throwing error by Santa Ana pitcher Desiree Hernandez.

LBCC added to the lead in the fourth with two more runs. Freshman Tristin Zazueta (Paramount HS) walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt by sophomore Andrea Barba (Cypress HS). After a rundown, Zazueta was safe at third base and Barba was able to advance second. Sophomore Doreen Corella (San Pedro HS) followed with a sacrifice fly to left that was dropped by Mercedes Munoz that allowed both Zazueta and Barba to score.

Santa Ana rallied for three runs in the fifth to tie up the ball game, the big blow was a RBI double by Kasey Hutton with no outs. And the Dons pulled out the win with a pair of home runs in the seventh. Hattie Marshall smashed a two-run shot that was followed immediately by a solo homerun off the bat of Christina McCullogh.

Sophomore Brooke Loard (Millikan HS) took the loss for the Vikings to fall to 1-2 overall. She allowed six runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings. Loard struck out seven but walked six.

Long Beach returns to action on Friday (Feb. 12) at 2 p.m. when the Vikings travel to nearby Cypress College for a non-conference game.