Viking Softball Falls in Extra Innings

The Long Beach City College softball team traveled to Whitter, CA on Thursday afternoon to face off against the Rio Hondo College Roadrunners. After taking the lead in the top of the fifth inning, the Vikings were unable to fend off the Roadrunners as it took extra innings to decide a 2-1 defeat.

Freshman pitcher Melody Garcia (Wilmington, CA) earned her first start in the circle for Long Beach and shined. In three innings pitched, she allowed just two hits and retired the side in order in the bottom of the third inning.

Garcia handed the ball over to freshman reliever Anissa Hamilton (Downey, CA) who matched her efforts through three frames while scattering just three hits and allowing no runs.

The Vikings scribbled the first run on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning as sophomore second baseman Daisy Velasquez (Bellflower, CA) started the inning off by drawing a walk and later advancing to second on a groundout. Freshman right fielder Alijah Vega (Bellflower, CA) clutched up with two outs and barreled a double, plating Velasquez for the 1-0 advantage.

However, the Vikings allowed a run to cross the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning and the bottom of the eighth inning, thus being handed a 2-1 loss.

Freshman left fielder Faith Hernandez (Downey, CA) and freshman designated player Alissa Cienfuegos (Carson, CA) went 2-for-3, while Vega earned the lone RBI. Velasquez crossed the plate for the lone Viking run as well.

Long Beach (5-2) will hit the road for the second-consecutive time to face off against the Cypress College Chargers on Friday, February 10th. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. pending weather.