Vikings Win in Extra Innings Against Rio Hondo

Pitcher Noelany Benitez dueled against the Roadrunners for eight innings and held them to one unearned run, on five hits, while striking out five.
Pitcher Noelany Benitez dueled against the Roadrunners for eight innings and held them to one unearned run, on five hits, while striking out five.

The Long Beach City College softball team defeated the Rio Hondo College Roadrunners 2-1 in extra innings on Tuesday afternoon at the Viking Softball Field. With the conference win, the Vikings improve to 13-7 overall and 6-4 in the South Coast Conference.

Freshman pitcher Noelany Benitez (4-3) dueled against the Roadrunners for eight innings and held them to one unearned run, on five hits, while striking out five.

The Vikings and the Roadrunners battled it out for seven innings with no score. Then in the top of the eighth inning, Rio Hondo scored off a Viking error. Long Beach then came back ready to win in the bottom of the eighth with freshman short stop Jade Wittman blasting a single to left field to start the rally. Freshman pinch hitter Jaydy Machuca then got on base with a walk and advanced Wittman to second. Freshman left fielder Maria Aguilar was next up at the dish and smashed a double for two RBI and the walk-off win.

The Vikings will return to conference action on Thursday, Mar. 14 at East Los Angeles College at 3 p.m.